Flags were raised high as the Patriot Guard Riders took their places in front of their motorcycles to shield U.S. Army Sgt. Devin Snyder's funeral from threatened protests on Saturday morning.
Rumored sightings of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., turned out to be false, Lt. Rick Oyer of the New York State Police confirmed.
The church group, which believes the death of U.S. troops is God's punishment for America's acceptance of homosexuality, had stated on its website it would picket the funeral.
Snyder's family requested the presence of the motorcycle group the Patriot Guard Riders at the funeral to be a shield against the church's threatened protest. The motorcycle group's mission is "standing for those who stood for us."
"Not to worry, I got this !!! " "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here." Captain John Parker
