I have written previously about a group of people who choose to protest at military funerals. This group is made up of members of the Westboro Church in Topeka, Kansas and they travel to military funerals across the country to stage demonstrations. They are not there to protest the war or the policies of the current administration. Instead, they gather at the funerals of our fallen heroes to hold signs that read “Thank God for dead soldiers” and “God hates fags.” This group uses military funerals to push their twisted views that these brave service members died as a result of God’s punishment on the United States for being too tolerant of homosexuality. No matter what your views on homosexuality, it must be obvious that military funerals are not the time or the place for this kind of disgusting and disrespectful demonstration. Family members who are grieving for the loved one and preparing to say goodbye to their husband, wife, son, daughter, father or mother should not have to face the cruelty and insensitivity of these people.

One state is taking action to prevent this type of behavior at military funerals. Governor Rell of Connecticut has just signed a bill that will limit demonstrations at military funerals. The bill has been fast-tracked in an attempt to circumvent demonstrators from disrupting the funeral of 24-year-old Army First Lieutenant Keith Heidtman. Heidtman was killed in Iraq on May 28th when his helicopter was shot down. The Westboro demonstrators had already announced plans to picket his funeral. This bill prohibits making a disturbance at a funeral and orders demonstrators to remain at least 150 feet away.

Connecticut should be applauded for taking steps to maintain the dignity of military funerals. When a service member gives his or her life defending this country, they deserve one final measure of honor and respect. Our troops put their lives in danger every day and ask very little in return. The families of our troops sacrifice in countless ways to support their loved ones in their service to this country. Both our fallen heroes and their families should be accorded a special place of honor in our nation’s memory. The final honor we can give those who have died and those who grieve is the military funeral. It should never become a time of protest or an opportunity to push political or social agendas. It must remain a time and a place of honor.