Support For Fallen Soldier Overshadows Protesters Presence

A fallen St. Joseph soldier`s funeral is the first in Northwest Missouri to test out new laws that limit funeral protests. Private first class Brian Bradbury lost his life serving his country in Afghanistan. Today his family and friends remember their American hero. More than 250 bikers pave the way for Brian Bradbury`s funeral procession. Bradbury`s Cousin Joseph Leslie said, "It made me feel proud for Brian he fought for this country. I didn`t think so many would care but i`m glad that they did." Freedom Road Riders and the Patriot Guard stood silently saluting the fallen soldier, holding American flags. Patriot Guard Joe Fouquet said, "We are simply here to honor PFC Bradbury." Freedom Road Rider Nick Swope said, "I hope the family feels proud of what their son did." Bradbury`s sister-in-law Mindy Cote said, "All of us loved it. It made us cry. I was really impressed." Family and friends also found comfort inside the Word of Life Church, listening to Brian`s own words right out of his journal. Bradbury`s Aunt Gwen Bradbury said, "He knew the dangers and he faced them and he trusted in God. He wrote to us that he knew where he was going if something happened to him and it helped us feel better." Complete strangers showed support and paid respects making a wall of American and Missouri flags. Supporter and One Voice President said, "With the flying of the flags I hope the family feels a little less pain for their loss." Supporter Janet Peters said, "I`m not sure it will make a dent in their perspective but I hope it helps the family that`s why I`m here." The funeral procession wound it`s way to White Cloud, Kansas where Private First Class Bradbury was laid to rest with full military honors. Now the American hero`s family says they`ll try to move forward, never forgetting. Cote said her widowed sister is coping, "She has two kids to raise on her own now. She`s doing as good as can be expected." No matter where the Bradbury family looked they saw signs of respect and honor today. What they didn`t see..members representing Fred Phelps anti-homosexual group from Westboro Baptist Church. Only seven members lined up at the intersection of Riverside and Cook roads. The St. Joseph Police Department made its own wall of respect to shield family members from viewing the signs, many of which are inappropriate for television. All of today`s supporters say they are not anti-protesters. Representative Dr. Rob Schaaf said, "We`re not picketing, we not demonstrating, we`re only showing respect." Patriot Guard member Bill Richart said, "Today is strictly about PFC Bradbury. Protesters aren`t something that we`re here for. If they stopped tomorrow we`d still be out here doing this for these families." Bradbury`s sister-in-law Mindy Cote said, "We didn`t even know they were around. We didn`t see them we didn`t here them they didn`t bother us at all." Patriot Guard member Joe Fouquet said, "The saddest thing is these soldiers died for their freedom of speech. Regardless if we ignore them it`s really about the soldiers." Well-wishers and supporters could be seen all along the route from st. Joseph to white cloud. Traffic pulled to the side, some drivers getting out of their cars to salute the fallen soldier as the procession drove by. Residents from towns along the way to White Cloud waved flags. The Perren family drove 50 miles from Holt, Missouri to honor the family from a distance and pass on patriotic pride to their children. Joe Perren said, "We don`t know the family personally, so we didn`t want to interfere, but we did want to show them our support." Seven-year-old Sara Perren said, "We stood out here with our flags and put our hands over our hearts to show out support for the troops." Nine-year-old Whitney Perren said, "My dad was a veteran, so I felt proud to support the troops."