A (Marblehead, MA) Hero Returns Home, for the Final Time

[TaleWgnDg]

"A Hero Returns Home, for the Final Time
By Victoria Groves/ Marblehead Reporter Correspondent
Thursday, June 23, 2005

"All over town, flags are flying at half-mast and banners have been hung to honor fallen hero and Marblehead native Staff Sgt. Chris Piper. The first resident to die in combat since the Vietnam conflict, Piper is being remembered as a patriot and a loyal son of Marblehead.

"Piper passed away last Thursday morning after being flown from a military hospital in Germany to one in San Antonio, Texas. He was critically injured on June 3 in eastern Afghanistan when a bomb exploded near the convoy in which he was traveling. Two U.S. solders with whom Piper was traveling were killed, and an Afghan interpreter was also wounded.

"After exploratory surgery in Germany, Piper was deemed stable enough to endure the 10-hour plane flight to the U.S. After arriving in Texas, Piper began undergoing a series of skin grafts to alleviate the burns he had sustained in the explosion. According to family friend, once Piper arrived in Texas and doctors started doing the grafts, they found some complications. On Wednesday morning they let his father and wife, who were by his side, know that things were not looking well.

. . . snip . . .

"A fund had been established at the (Marblehead) National Grand Bank (91 Pleasant Street, Marblehead, MA 01945) by Selectman and veteran Harry Christensen and the Veterans of Foreign Wars to help defray travel costs for the family to visit Piper. Now, the fund will be used for Piper's children (as a result of Piper's death).

. . . more at . . . (The Marblehead Reporter Newspaper at http://www2.townonline.com/marblehead/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=273688&format=text )


R.I.P. Staff Sergeant Christopher Piper, and my deepest condolences to your wife, children, and the rest of your family, friends, and neighbors.

_________________________________________________________

The Marblehead Reporter Newspaper is a weekly publication; thus, its next publication date is Thursday, June 30th, which will more than likely contain additional information of events about the funeral of Piper including a possible interview with or about Marblehead Police Chief James Carney, as well as reports regarding the Phelps (Westboro Baptist Church) idiots who did their typical vitriolic "protesting" but weren't very successful. The newspaper's online version isn't updated daily, apparently.

See also: "Hate group plans funeral protest"
http://www2.townonline.com/marblehead/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=273702&format=text

_________________________________________________________


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[Say_What]

1. It's in the Salem News too... hate group protesters protected by Boston

mounted police.

<clips>

...By pre-agreement, the protesters were confined to a small, fenced-in area, where they loudly shouted insults to the mourners. Based in Kansas, they combine hatred for gays with hatred for the United States and those who serve the country.

Protected by mounted Boston police, the protesters were left, for the entire time, to face the backsides of five huge horses. At 10 a.m., as the service began to be heard from loudspeakers, they were ushered away.

http://www.ecnnews.com/cgi-bin/05/snstory.pl?-sec-Pageone%20+mhfarewell

[KarenInMA]

2. How has no one attacked this group?

They can't possibly have any protection from the religious right, do they??

These are the people who protested against Falwell because they think he's too liberal!!

[Say_What]

3. That's a very good question. I don't know enough about them

to even speculate. You might be able to Good the names, places, etc. and come up with some background information.

Welcome to DU, KarenInMA :hi: