March 3, 2006, was a tragic day for Al Snyder. His son, who he calls "a hero and the the love of my life," was killed in a vehicle accident in Iraq's Al Anbar province. The death of Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder came during a particularly violent period in the Iraq war, and was barely noticed by the national press. Sadly, it would take the reprehensible 'Westboro Baptist Church' group and an unfair court decision to finally get his son's name in the headlines.The media has been widely reporting on a controversial ruling by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which ordered the Marine's father to pay $16,510.80 in court costs to Fred Phelps, whose group led a despicable protest at his son's funeral. The twisted logic of the 'Westboro Baptist Church' claims that U.S. troops are being punished by God for homosexuality's legality in America. Counter-protest groups like the excellent Patriot Guard Riders have been set up to protect grieving military families from the protest group's evil rhetoric, which includes anti-gay slurs and signs that read "thank God for IEDs."
The idea that Snyder, who initially won a lawsuit against Phelps but lost the case on appeal, would be forced to pay the 'Westboro Baptist Church' has rightfully caused a national firestorm. Fox News host Bill O'Reilly has volunteered to personally pay the court costs for Snyder, and donations to a legal defense fund are reportedly soaring. In keeping with this blog's mission, anyone who steps up to support military families earns the praise of this site, regardless of their political views.
Yet missing from most of the news coverage on FNC, CNN and other networks is the story of the fallen Marine himself. There is more to the life and service of Lance Cpl. Snyder than a picture briefly put up on the screen. This site believes his sacrifice is more important than the hate group that tried to capitalize on it.
Friends and family members say Snyder was a happy person who loved to have a good time. According to the Iraq War Heroes site, he enthusiastically volunteered for the Marine Corps and even went to boot camp while attending high school in Finksburg, Maryland. While trained as a combat engineer, Snyder asked to provide security for fellow Marines as a gunner in Iraq.
"He was asked why he volunteered for such a dangerous mission and he said "I'm a Marine. There was a position to be filled, and I filled it."
Tragically, the humvee overturned on that fateful early March day, killing the Marine who once told his family as a young boy that he was going to be "a machine gun guy." He would be saluted by many, including a man who often brandished machine guns as a world-famous action star.
“Marines like Lance Cpl. Snyder put their lives on the line daily to protect our country," California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said. "Maria and I wish to express our deepest sympathies to Matthew’s family. His loss is a painful reminder of the high cost paid for our freedom.”
Instead of a peaceful rest in eternity, Snyder's funeral was marred by the hateful rhetoric of 'Westboro Baptist Church' protests. There is absolutely no justification, including hiding behind a Constitution that American troops volunteer to protect, for disturbing the peace at a military funeral. It is not free speech, it is terrorizing an innocent family, as well as the U.S. military, during a time of grief. The Unknown Soldiers supports the Patriot Guard Riders, the Al Snyder Fund, and everyone who fights to get the unjust ruling by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned in the U.S. Supreme Court.
All Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder and his family ever did was volunteer to sacrifice everything for our country. That is an important story in itself, and we can't afford to overlook it because of the disgraceful actions of extremists.
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