Matthew Kelley, Our Hero

Today was a day I never want to experience again, but it was something I wouldn’t have missed for the world.

My cousin, Matthew G. Kelley, 30, was laid to rest today, February 7, 2009. He was one of the four pilots whose helicopters crashed in Iraq on January 26. Matthew was a Chief Warrant Officer in the United States Army and gave his life so that the parishioners of the infamous Westboro Baptist Church were afforded the “right” to protest his funeral. It is ironic they would choose to protest a soldier’s funeral, the very military that fights to give them the right to vomit their hatred on grieving families.

It isn’t God’s hatred as they’d like you to believe. You see, the God I know doesn’t “hate fags”. He might, I say MIGHT, hate homosexuality, but God does not hate any of his children, no matter what they might do. I can’t imagine that he doesn’t hate the protesters from Topeka, but he doesn’t.

Today, the mourners saw no hint of a protester, thanks to the Patriot Guard Riders. We arrived 90 minutes before the service began and they were there in full force, so many bikes and men and women that the streets all around the vicinity of the church were packed. Protesters were unseen and unheard as Matthew’s life and service to this country were celebrated.

Matthew’s six year old daughter picked flowers from around the casket before the service started. Then, after the service began, we heard the thunder of the PGR’s engines, shielding us from the shouts of the protesters from the west.

Matthew’s young widow was presented many awards in honor of her husband, with grace and composure she accepted them. All the way from Iraq, Matthew’s friend and roommate through military training came to speak, his voice shaking. He spoke about Matthew always being there to support him no matter what. Now he will go right back to Iraq, hopefully to return in a year to wed his fiancée.

No matter what your religious affiliation, political beliefs or race, our military protects your choice, whether your choice is hurtful and does no good to anyone, except your pocketbooks, all in the name of God – or to help and nurture your fellow human beings as God intended.

There are many things to be said about today’s events, but nothing breaks one’s heart like seeing a 6-year-old realizing that her daddy isn’t coming back, crying on the front row before his casket. Or watching a grandmother sobbing in the seat in front of you, or the retired military father get up and speak with such a peace about him you just can’t understand.

The most touching part of this entire day happened after the funeral service ended and we filed outside to enter our cars for the procession. We drove out of the church’s parking lot to meet THOUSANDS of supporters – an estimated 5,000 men, women and children in this relatively small town. Not just beside the church – for SEVEN miles, the roads through town and the highway were filled with people, hands over their hearts, waving flags. There were even people in their front yards on the 3 miles of gravel road to the cemetery, waving their flags, saluting, many whose faces showed utter grief and tears as we drove past.

The final goodbye at the cemetery brought out many emotions. The finality began to sink in. The traditional American flag was folded and “kissed” to Matthew’s casket, then given to the lovely young widow; the soldier’s mother and each of his two children also received an American flag to keep in remembrance. The 4 year old son held his flag tightly, although it is unlikely he really understood what this day meant.

I don’t agree with this war, but it is happening no matter what I think, and the outpouring of support today was almost unfathomable. We Americans may have a lot of problems, but we sure got today right.