This is a Photo Diary of OSU, OSU Students, Corvallis community and Oregonians organizing to counter protest Westboro Baptist Church at U.S. Army Ranger Pfc. Cody Patterson's memorial service at Oregon State University's LaSells Stewart Center Sunday October 20,2013.
Pfc. Cody Patterson, a Philomath High School graduate, was one of four soldiers killed on Oct. 6 in Afghanistan. Our own IGTNT Team honored Cody here.
Photo heavy over the squiggle.
OSU The Daily Barometer
Bikers for Christ were there. The Patriot Guard Riders were there. Oregon State University ROTC, supporters from the Eugene, Portland, Southern California, Washington and the University of Oregon were there.
Even a few members from the hackers’ group Anonymous showed up.
At least 4,000 people lined SW 26th Street in Corvallis, in front of and across from Oregon State University’s LaSells Stewart Center, to show their respect to a U.S. Army Ranger.
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Supporters flocked to the area to support the Patterson family and block out the picketers from the Westboro Baptist Church, a controversial church based in Topeka, Kan. The church announced Thursday that their members were going to picket the Patterson memorial service.
The Oregon State Police was very present along with the Oregon State University Police, Corvallis Police, with the Philomath Police Department attending the Memorial Service inside the LaSells Stewart Center. Several military vehicles were being driven in the area with American Flags.
Cody grew up in Philomath which is a small farming community. Through out the counter protest, community members drove in the area with the American Flags waving from windows and the beds of pick up trucks.
The crowd was quiet and respectful standing in silence as Cody's family and friends arrived for his memorial service.
The only noise heard was the intermittent low applause for the various members of the U.S. Military members as they walked through the crowds of people and into the LaSells Stewart Center.
With law enforcement and military on the ground, a helicopter buzzed back and forth over head.
The vibe that I felt from the law enforcement was one of comradery.
Comradery not only with the military there to honor Cody, but with the community to show their respect and support for Cody's family and friends.
At one point it was rumored that the WBC members had arrived near the OSU Coliseum. I accompanied a small group who like me was curious about these so called Christians.
On our walk to the area we encountered two different groups who had heard the same rumor. One group being Anonymous. Anonymous shared that there was no sign of the WBC members now, that they had arrived and never stepped out of their vehicle. Leaving the area.
OSU Student and Kossack Joshblu signing Pfc. Cody Patterson's memorial book.
I would like to thank everyone who organized and participated in this event.
OSU Student Matt Enloe.
A special thank you to Matt Enloe for organizing the We Support Spc. Cody James Patterson Event on FaceBook and for allowing me to shadow him and his group of friends during the counter protest.
Matt signing the memorial book.
I too would like to thank Pfc. Cody Patterson for his service.
All gave some.
Cody gave his all.
(All photos ©Bluejessamine)