Westboro Baptist Church Targets Vineland Soldier’s Funeral Monday

The Westboro Baptist Church known for its extreme ideologies and widely recognized as a hate group is planning to picket the funeral of U.S. Army Sgt. Jose Suarez of Vineland.

Jose J. Suarez, age 24 of Millville, NJ, passed away on Wednesday, December 26, 2012 in Fort Hood, Texas.

Born in Vineland, he was a graduate of Millville High School, Class of 2006, where he was a track and field athlete.

He was an information systems analyst for the United States Army and did 2 tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, the Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, and the Combat Action Badge.

He is survived by his wife, two children and mother and father.

The funeral is Monday, January 7th at DeMarco-Luisi Funeral Home, 2755 S. Lincoln Ave. in Vineland. Protests by the Westboro Baptist Church are rumored to begin at 9:15 a.m.

Those who are looking to protect his loved ones and honor him as they lay him to rest are being asked to meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Vineland Fire Dept. located at Sherman & Main to be part of a "loving wall."