Patriot Guard Riders and community show support and block hate group

'Red wall' of supporters comforts fallen soldier's family
By JANESE SILVEY
Published July 21, 2012
Thousands of people in red shirts joined members of the Patriot Guard yesterday to show their support for a local soldier killed in action.

The so-called human wall began as a way to shield Sterling Wyatt's family from negative messages. By the time the funeral started at 1 p.m., though, few in the crowd even realized that a small group tied to Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., had been in the area.

Wyatt, 21, was killed by an improvised explosive device while serving in Afghanistan on July 11. Tori Smith, an acquaintance, heard about Westboro's plans to picket the funeral and organized what she thought would be a small gathering to show support for the Wyatt family.
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