Cpl. William McMillan III laid to rest in Camp Nelson

Lloyd and Marge McMillan buried their son, Billy, Saturday. Elizabeth McMillan buried her husband Saturday. Brad and Lauren McMillan buried their brother Saturday. Members of the Westboro Baptist “Church” in Topeka, Kan., said Billy deserved to die.

Truth is, Billy died protecting the freedom of his family, of me, of you, of the members of the Westboro cult. He was killed in Baghdad July 8 after his vehicle struck a homemade bomb. He was 22 years old. At his funeral at Southland Christian Church, he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his sacrifice and his service. Not nearly enough to console his family, however, who would much rather hold their son, brother and husband than those pieces of metal.

Maj. Gen. James Myles, who spoke at Billy’s funeral, remembered a time when Billy, an army medic, took the time to tend to the wounded after a particularly intense firefight. What made that situation unusual is that Billy was treating the people who moments before had tried to kill him — he was helping the Iraqi soldiers. He always made a particular effort to give aid to children, regardless of color or faith.

Tell any of that to the protesters who stood outside Camp Nelson National Cemetery to picket Billy’s funeral, however, and they will scoff at your blindness.

“BIlly fought for a gay-loving country,” they will say. “Thank God for dead soldiers,” they will cheer. “God hates America.”

God also said that in the end of time, good will become evil and evil will become good. These people are truly an embodiment of that revelation. I genuinely feel for the families that have to see these abominations telling the world that their children deserved to die because they were protecting their country. How much more grief do they need? What would these protesters think if you and I picketed their son’s funeral or their daughter’s funeral because they were the children of hate?

Luckily, the McMillan family did not have to see the Westboro people. The protesters were allotted only one hour to hold up their signs and picket, and the funeral service at Southland went more than an hour over schedule, meaning the people had to leave before the funeral procession even left the church parking lot. What the family — and I, as I was driving out to Camp Nelson — saw instead gave me chills and a newfound hope for this country. Hundreds of people lined U.S. 27 with American flags raised, waiting to show their support for a family that had lost so much. They waved, they held encouraging signs, they showed their sincere appreciation for what Billy gave for all of us. I can only imagine that, if for a brief moment, the McMillans understood the real reason why Billy and the thousands of other soldiers have died and thousands more have enlisted to continue their efforts. It was not for themselves, not for pride, not even for democracy — it was for the people who live in the greatest nation in the world. It pains me to see that a handful of those people not only do not appreciate the fight, but they denounce those who are in the middle of it, “in the sandbox,” as one Patriot Guard biker told me.

From all of us who are still here: Thank you, McMillan family, for raising a son who lost everything for the people who stayed behind.