The Least We Can Do

In keeping with our policy of being a military-friendly blog, we run the following story out of Missouri:

HIGH RIDGE, MO (KTVI - FOX2now.com) - An angry letter from a driver complaining about having to stop as a military funeral passed by has been met with dozens of even angrier responses. And the one written by the Jefferson County Sheriff has people cheering. That story begins near the intersection of I-270 and Gravois. On August 28th about 70 Patriot Guard riders were escorting the body of a local soldier from Lambert Airport to a funeral home in Cedar Hill.

The soldier was Sgt. Brian Woods, 32, who was shot and killed in Afghanistan. As has become a custom, the Patriot Guard motorcyclists helped law enforcement block intersections along the route for a few minutes so the casket and family could pass by.

But apparently one driver unhappy to be stopped, got into a loud argument with one of the motorcyclists blocking the way. And it did not stop there.

The next day the woman went on to send a complaining e-mail to Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer, even though it appears the incident actually happened in St. Louis County.

Among the things that driver wrote in the email, "this procession should never have been held during rush hour traffic!"

She went on to say, "I am proud of our country and sorry for the family, but they had no idea where I was going or anything else."

Sheriff Boyer, who is also a Vietnam veteran, promptly e-mailed a heartfelt response, which included this passage:

"My mother recently passed away. She was a World War II veteran, serving in the US Army. She would say 'Maybe you should pick up Sergeant Woods' ruck sack and carry on where he left off. Then you could see first hand what it really is to be inconvenienced.'"

Sheriff Boyer wanted employees of the county to know how he felt as well so he released copies of both emails.

And now they have hit the Internet.

By lunchtime Thursday, the sheriff already had about 150 emails thanking him for his response. The sheriff says he finds all the sudden attention embarrassing, and reminds us the real hero here was Sgt. Woods.

He is not disclosing what little information he has about the driver in part he says, "for her own safety," as you can imagine this is really getting people fired up.

Exchange of letters between complainant & Sheriff Boyer.

378 reader comments.