Albert Snyder, a man who has become the face of a movement to respect the families of slain U.S. soldiers, earned standing ovations when he visited Maryland's House and Senate chambers this morning.
Snyder's son Matthew was killed in a Humvee accident in Iraq on March 3, 2006. A week later, a handful of publicity-seeking church members stood outside his son's funeral at St. John Roman Catholic Church in Westminster, waving signs that said "God Hates America" and "Thank God for Dead Soldiers."
A Maryland jury awarded Albert Snyder a multimillion-dollar judgment in his lawsuit against the church whose members organized the protest. The issue was appealed all the way up to the Supreme Court, which overturned the case.
Snyder now combs the internet looking for state legislatures that are considering laws would require buffer zones between funerals and protesters. Sens. Bryan Simonaire and Roy Dyson have introduced a measure (S.B. 977) to keep picketers 500 feet away from the services.