"FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND"
Lance Cpl. David Raymond Baker body should be retuning home today. Funeral services will be Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church in Painesville where his family ,friend, and people who just want to honor this heroes service to his country. No greater sacrifice can an individual give than in the service of his country. There will be allot of mourners at this funeral.
I want to celebrate this Marines life and do anything to honor his service. Now I have to deal with my personal anger. Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas is coming to Painesville to protest at this heroes funeral there belief is that God has taken aim at American service people. "These soldiers are dying for the homosexual and other sins of America. God is now America's enemy, and God himself is fighting against America."
To the memory of Lance Cpl. Raymond Baker, his family and friends I want to apologize to them for the freedom this country grant to idiots. I truly believe David is in a far better place.
************************************************************************************* I watch the procession for Lance Corporal David Raymond Baker at the new Harvey High School with Marge and Andy Flock. Mr Wheeler came out and put the flag at half staff. I mention to the Flocks how proud I was with the response on this blog. from Painesville resident how not one comment was in a negative fashion. No its Obama's fault, its Bush's fault. the liberal this the conservative that. All this community wanted to show there respect to a fallen Marine. To celebrate his life, and to mourn, and grieve with his family. Maybe in a strange way God sent Westboro Baptist protesters her to unify a community? Well got home at around four p.m. and see things somewhat back to normal, Politicians signs, fire truck running, whatever? I censor a comment because of the suggestion to drive by the church with your radio blaring a song. I would have posted it if I knew for sure that was in the familys wishes, no stub meant,Sorry. God speed Lance Corporal Baker I know your in a better place and even in death you helped bring a community together. Semper Fi
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Please read the comment sent in November 4,11::20 a.m.
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posted by terminator1 @ 4:13 AM
71 Comments
71 Comments:
Term, Thank you, and please everyone who reads this, tell everyone you know, to tell everyone they know, to come out Sat. and lets show the world that Painesville cares.
Calling hours for Baker will be 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at Monreal. Baker's funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church, 508 Mentor Ave., Painesville.
The family will be escorted from Monreal to the church starting between 9:45 and 10 a.m. Saturday, according to the funeral home. The escort will travel a 25-mile route that will take them:
* West on Curtis Boulevard
* South on SOM Center Road (Route 91)
* East on I-90
* North on Vrooman Road
* West on Riverside Drive (state Route 84)
* Past Riverside High School, from which Baker graduated in 2006
* West on East Walnut Avenue
* Continue west on West Walnut Avenue
* East on Mentor Avenue (U.S. Route 20).
Baker's father, Mark Baker, said he and the rest of the family welcome anyone who wishes to honor their son, grandson and brother to stand along the routes as he passes by on Thursday and Saturday.
Regardless of how you feel about the war, now is the time for all of us in Painesville to come together and show our support for the Baker family. I hope you can take a few moments out of your busy lives to honor one that was lost so early protecting the freedoms we all enjoy.
This group has no compassion for this family or their right to honor their son. They will be there only for the news coverage. Let's show the the family and the rest of the country what Painesville is all about.
Let's honor this fallen Marine by paying our respects. I for one plan on being there. How about you?????
PS Bring your flag and stand along the route if you can't make the services.
I will be standing in front of the new Harvey High on Walnut St. to show my respects please join me.
Term, From a Veteran I say thank you for letting us know about this. I have heard that this "church" was going to try this and I only hope that they are able to keep their civility long enough to know that regardless of their beliefs a human being died and people are hurt.
All should remember that their protest only illuminates their ignorance and does not lesson the sacrifice made. Thanks Baker...Thanks.
I will be there. I'm friends with David's cousin, and I also have several friends/family who have been to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Not only should we honor David on this weekend, but we need to continue to honor the soldiers while they are alive. This protest group really disgusts me. They better hope they are nowhere near me during the services.
I would like to see every city council member and candidate there. Rita McMahon and her boy Joe Gurley should be there. It will say a lot about these individuals if they do not show up. This is a time we all need to unite.
i am closing my business and will be on w. walnut near hoyt to pay my respects for this marine with some other family members. i did not have the pleasure of knowing him, but my son did. my condolences to his family. Thank you sir for serving our country.
maddog
Our family will be around the liberty st. area, please join us Sat.
Can someone check to see if the crazy church group
has pulled a permit and if so where will they be, I would like to stand over by them to show my support for David.
If I do not get ordered into work, I will be at E. Walnut/Meadow (across from Hoyt, maddog!) awaiting the procession.
I have talked to a retired Marine. He told me this church has done more than one protest in Missouri where his sister lives. He said that what they do there is have a large group of veterans peacefully surround them. This blocks them from view. If they have signs, they get bigger signs. I hope we can get the necessary veterans to peacefully make them go unnoticed. We need to show our respect for David and his family. As stated above, we owe this to David and the rest of our men and women who have or are serving our country.
Please pass the word. Bring a friend. Tell a veteran. Just be there.
The patriot guard will be there, as well as many of our residents.
What I hope everyone that comes Saturday is the main reason was to show our respect and thanks to this Marine and his family. No matter how angry this so called "church" group makes you we must respect the family and our purpose for being there. They would like no better then to see people attack them physically or verbally it plays well for them on the internet. Lets not play into there hands the Painesville Police Department and local residents will respectfully keep these idiots from the procession.
I keep hearing about this group and they must seem to travel from one military funeral to another. I for one would like to know how they finance this operation.
for anyone who is wanting to help out:
"Due to the large number of attendees expected, Zion Lutheran is asking for assistance with the post-funeral reception. We would like to ask anyone who is able to bring a side dish or dessert to share. Please drop off all food items at the Zion kitchen before the funeral at 11:00 AM."
MP
What I think would be great would be if everyone starting at Bank Street & E.Walnut street would walk with the procession all the way to the church, I will bet they will be accross from the church, someone needs to get the word out to the college students, they will help block the idiots.
I made the mistake about trying to find out about this Westboro Baptist Church. I check there website and press release. I can't even bring myself to put this material on this site. A sample
The funeral for Lance Corp.Baker will be at the Zion Lutheran Dog Kennels 508 Mentor Ave. Painesville, Ohio
www.Godhatesfags.com
It will be extremely hard todeal with this group. Just remember the family in your prayers.
Doug Nagy sent a message to the members of I Love Downtown Painesville!
--------------------
Subject: Our Painesville Hero
It is with a solemn heart today that I write to you about the loss of Lance
Corporal David R. Baker, a proud United States Marine and a lifelong resident
of Painesville. David was killed while sweeping for explosives in the
volatile Helmand province of Afghanistan, one of the key battlegrounds against
the Taliban.
A hero abroad, David was a beloved neighbor, friend, and family member at
home. He was the All-American Painesville boy. He attended Our Shepherd
grade school in Downtown Painesville, played on the baseball team at Riverside
High School and enjoyed tubing, camping, and country music.
Please join us on Saturday, October 31st as our community salutes our fallen
hero. Beginning at 10am, a procession will take David Baker and family from
Monreal Funeral Home in Eastlake to Zion Lutheran Church in Painesville.
Below is a map of the route the procession will take through Painesville:
Vrooman Road, down Riverside Drive and Walnut Ave to Mentor Ave.
http://www.facebook.com/l/70d1e;www.scribd.com/doc/21731700/Funral-Route-color
Funeral services will be at 11am at Zion Lutheran Church at 508 Mentor Avenue
in Painesville. Calling hours will be from 2pm to 8pm on Friday, October 30th
at Monreal Funeral Home, 35400 Curtis Blvd in Eastlake. David will be buried
in Arlington National Cemetery.
Due to the large number of attendees expected, Zion Lutheran is asking for
assistance with the post-funeral reception. We would like to ask anyone who is
able to bring a side dish or dessert to share. Please drop off all food items
at the Zion kitchen before the funeral at 11:00 AM.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
David R. Baker 1987-2009
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Our hearts go out to David's family and friends for laying so costly a
sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.
Respectfully,
Doug
Doug Nagy
Executive Director
Downtown Painesville Organization
Devil Dog!! You have made your God, your Country and your Corps PROUD!!!! As an American and a U.S. Navy retiree, I will personally join the hopefully thousands to ensure you get every bit of dignity and respect you deserve and this group of radical ragtags gets nothing!!!
Semper Fi Devil Dog - Semper Fi!!!!
hopefully i will not be ordered in as well. i have obtained 12 dozen flags donated by a veterans group. if you want one i will be in the area of walnut and hoyt. they are yours to keep and display.
maddog
There all already a bunch of flags over the Vrooman Rd. overpass. I read in the obituary that his favorite song was "Chicken Fried" by Zac Brown. It is pretty ironic that it was his favorite song. If you get a chance to listen to it, at about the 2:30 mark, it's enough to make a grown man cry.
Good to see the solidarity here, very nice. JT
Someone called in to the WMMS morning show today and suggested they play "Chicken Fried" during the procession tomorrow to block out that crazed church and their protesters. Then David's step-brother called in and said he liked the idea. They decided to do it, so everyone can play it on their radio to drown out these fools!
Someone mentioned at a meeting I attended last night that the funeral procession will go by both local High Schools Riverside and the new Harvey on Walnut St. It would be a nice sign of solidarity if both schools had a mass of people in front of them. Showing in a time of grief, and honor the two schools one on the right bank of the river and one on the left bank of the river showed there respect to this fallen Marine.
I will add to Term's idea that the schools have their bands out too. Playing either the song above or the songs we all know. The Marine Hymn or Taps.
I haven't been back to Painesville in years, but I wish I could be there for this. I'm on the verge of tears just thinking about. What I would like to see is as many of you--if at all possible--record this event for those who cannot make it, and post it here--or flickr, youtube, etc..I imagine the Cleveland stations will do so to the extent they can given time constraints. Again, my condolences to the Baker family.
Yes, by all means take pictures of the support this young Marine's final trip though Painesville on his way to Arlington and a far Higher Place. A final tribute for him and his family.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. May god bless you.
WMMS 100.7 in Cleveland will be playing Lance Corporal David Bakers favorite song "Chicken Fried" from 10:30 to 12:00 today please feel free to drowned out the protesters with this song. Please remember a funeral is taking place down the street. Zion Lutheran Church.
TERM THANKS FOR EDITING MY POST, YOU NEEDED TO TELL EVERYONE ABOUT THE PHONE NUMBER TO CALL.
NOT A GOOD DAY TO EDIT
Was going to stand at the corner of Walnut/Meadow, but decided to head over to the Lake County Home/Historical Society with a friend. Either way it seemed like it was peaceful and as I drove through Painesville it was great to see folks supporting Lance Corporal Baker.
Can someone tell me why Mr. Murphy and Mr. Gagliardi were driving up and down Mentor Avenue with their signs on their cars/truck when we were all waiting to pay our respects to this fallen hero? I was totally apalled at what I saw. A shameless way to promote yourself when this brave young man sacraficed himself for this great country. Mr. Murphy and Mr. Gagliardi should be ashamed of themselves and I know people around me were not that happy either.
I want to know, why were the fire trucks sitting there with their engines running???????????
I would like to take the time to personally thank all those who took the time to honor Lance Corporal David Baker today.
The members of our Armed Services, Patriot Guard, safety forces, everyday families. and anyone else who came today. I would also like to thank all those who flew their flag and especially the ones who lowered them to Half Staff. Even WMMS who played David's favorite song today should be thanked.
On a side note. I would like to thank the elected officials who came, some with their families, JUST to pay their respects.
Speaking of RESPECT.
I, for one lost respect for the candidates who chose to campaign at this SOLEMN EVENT. You know who you are. Shameful, just shameful. Almost as bad as having that church show up.
To 11:31 am,
get over it, Did you ask either of them?, if they were like me and a hundred other people who drove around there looking for parking and ended up turning around and going back to East Walnut street because it filled up so fast.
You are just as bad for taking an event like this and trying to use it to bad mouth good candidates when you have not even asked them what was going on.
On a positive note we know that two candidates and a councilman was there? Rita was at the "SHOE"
Did the Westboro "Church" even show up? Haven't heard anything about their protest or where they actually stood.
I'm not surprised that Andy and Marge came to the south side to show their support because they're true-blue and I wish Andy was my councilman. I'm honestly curious and mean no malice in asking - were there any other council members by the school, or does anyone know if any of the other councilfolk made the time to attend even part of the memorial? The procession came smack through Werner's turf, after all.
Fire trucks, police cars, ambulances always idle. It actually is better for the vehicles to leave them running than to turn on/turn off/turn on/turn off. At the very least it keeps the alternator spinning which keeps the battery charged. That's the nature of having fleet vehicles. In the long run it saves money.
i know for a fact that mr. murphy went up and down mentor ave. looking for a parking spot, several times, he finally went to holt street and parked, then went to the corner of holt and east walnut and stood there for over an hour waiting for the procession to come down the street, like everyome else was doing.he was not out policiting, just because his signs were on his car, like they have been for quite a few months, he was there to show his concern for the marine.if YOU have a problem with that, it's your problem, not mr. murphy's. A PATRIOT
Badger, where was your Painesville's answer to Sarah Palin today? Lori to busy, Your such a fraud!
KAREN
"i know for a fact that mr. murphy went up and down mentor ave. looking for a parking spot, several times, he finally went to holt street and parked"... I was at the church when Murphy drove past..not once but twice. "No parking"..gimme a break..there was parking at the church and the college, he just drove past slowly both times. Get your facts straight..
The signs are easy to take off. He could have used a little more discretion and what about Gagliardi, whats his excuse?
John Murphy put his big sign in the back of Richard Tibitts truck so they could drive around today, Tony Gagliard has had his sign in his truck for weeks, you figure it out ?
To 8:46, 10:51, etc.
If you don't like Murphy and Gagliardi just come out and say so, and tell us why. You are trying to tear apart their character making accusations about something you are making up in your pathetic little mind.
People might actually respect your opinion more if you just voiced it rather than trying to make yourself look better by tearing down others.
Lori DiNallo was there the whole time. She stood in front of the church at the walkway, where the casket was taken into the church. She also remained outside in the same area until the casket was returned to the hearst after the service
Lori DiNallo was there. She stood in front of the Church throughout the entire service and remained until Lance Cpl. David Baker was returned to the hearse. She held a flag.
Karen, you better reread my post. I thanked everyone who showed up including any elected officials. My intent was to cover the elected and the ones running for office. I wanted to thank everyone. Painesville and the rest of Lake County did themselves proud. Again, thank you.
Again, you think you know me. Do you stand in the election booth when I vote? Do you even vote? I have Sunday and Monday to decide who I am going to vote for. I don't vote tickets or for who someone else tells me to. Don't like me? That's fine. I could care less. Don't like who you think I am voting for, then vote for someone else. Why vote against me and not FOR Painesville? I have always said that we need to get more involved. That means more candidates and more voters. Becks running for council along with Gagliardi, Hada, Murphy, Fodor and yes even Dinallo would have been a better race. If we want change, why eliminate candidates? Why blame Republicans or Democrats?
Again, read MY post. I didn't accuse anyone. I wasn't everywhere and I didn't jump to conclusions like you. I came to honor Lance Corporal David Baker.
I did ask them to check their conscious IF anyone was campaigning. A conscious is something I hope all the current and soon to be elected officials have. A few hours set aside to honor David. Nothing else.
Speaking of RESPECT.
I, for one lost respect for the candidates who chose to campaign at this SOLEMN EVENT. You know who you are. Shameful, just shameful. Almost as bad as having that church show up.
That is what you said Badger. You jumped to conclusions.
John Murphy drove down Mentor Ave and Back, He also drove down Walnut Street and then back, and and his girlfriend did it too, we were on Walnut and saw them, our son was on Mentor Ave and saw them he also saw Tony Giglardi drive down Mentor Ave 1 time.
I saw Lori there pay her respects, no campaign stuff, very low key. Sorry she wasn't parading around like Murphy and Gagliardi, Karen I think you have issues.
Its not that we don't like them but their actions. I was going to vote for them but after this, I've reconsidered my vote for them. This shows a lack of judgement and selfishness, we don't need this on council
So, how do any of you figure they got somewhere to park if they didn't drive down the street? Some of you are just plain mean and have nothing else to do but think the worst of everyone you come in contact with.
I think supporters for some of the other candidates are using this as a campaign smear tactic and Term needs to stop it.
I confess I drove by the church before I waited for the procession at Harvey, I went to see where the protesters were[couldn't find them] and to see if there was roon to park by the Church at 10:00a.m. I did not see any. I also went down Mentor Ave. to see how many people showed up. I guess I'm as bad as John and Tony.
No, John drove Mentor Ave & Walnut St,(I guess just looking for parking spot, for his to cars), good thing he has Term to stand up for him.
This is Painesville, berate the people who did something positive Saturday, but lets not mention who wasn't there? I guess a football game meant more to some then others. Not a job description I guess. Think people.
Mr.Rellik
good morning painesville, thanks to all who came out and honored David.
maybe a few rumors i can clear up. the prostesters were supposed to be 300 feet away and stop and hour before the service. i had the understanding the fire trucks were left running to dull out the protesters voices and provide a wall to where they were going to be allowed to protest.
John Murphy was at hoyt and walnut. he stopped earlier and had coffee and donuts with a group of veterans and friends at my shop. John came down because we have mutual friends and he heard of my email/blog invite and contacted us friday afternoon.
John did leave but then came back and walked down to hoyt and walnut with us to the intersection. he acted respectful and i did not see any campain stuff going on. i did not see what went on down the road, this is just what i saw in my sight picture.
again painesville and the surrounding communities thanks and i hope we dont have to do this ever again.
maddog
This is just the Hadaites getting nervous that there boy may be in trouble this election. By the way where was Joe?
Was he with you also maddog? bet not
Probably the same ones that have been making the Murphy and Gagliardi signs disappear.
not unless he was that person in the KAREN halloween mask.
maddog
I did not see Hada, Rita, Gurley, Abby, Arlene, or Hach. Did anyone see them. I think it will say more about them if they didn't bother to come out to show respect than the others being accused of impropriety for attending. We don't know what was in their hearts when they drove up the street, but they were there. What about the ones mentioned above? Where was their respect. Says a lot about them. Please, if anyone saw them there, let us know, and I will apologize for thinking badly of them.
They probably didn't go knowing how badly the ones that did attend got treated. Thank-you maddog the explaination of the fire trucks being there made a lot of sense.
I believe some of this was all to make people think badly of a person.
1:20pm, they wouldn't have known until after the fact what was said about the candidates that were there, unless they were there themselves. So if they didn't go, they didn't go because they didn't feel the need to show respect. Period.
Talk all you want. You can't excuse campaigning at a funeral. Lori did not. You did.
Point. Set. Match.
You should withdraw.
I just wanted to share this excerpt from an article in the Washington Post (w/link). Very sad to read. Again, my condolences to the Baker family:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/03/AR2009110303417.html
"Lance Cpl. Baker grew up in a small community on the shores of Lake Erie, said his father, Mark Baker, 52, a chemist.
The young man with the fringe of dark hair was so shy and unassuming as a child that he was always in the background in family photos and had to be cajoled into having a birthday party, Mark Baker said. But as early as sixth grade, David Baker was vowing to become a Marine. He enlisted shortly after graduating from Riverside High School in 2006.
He was terribly homesick at boot camp and while stationed at Camp Pendleton in California. But something in him changed after he was deployed in May to Afghanistan as a "mortar man" in the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.
Where once he had been tentative, he now sounded calm and confident, his grandfather, James Baker, recalled this week. But members of his family worried when they learned that he was leading patrols through Helmand province's dangerous terrain.
"I said, 'Why are you always out front?' " Mark Baker recalled. "He flat-out told me, 'Dad, it's my job.' "
David Baker had hoped to be back in the United States by Christmas, and he dreamed of attending college after his tour was up next year. He had told them so when he made a round of calls to his grandparents, friends and other family in late September on a satellite phone.
"He's never done that before," Baker said. "In hindsight, it was almost like he was saying goodbye."
At Baker's service, the U.S. Marine Band played a mournful version of "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" as military officials presented folded flags to Mark Baker and his former wife, Laurie A. Lewkowski. Lewkowski rocked back and forth as she held hers, the last remnant of her dead son."
Can someone explain the concept of photos at this funeral? I am a photobug, scrapbooker and mother of a Marine. But for the life of me I did not understand why Don Wheeler's wife Phyllis Wheeler was front and center, taking pictures the entire time. This was about as disrespectful as the campaign vehicles.
who is Don Wheeler?
Don Wheeler is a Painesville city school employee. That said I saw a lot of people with cameras, I even took some pictures. In twenty or forty years they will be reminders of what happened that day. If the family had requested no photos I could understand you being upset. I guess its in what you witnessed?
Lets remember the life of David.
The Wheeler's
They both work for the schools.
to 7:32 am, get a life and move on. People like you need to get a hobby and quit trying to tear down everyone else in this world.
There were many people at the funeral and along the route that had cameras. Again I'm missing something? Where they work has nothing to do with it.
To Anon 5:05- Can't you read? Photography and scrapping are hobbies and I do have a life. I saw others taking pictures but she was front & center standing in the front row camera blaring- moving around and disrupting those there to pay attention to the FUNERAL. The local reporters were more inconspicuous then she. As far as memorabilia in the next 20 -40 years, clip the articles from a newspaper
do you wear brown shirts, 6:12am
that was meant to be posted with topic at top.
there's an absolutely beautiful youtube tribute to David Baker that was posted a few days ago featuring still photos of his funeral (outside the church and streets)accompanied by some gorgeously haunting choral music (don't know what it is). I was unable to paste the link here, but if you go to youtube and type in "Painesville" and select "recent" posts it should be the first one that appears.
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