A soldiers funeral but no protest

Flag bearers move up the sidewalk beside the Ferry Funeral Home in order to be in a better position to shield the family members of deceased U.S. Navy air traffic controller Jamie Lee Jones from protesters.

Patriot Guard Riders, American Legion Riders, citizens, soldiers, veterans and others surround Ferry Funeral home in Nevada on Tuesday morning, in an effort to shield the grieving family members of deceased U.S. Navy air traffic controller Jamie Lee Jones from protesters who never came.

The Patriot Guard Riders began showing up at the Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada before 9 a.m. on Tuesday in response to information that members of the Westboro Baptist Church were going to show up and protest at the funeral of U.S. Navy Air Traffic Controller Jamie Lee Jones, 25, of Oak Harbor, Wash.

The Patriot Guard was joined by members of the American Legion Riders and flag-bearing Nevada and Vernon County residents intending to shield the Jones family members from the protesters that never materialized. Over 150 area firefighters, veterans, active duty military and local residents, young and old alike, raised flags to honor Jones and the sacrifice he and his family made.

"We're going to be here until the end," Nevada Police Sergeant Steve Bastow said of the dozen or so members of the Nevada Police Department, Vernon County Sheriff's Office and Missouri Highway Patrol on hand to provide security and maintain order. They maintained an unobtrusive presence for the entire morning.

At one time, those bearing flags surrounded the funeral home. Individual members of the riders' clubs walked the flag line offering to give those who were standing, some of them for more than two hours, a break.

One Patriot Guard Rider said that what they do is get the ball rolling and then they let the community take over from there. "It's the community that carries the event," he said. When Nevada Police Chief Graham Burnley arrived at the corner of Arch and Washington streets, he said there were "a lot of good folks with a lot of good intentions."

The event went without incident and family's rights and privacy were protected. A U.S. Navy Color Guard unit fired a 21-gun salute and taps were played. Flag bearers stood solemnly, some with their hands over their hearts; soldiers, officers and veterans saluted the soldier's honor. The family was allowed to leave in peace.

Jones was born in San Antonio, but grew up in Clinton, Mo. He moved to Bronaugh at age 9 and spent 6 years there. He returned to Clinton and graduated from Clinton High School in 2004. At age 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves and joined the regular Army at age 18. He was a helicopter door gunner and served in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He was currently a member of the U.S. Navy and worked as an air traffic controller.

Survivors include his parents, Joanie and Gerald Moore, Bronaugh, and Darrell "D.J." Jones, Houston, Texas and his sisters, Martell and Bonnie Moore of Bronaugh.