Zeldin and Murray Announce Legislation To Limit Protests At Military Funerals

A bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Sen. Lee M. Zeldin, Sen. Joseph Griffo, Assemblyman Michael Cusick and Assemblyman Dean Murray recently announced an agreement on legislation to limit protests at military funerals.

Zeldin and Murray took part in a press conference and last week in front of members of the Suffolk County veterans' community that took place at VFW Post 9486 in Lake Ronkonkoma to discuss The Dignity Act.

Zeldin proposed the Specialist Thomas J. Wilwerth Military Dignity Act this past March. Zeldin and Griffo introduced two companion bills, which passed in the senate on March 14, 2011.  The two bills were amended and passed by the Assembly on Monday, June 6.  The Senate will consider these bills before the end of session on June 20.

Those in attendance included Elaine and Terry Wilwerth, parents of Thomas J. Wilwerth, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2006, and had gone to school with Zeldin.

One of the bills triples the buffer zone distance for protests around a religious service, funeral, burial or memorial service from 100 feet to 300 feet.  The second bill requires the development and implementation of a permit process for demonstrations at veteran and veteran family member funerals, and authorizes the imposition of fines for failure to comply with the permit provisions.

"The fact is there is freedom of speech in this great country. I was proud to serve in the active duty reserves, and Dean's son just returned," said Zeldin who acknowledged the need to balance the freedoms that those who served our country have fought and died for, with the intent to protect the rights of mourners.

"For future Gold Star families, we want to make sure that dignity and honor is going to be protected in advance," said Zeldin.  "Suffolk County was the lead in getting this ban on protecting military funerals ... Specialist Wilwerth's service and sacrifice will never be forgotten."

This act will be a fitting legacy left behind by Wilwerth who died heroically in the line of duty.

"My son volunteered to go on a mission to rescue fellow soldiers when their tank was under attack," said Elaine, explaining the circumstances of Wilwerth's passing.  "So now he's doing the same thing; he's helping his fellow brothers to keep protesters away from funerals.  He's still out there doing his thing, helping his buddies ... When anything good comes along it helps ease the bad."

"If you want to protest," urged Terry, "go to Capitol Hill, go to Zeldin's office —don't go to a funeral."