A contingent of homosexual-hating members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., have posted a flier on the church's website that says their message will be delivered at the funeral of a soldier in Spring Hill today.
The church pickets funerals of soldiers to protest the U.S. military's policy on homosexuality.
The funeral is for Sgt. Derek Peter Schicchi, 27, who served two deployments in Iraq and died in a noncombat situation this month at Fort Hood, Texas.
Hernando County sheriff's Sgt. Donna Black this morning said all she knows is what's on the flier. Her agency had not been contacted by the church, which usually arranges protection from law enforcement when pickets are staged.
She said the funeral home handling the arrangements typically hires a pair of off-duty deputies for funerals, and the department will dispatch two more just in case.
Messages left at the Westboro Baptist Church were not immediately answered.
The schedule of pickets on the church's website says a contingent was to picket the funeral of a soldier in Michigan today.
"They may or may not be here," Black said.
Schicchi enlisted in February 2003 and served in Iraq from August 2007 to January 2008 and January 2009 to January of this year.
He began in the Army as a track vehicle repairer. He had been assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division since July 2007, according to Fort Hood.
Schicchi's awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with Bronze Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon and Army Service Ribbon.
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