Veterans express thanks for funeral legislation

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A Henniker woman whose son was killed in Afghanistan in 2006 said Thursday that she is thankful that other families will be spared the the worry she felt along with her grief during his funeral.


While there were no protestors at her son’s funeral, Jean Durgin said she feared there would be because members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas had shown up at services for other soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.


At a news conference marking the signing of a bill to limit such disruptions, Durgin said it is incomprehensible that parents should have to worry about protestors when burying their children.


‘‘I'm sorry that we need legislation to compel people to behave themselves,’’ said Durgin, whose son Army Sgt. Russell Durgin died in June 2006. ‘‘But as you know, we have many incidents in this country where people need sensitivity training. I would be glad to participate in that.’’


Durgin was joined by U.S. Rep. Charles Bass, who introduced legislation that was incorporated into a larger veterans bill President Barack Obama signed into law this week.

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