Former Marine and Vietnam vet arrested for tossing coffee on Westboro church members disrespecting American Flag

A former Marine and Vietnam vet was arrested for tossing coffee on Westboro Church members who were disrespecting American Flag as they protested at the funeral of Beau Biden. Richard Pierce was arrested and charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

“It was not my intention to cause a problem. However, when I saw the young lady walking across the highway, dragging our flag under her feet, I lost my temper and the only way that I could demonstrate that is spill my coffee on them.

“So many people have died in defense of that flag. I don’t care who you are, you are not going to disrespect the flag. And if I have to go to jail to defend that flag, I’m going to do it.

“I just wanted to make sure that they minded their manners and behaved themselves,”  he said.

Pierce was one of about 300 people who were counter-protesting three members from Westboro, a Topeka, Kansas, church known for picketing soldiers’ funerals and its anti-homosexual beliefs.

People from around the country have come to Pierce's defense and to support him for defending Old Glory.

"I would like to get in touch with Richard Pierce. If you could give him my info I would like to buy him a gift card for maybe Dunkin Donuts for the service he gave to this country in Viet Nam and for the coffee he spilled on those protesters at the Biden funeral," Peter Orsi, of Brooklyn, New York, said in an email to The News Journal.

 "Your decision to peacefully stand up to protect the Biden family from the hateful words and signs that those nitwits from Westboro Church were displaying shows the class and respect that we feel should be shown when a family and state is mourning their loss.

"I know the Biden family is not in a position to comment on what you did yesterday, but I would like to say thank you for standing up for all of us," Delaware House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf posted on Facebook.