As the church bell rang, mourners followed the hearse to Snow’s final resting place at Byron Cemetery & Mausoleum, 3256 Trebein Road.
No protesters there
A group assembled across from the First Baptist Church annex because they believed that is where members of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church would be. Westboro members travel the country picketing military funerals, claiming that God kills U.S. troops because of America’s acceptance and tolerance of homosexuality.
But no members of the Westboro group showed up or could be found protesting.
Debbie Bulger of Miamisburg said while she did not know Snow, she comes from a military family and decided to join hundreds to honor his memory.
“I’ve had seven family members go overseas, and today I stand here for them,” she said as she stood with a crowd along Maple Avenue.
Mike Circle of West Milton said he came to counter any protesters.
“I support the family and I don’t like what (Westboro) is doing,” he said. “I want the family to know that most people honor their son.”
Brittny Smith, a Fairborn High School graduate who will attend Sinclair Community College in January, said though she did not know Snow, they had mutual friends. Like many spectators, she said she had to be here.
“Us being here to block them out is a way to show that he is a hero, and we are silent in respect,” she said.
Steven Jones of Beavercreek said he was there to counter the Westboro protest because his brother Gary, who died Oct. 17, could not be.
Patriot Guard Riders had 50 to 75 members at Mary, Help of Christians Parish, located at 954 N. Maple Ave., where the service was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
Patriot Guard Riders line the routes of military services to keep Westboro protesters out of the view of families.
Hundreds of people attended a visitation and slide show memorial Monday night at Fairborn High School, where Snow graduated from school.
Local business donates 4,000 American flags
Ron Estepp, who owns Ron Estepp Continuous Gutter in Fairborn, donated the American flags that spectators held along the funeral procession. Since Snow’s remains were returned on Nov. 23, his company has donated about 4,000 flags for people to use at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, at Monday’s public viewing and today’s funeral.
Estepp said he annually purchases American flags to give away during the Fourth of July parade. He said Paul Newman, executive director of the Fairborn Area Chamber of Commerce, called him asking if he had extra flags to donate for the Snow funeral. He said he felt honored to donate and humbled because he seeks no attention for his efforts.
“We had 10,000 flags during the Fourth of July parade,” Estepp said.”He just called and asked if I had any. I felt it was just the right thing to do.”
Estepp, a lifelong Fairborn native, said Snow’s father, John W. Snow Sr., “stopped in and thanked me one day. I couldn’t believe he got through that. He’s a pretty strong fellow.”
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