Knell survived accident that killed McDonald County soldier

A little item posted on The Carthage Press website guestbook caught my eye.
Jason Knell, a Carthage Senior High School graduate, and the son of the late Rob and Kathy Knell, wrote:
"About the article 'Area soldier buried with dignity, honor.' I am very lucky to have survived the same accident that the soldier in that story was in. And it just sickens me that a group would protest at a funeral of a fallen soldier and also at a parents last goodbye to their son or daughter."
Fortunately, the scurrilous group that had planned the protest did not show for Chris Marion's funeral.
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The area newspapers handled the funeral coverage in proper fashion, without exception. The focus was placed on Chris Marion's life and sacrifice, with information about the aborted protest either relegated to the end of the article or put in a sidebar.
The protest story (or non-story as it turned out) had to be told, but the spotlight rightly belonged on a young man who made the ultimate sacrifice.