ARLINGTON — Fred Phelps, a retired Army command sergeant major and founder of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church, will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, officials confirmed Friday.
"As a soldier who served the Army when his country called, Sgt. Maj. Phelps served our nation honorably and deserves to be buried in peace," said Ian Wilson, an Arlington spokesman, in a written statement.
Phelps died of complications from AIDS on Wednesday at 11:15 p.m., according to a church spokesman. He was 84.
