PORT ORCHARD, Wash. -- Protesters and counter-protesters gathered outside the funeral of Sfc. Johnny Walls, 41, who was killed on Nov. 2 during a small-arms fire from enemies in Afghanistan Friday afternoon.

A well-known group of protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas who travel across the country protesting homosexuality by staging demonstrations at military funerals was present a few blocks away from Walls' service.

A large group of counter-protesters arrived at the intersection where the four women and one child from the Westboro church were and quickly blocked the church members' signs.

“I think it’s great we're all coming together to show support for the troops and being able to cover these people’s signs with our flags with love and nonviolence,” one protester said.

The Westboro protesters claim God is punishing the United States by killing soldiers because of the country’s tolerance for gays.

“If they don’t repent of their filthy sins, they’ll go to hell. They hate the word of God; it pricks their evil hearts and they’re condemned because they don’t obey it,” one Westboro church member said.

“It’s awful lowdown what they’re doing. They’re denying this fallen hero a right to a Christian burial, and they call themselves Christians,” one protester said.

The Westboro group told police it would stay for an hour, but after 20 minutes it left, being escorted by police.

“Everybody here was full of love today, and I think that's why they ran away,” a protester said.