Last Saturday was an inspiring experience in D.C. for us all.
Posted on 03/24/2007 2:32:42 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Echoes of the past are heard as vets gather in D.C. to back the troops, oppose war protesters. Chris Hill visits the Wall every Veterans Day. He follows the path to Panel 4W, Line 36, and stops at the name Curtis R. Smoot. It's the same name on the POW-MIA bracelet Hill has worn for 22 years. Hill picked up the bracelet at an ROTC recruitment table in high school. He didn't know Smoot, but the bracelet was a poignant reminder of service and sacrifice during Hill's years with the Seventh Infantry Division in the late 1980s.
At Panel 4W, Hill places his hand on the Wall, bows his head, and honors the helicopter crewman who was shot down in 1971, and whose body was never recovered.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is hallowed ground for Hill, made more significant by his first visit right after he enlisted. He was with his dad and uncle, both Vietnam vets. The two older men stood before the Wall on a cold, rainy December afternoon, holding on to each other, weeping.
"That picture's never left my mind," says Hill, now 38.
So when Hill heard about the Wall's being a gathering place for an antiwar protest, he decided he'd be there too - in opposition.
Joining Hill's outrage at what looked like an "occupation" of the Wall were other veterans, military families and their supporters. They worried about vandalism because of the spray-painting of the Capitol steps during a January demonstration.
Out of informal talk among local vets groups, and via e-mail and blogs, a national ad hoc group - a Gathering of Eagles ( http://www.gatheringofeagles.org ) - and a mission grew:
---snip----
Contact Kevin Ferris at 610-701-7629 or kferris@phillynews.com.
(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...
Sunday, before heading home to Philadelphia, Hill was back at the Wall. No crowds. No chants. He stood with head bowed, hand on Panel 4W, honoring Curtis R. Smoot, and thousands more.
Great article.
As a marshal helping to ensure order, Hill heard plenty of angry exchanges, with neither side holding back. He recalls one protester marching by and yelling, "You don't support the troops!"
The vets fired back: "We are the troops!"
+
We have a replica of the Wall here in town, about 60% of the size of the one in DC. The anti-war peaceniks put flyers out all over the place starting a week ahead of time to try and organize a protest on the 4th anniversary of the hostilities in Iraq. A lot of us showed up, many in uniform, and when these snotty nosed punks and 60's hippie burnouts saw they were outnumbered about 3 to 1 they decided they had best just leave before they needed a lot of dental work. They barely made a peep.
My father used to tell me that once a coward, always a coward.
I don't know if that is true but I do agree with what Coach Bryant used to say:
The first time you quit, it's hard. The second time, it gets easier. The third time, you don't even have to think about it. - Paul W. Bryant
Appreciate your service stm - both at home and away. Good job.
"As a marshal helping to ensure order, Hill heard plenty of angry exchanges, with neither side holding back. He recalls one protester marching by and yelling, "You don't support the troops!"
The vets fired back: "We are the troops!" "
~~~~~
I'm not sure whether to be amazed at the bone-headedness or the ARROGANCE of the "protestors"...as if they had the ONLY "right of free speech"....!!!!
Last Saturday was an inspiring experience in D.C. for us all.
I was standing next to the 3 active duty guys who screamed that the first time,,, a big smile came to me, i looked to my left to see these guys (in civies), and then I joined right in screaming till it hurt and screamed some more!!
What a day! :-)
I had a great time. It was cold and muddy but it was definitely worth it.
I read a report the other day that said after the first hour the anti-war protesters numbered about 1,000, and the prowar group was at about 30,000.
Great day, lets not let the left shame our troops and lose this war.
cool slideshow. Wish I could've been there...
Pay close attention to the "chanting" in THIS:
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=24900_Video-_Portland_Anarchists_Burning_US_Soldier_in_Effigy&only
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