Posted on 08/01/2011 11:36:56 AM PDT by kburi
On a hot July Friday evening, temperature at 100 degrees, you might expect everyone has left for the beach. Not at the Walter Reed front gate! Tonight, over 41 Freepers, lurkers and visitors arrived to support the wounded warriors and their families on one of the few remaining Friday nights before the final transfer to Bethesda and Ft Belvoir.
A number of Freepers returned to join us. They came from Florida, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Georgia.
SeektheTruth brought a sign all the way from Florida thanking the DC Chapter of Free Republic for its 328 consecutive Friday nights at Walter Reed.Waiting for, and cheering the bus bringing the wounded warriors and their families back from the Aleethia Foundation dinner is always Friday evening’s highlight.
Tonight, the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) bus pulled up, stopped and the wounded warriors who could get off, did so, and thanked us for being there.
They quickly discovered that it was us who thanked them and their families for their service. Only one other time in the six years and four months of consecutive Friday nights has the bus stopped, allowing several FReepers to go on the bus.
Tonight, several wounded warriors and family members not only came out to talk with us, but also a number of us went on the bus and talked with those on the bus.
What a honor!
Trooprally had arranged for everyone to light sparklers as the bus drove up to the front gate, and just as we did, a fire engine down the street turned its flashing lights on. We weren’t hassled and later, that fire engine with lights and sirens on, actually blocked traffic allowing the DAV bus to make its left turn into Walter Reed!
It’s never quiet on Friday nights.
Mrs Trooprally arranged for 6 large pizzas, several coolers of cold drinks and some Freepers brought desserts including some delicious velvet cupcakes. We have developed a pretty nice food court over the years.
A breeze kicked up about 8:15pm which relieved the intense heat.
A car leaving WRAMC stopped and the mother who was driving told Bryan, “I am taking my son home now, thank all of you for your support here.”
Her son, a wounded warrior, was in the back seat.
Army Captain K (Medical Corps) walked through our crowd on his way home, and asked what we were doing.
It was his first Friday at Walter Reed having just been transferred here to work with wounded warriors at Fort Belvoir (Virginia).
After hearing about our Friday night commitment and seeing the signs, banners and flags, he said he was stunned to find this type of support for the wounded warriors and said that if he stayed any longer he would have moist eyes.
WO4Man sent a video of July 29 highlights at Walter Reed:
MOAB and Flag Row
WO4Man Securing the Corner 
Tonight’s Big Crowd
Tonight was the 328th consecutive Friday night that the DC Chapter of Free Republic has been at the front gates of Walter Reed to support our soldiers. Our calculator says that is 6 years and 4 months of consecutive Friday evenings. A lot of people over the six years have made this commitment possible.
It doesn’t seem possible, but after tonight only four Friday evenings remain.
August Calendar For the Walter Reed Transition
The DC Chapter of Free Republic invites all who have participated over the past 6 ½ years to join us on any the dates below that you can.
August 5, 12, 19, and 26 We will continue at the front gates until the last wounded warriors are moved to Bethesda. We expect the Friday night dinner buses to operate through early August. However, it depends on how many wounded warriors sign up. Many are already at Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda.
The Aleethia Foundation is already coordinating these dinners from (get used to the new name) the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, or WRNMMC for short.
The DC Chapter will continue at the front gates of Walter Reed until August 26. Walter Reed officially closes during the last week of August .
FReepers, Lurkers and Visitors on July 29, 2011
Mr. and Mrs Trooprally, CindyTrueSupporter, 3D-Joy, BufordP, Fraxinus, GunsAreOK, Kburi, PresUSA222, RonGKirby, Sensei Ern, Tammycat, VictoryNY, AGreatPer, Albion Wilde, Credo2, DollyCali, JoyjoyfromNJ, NewEnglandPatriot, Patriot Sister, RLmorel, SeektheTruth, stratman1969, WO4Man, BOQ, Lurkers Allie, Bill, Bryan and Terry, Captain K, Carol, Jessica, Jim, Laurie, Ted Nettles and Anne from Patriot Guard, Mr SeektheTruth, Cathy and Audrey from California, Jonn Lilyea of This Ain’t Hell blog, http://thisainthell.us/blog/ , and Phil Kever, Iraq veteran and author of “182 Days in Iraq”
Moonbat (eruption)News
Four moonbats tonight. They seemed a small afterthought compared to the 41 or so FReepers and visitors the front gate. Walter Reed Security continues to insure that they display their signs according to WRAMC policy. This seems to annoy the moonbats. In the picture, union boss and lead moonbat protester, Bruce, gave the finger to the Walter Reed Security Police as they drove away. WR Security had just made them remove their signs from Walter Reed property. They left promptly at 9 pm.
Union Boss Bruce says “Thanks” to Walter Reed Security Police 
FOOTNOTES
The DC Chapter invites you to join us every Friday night between the hours of 6:30pm to approximately 9:30pm. The last Walter Reed dinner buses are scheduled through early August. And we plan to soldier on until the last soldier has been transferred (August 26 will be our last Friday night). So the clock is ticking and we would be honored to have you join us before these long term consecutive Friday evening rallies come to a close.
BufordP's Walter Reed FReep archive
Trooprally’s Sparklers Light Up As the Bus Arrives 
CindyTrueSupporter and 3D-Joy Board the Bus
We Thank Two Wounded Warriors 
Allie, Laurie and RonGKirby 
Mrs Trooprally and 3D-Joy
SeektheTruth and Mr SeektheTruth
Dolly Cali with Josie and Toby. Ted and Anne of Maryland Patriot Guard are standing behind Dolly Cali. 
Mr SeektheTruth, JoyjoyfromNJ, BufordP, Bryan, Terry and WO4Man
Carole and AGreatPer. Trooprally and Ted are talking in the background, 
3D-Joy 
Cathy and Audrey from California 
SeektheTruth and Credo 2
VictoryNY
Jim, Fraxinus, a visitor and Patriot Sister 
BufordP talking with SeektheTruth, Standing - Sensei Ern and John Lilyea 
More Photos sent By WO4Man
I have a very VERY red face to match the red chair that I left when I left with RLmorel' green chair. The heat, fatigue (and health issues) got the best of me & I solicited help getting my stuff together & to the van. I have a red & green chair & asked the dear lady who helped me to get the green chair (which is what I thought i took out of van) & just noted this evening I NOW have two green chairs & one with RLmorel's name on it. I hope you got my chair . It think they are identical except for color. I really am sorry
Stratman1969 in Post 14
and DollyCali in Post 20
and an interesting Pre-Friday Night AAR by AGreatPer in Post 17
Thank you Dolly and Stratman
You two have FRmail
[Mr] T
...DC FReeps rock!
Thank you from the DC Chapter and all those who came from far and wide, a great bunch of FReepers.
Thank you for holding steadfast and showing up Friday after Friday. You guys rock!! Freeping at Walter Reed will be one of my most fond memories.
Thanks for the photos DC. They turned out really good.
I want to acknowledge your friend John Lilyea's actions.
He told me you are his friend.
In this day of "I don't want to get involved", this man was driving behind the person that caused the car accident. John saw the entire thing.
He gave a complete police report so that proper action can be taken.
Proud of your friend John.
[Mr] T
Neglected to mention that the above video was recorded and published in High Definition but the view default is the lowest setting
If your computer if powerful enough & your server “cooperates” you can view in a high setting but selecting the size you wish
The HIDE BAR along the bottom of the video(put your cursor there) will reveal the pause, time & also the number 360. That is the default lowest setting. You can upgrade it to 780. I could have done it higher but it takes twice as long to upload. Anyone who has done any YouTube uploading knows it is NOT a quick process & essentially you should not use your computer meanwhile.
I have had videos abort after 7 hours of processing/uploading when I went just to check “one little thing”
never again!
LOL
Hope you all enjoy it.
dolly
Hi DollyCali
Terrific video / slides, and you actually captured Mr and Mrs Trooprally in one photo!
Hope to see you again...
What a great video!
Thank you for posting it!
A special thanks goes to the DC Chapter Freeper/Patriots who were there every Friday in support of our wounded warriors for over 6 1/2 years! Those of us who were able to join them when we could, sure know how blessed we are to get to meet them!
they rather reluctantly agreed to a pix!!! Actually they were very busy, hot & no doubt annoyed to have their set up work interrupted but did agree to a quickie pose!
If I could I would have gotten a series of pix of them to work with
It was great meeting you also & wish I had more time (feeling well) to visit with everyone.
Nice job putting it together. Glad you could be there for the “last big” Freep.
TO: 3D-JOY;DollyCali;trooprally;agreatper;
Re: the “last big” Freep.
Remember, as Yogi Berra said: “ It ain’t over ‘til it’s over”.
LOL..
okay, confession time
most know I am a movie addict
and this year I even signed up for/paid for the chilren’s summer series
cheap
5 dollars for 10 flicks
most I had seen
tomorrow is Yogi Bera! I will think of you & that statement
I think of life that way too.
as I am older & have a few life ending issues, we just capture the moment, love on those near by and always thank God for the marvelous journey he has provided
Wise words FRiend. Thanks for the great video, and for going for those of us who could not go.
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