The Last 18 Wounded Warriors Leave Walter Reed – Saturday, August 27, 2011

September 1, 2011 | Kburi

[kburi]

Shortly after 6 am Saturday morning, and less than 9 hours after our last Friday night at Walter Reed, the first members of the DC Chapter of Free Republic began to arrive at the gates where the ambulances would depart Walter Reed.

Between Silver Spring, MD and Bethesda, Montgomery County, MD police cars were already at every intersection to ensure a non-stop passage for each ambulance to the newly named Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda.
By 6:30 am, the banners and signs were ready for the first of 18 ambulances. A food court, courtesy of the Trooprally’s and Lurker Bill, was set up on a corner. The coffee and doughnuts were very welcome.

7 am was the scheduled move start time. The first ambulance was several minutes late. But once they started, another ambulance followed every several minutes or so.
From the front gate, we could see the long line of ambulances waiting to go into the big white tent where each ambulance was loaded and then drove slowly to the front gate and stopped.
A DC police vehicle drove in front of it and escorted the ambulance to the Maryland line, where the Montgomery County police took over.
The ambulance carrying the last wounded warrior, left shortly after 8:45 am. The gates were closed after that.

As the ambulances passed us, every so often we could see a hand waving at us. These were the most severely wounded soldiers and we know that they knew, we were there supporting them.
Colonel McHugh, the Garrison Commander, came out to talk with us and thank us for being there over the years to support the wounded warriors and their families.
Later, Colonel Coots, the Walter Reed Healthcare System Commander, came out onto Georgia Ave to thank us.

If you have to get up early on a Saturday morning, this was the morning, slightly cool and clear.
With flags waving, banners hung and signs held, each ambulance was greeted until it disappeared up Georgia Ave. Meanwhile, traffic was building and passing cars were honking and waving just like a typical Friday night.
We were joined by three visitors: Kate, a volunteer with Honor Flight, Janet, an Air Force Staff Sergeant on her way to Afghanistan and Sirak, who used to live in the neighborhood, saw us and wanted to join us.

We were also “joined” by some members of the press: NPR, Matt of the Washington Post, CBS, the Army News Service and a couple of others. They had little understanding of who we were and why we were there.

Maybe the American flags confused them.

This was a very nice end to the 6 years and 4 months of consecutive Friday evenings at Walter Reed.

It ended because BRAC decided to close Walter Reed, the US Army’s flagship hospital, and not because Americans couldn’t find the time on Friday evenings to support our troops.

God Bless Our Troops and their Families

FReepers, Lurkers and Visitors on August 27, 2011

Mr. and Mrs Trooprally, CindyTrueSupporter, Fraxinus, Kburi, PrezUSA222, RonGKirby, TammyCat, VictoryNY, Lurkers Bill, Bryan, Jim, Kim and Terry. Visitors: Janet, Kate and Sirak.

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To see After Action Reports beginning in March 2005, please check BufordP’s Walter Reed Freep Archives :

BufordP's Walter Reed FReep archive

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August 27, 2011 Photos Of The Final Move
(courtesy of Mrs. Trooprally)

Shortly After 6 am, Saturday
Looking Across Walter Reed’s Front Lawn at the Huge White Tent
In Which the Ambulances Were Loaded One By One





Outside the Entrance,
The DC Chapter Gets Ready For the First Ambulance
Terry, VictoryNY and Bryan take one corner



RonGKirby Takes Another


Kim, TammyCat and Trooprally prepare A 3rd corner

Bill Sets Up The Food Court, While CindyTrueSupporter Keeps Watch

The First Ambulance Is Ready To Leave Walter Reed




Bryan, Kburi and Bill

VictoryNY, Bryan, NPR Phtographer(Kneeling)
and Matt, the Washington Post Photographer

The Ambulances Keep Coming

And Coming ……..

DC Police Escorts Led Each Ambulance Up Georgia Ave

Can’t Miss This Corner - RonGKirby and Terry

Showing Support

Sirak and Fraxinus Waiting For the Next Ambulance


Flanked By Kim and Tammycat, An Air Force Staff Sergeant
(on her way to Afghanistan) Stands With Her Parents

The Ambulance Carrying The Last Wounded Warrior to Leave Walter Reed

After 102 Years, Walter Reed Closes Its Gates

[basil]

Glad the pinkos didn’t show!

I knew there were other long timers and that I would forget to mention some, so I’m glad you listed them.

I’m sure the troops have appreciated what y’all have done. I’m not sure where Navy Med is, but if I get up that way again, I’ll figure out how to find it.

Thanks to all of you for all you’ve done to support our wounded warriors.

[oneamericanvoice]

Congratulations for a job not just well done, but a job done in excellent fashion! Mission complete! You are the standard bearer for all others. Everyone who braved the elements to support the troops and their families deserve a medal.

If there is a Bethesda chapter that can take up the mission, you can show them how.

God bless all of you! Best wishes in all your endeavors!

Deborah Leigh
Friday night rally, Studio City, CA
Sunday rally, Woodland Hills, CA