After Action Report - Tampa, FL Counter Freep!

We wuz there! ^ | 3-15-2003 | Tunehead54

[Tunehead54]

Ok here we go! The Thursday, 3-13-2003, St. Pete's Times had an article noting the ANTI-WAR rally at the MacDill AFB entrance. They still support our troops, mind you, but they'll have their protest at the base entrance to "pump up" our troops - no doubt.

So after 3 seconds of solemn contemplation we said - "Let's Roll!" We looked for info on the whereabouts of the protests and even called MacDill who didn't know anything.

Friday, I FReepmailed anyone with a Tampa connection up into the "T's" and then put my feet up to "rest my eyes" just for a sec - Hey its Saturday!

Pics to follow - the losers had us 2-1 but it was their "protest" - speakers ranted about the usual - Can't we use this money for the poor, the children, yadda, yadda ...

Picked up a couple of new FReepers we hope ... more below. Identified FReepers would be GatorGirl & kids, fiesti, Marti R and myself, TH54 and kids.

Regardless of our presence it was heatwarming to see lots of true Americans, without an agenda showing up, on their own to support our troops and President. Sniff!

First: Marti R and her husband - NOT the guy to her left - he was Anti-War but "reasonable" - Her spouse, I'll call him "Frank" - is behind her and a couple of flags - still a handsome guy - honest!.

Next, a fellow, 76 who served in WWII and Korea and claims to be active even now as an "intelligence advisor" - if you talked to him you'd believe him as I did - still sharp!

We missed "fiesti" - and I cannot believe I didn't get GatorGirl's pic with her kids - she's got her hubby - over there - for the last 1 & 1/2 years - Wow! Say a prayer for them, please.

On the left is a future Freeper I'm certain! He waved the flag from start to finish! On the other side of the sign it said: "Remeber 9-11-2001 - Its US or them!"

Here's our FReeper Family with a little help for the future FReeper - mentioned just above (I'm the handsome guy on the left):

[Tunehead54]

The editor has gone kafloozie so I'm posting and I'll add more pics soon!

[LouD]

Great work!

My brother-in-law is stationed there at SOCOM; He's been deployed for a couple of months now, and my sister-in-law and the kids have been having a hard time: They live out in a largely civilian community, and have heard all kinds of nasty comments from the local peaceniks.

Last week, I called her to tell her of our rally in Milwaukee, and she was in tears, she was so grateful that someone was out there telling our side of the story - She, and the rest of the families of those now in harm's way, surely appreciate your standing up for them.

On behalf of my brother-in-law and his entire family, and all the families left behind at McDill, thanks for providing a very visible reminder of our support for them.

[Jen]

Great job! Way to go FReepers!

[4integrity]

TH, great pics! Me and my husband were there too. Wasn't it a beautiful sight to see all the American flags on our side of the street. Sorry I didn't get to speak with you and your family. I do think we said so long as you left. Glenn Beck's Atlanta rally had 25,000 people! Will you go to the Sarasota rally next week-end?

[dawn53]

Wow, 25,000 in Atlanta. My sister was going, but I hadn't heard from her yet.

Glenn said last week he'd be happy if there were 10,000. Wonder if CNN will report anything seeing that they were right on CNN's doorstep with the rally.

[Tunehead54]

"Protest" Photos:

US!:

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Them - notice the lack of flags - strangely, later there was a guy handing out flags on their side:

[Tunehead54]

Will you go to the Sarasota rally next week-end?

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Maybe? Sarasota isn't that far ... What was your "sign"? - sorry we missed you! FReepMAIL me any pics you have and I"ll post a couple - this is almost like working!

[tbpiper]

Great job! Caught you on the local Fox news (not saying where I am but I'm up to my a$$ in strawberrys). Coverage was pretty good. The Leader of the opposition clamjamfry said in hindsight it was a mistake to protest at the base because the troops might take it the wrong way. I guess something made them feel real uncomfortable. Like I said, good job.

By the way, if I'd been there, I would have been the one they carted off to Orient Road (i.e. jail, for you non locals). My son is at Camp New York with the 101st and the rest of the pointy end of the spear. These seekers of peace are making his job harder and more dangerous. As a father, I'm at the end of my patients with these people putting my son in further danger.

[Tunehead54]

This is Francisco and his son Aiden (Irish - I think) - As you can see I expertly cut off his sign which said: "I support my Mommy!"

His wife is "over there" and he appreciated our support!

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[Tunehead54]

Here's the loonies but as mentioned above, all of a sudden, they've got flags! Note they're all the same - car window flags - handed out by ??

Please do look at the first "Their Side" pic - not a US flag to be seen!

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Note: I offered the "flag guy" $5 for two as we had "small" flags - he gave me two but refused the $. Said he'd given away 500 flags that day. Mostly I suspect to the "Left" side of the street.

[Tunehead54]

On behalf of my brother-in-law and his entire family, and all the families left behind at McDill, thanks for providing a very visible reminder of our support for them.

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Its the least we could do for our troops and their families! Plus we had the added bonus of trying to scream some sense into these anti-President Bush Bozos! A good time was had by our side!

[jla]

Said he'd given away 500 flags that day. Mostly I suspect to the "Left" side of the street.

I wouldn't doubt that. If it's free expect a long line of liberals with their hands out.
(And some bitchin' 'cause they couldn't get two of 'em!)

jla
Clearwater High '77

[Tunehead54]

The Leader of the opposition clamjamfry said in hindsight it was a mistake to protest at the base because the troops might take it the wrong way.

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We let'm have it with that - "What are you doing protesting here if you support our troops? Idiots!" What kind of rocket scientist does it take to figure that out? They could have been downtown, West Kennedy and Westshore - anywhere except for the entrance to CentCom - unless maybe they're anti-US everything?

[Tunehead54]

Still wondering why no one is commenting on the handsome guy on the left in post #1 - at the bottom!

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Here's another pic of "our side"

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

What a handsome family and a great Freep for our troops! Thank you for raisin' 'em up right. (^;

[4integrity]

My sign read: SUPPORT OUR MILITARY (very creative..not)and my husband's sign read: Thank you for defending America.
We will go to Sarasota next week-end. We're in St. Pete; it will take about 45 minutes to Sarasota. We went to Orlando a couple of weeks ago and 2000 peo showed up. It was inspiring! My husband wanted to go to Atlanta but I thought it was more important to be at MacDill. We need to show our troops we support and appreciate them!

[Tunehead54]

Re the "Flag Guy" - I can see him as a dim/commie/socialist apparatchik (sp) knowing that the proletariat would end up looking like the anti-US scum that they are so they'd better hand out some red, white and blue to keep them from easily being seen for what they are.

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[GatorGirl]

Thanks Jen...it was FUN!

It was a pleasure meeting Tunehead and Marta and the other wonderful patriots out at the MacDill main gate. I was going to post photos but luckily Tune beat me to it. We were neighbors for a while and I chatted with his wife for some time and met the whole family. Thanks guys!

My photos are flying across the world as we speak, and I know they will be appreciated.

I will make every effort to be in Sarasota next weekend. GG

[Tunehead54]

Thank you for raisin' 'em up right. (^;

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Thanks! My oldest can't believe how liberal her friends are - we keep feeding her stats to support her but Public Ed grinds on - sickening.

[jla]

By the way, you're future Governor, and my great-niece, will be born sometime this month down there on the Gulf Coast.

And if you all don't know Summer, she was a One Gal Gang in seein' that Jeb retained his rightful seat in Tallahassee.