OPERATION INFINITE FREEP: Hundreds rally to support U.S. troops

The Seattle Times ^ | 2/9/02 | Janet I. Tu

[ppaul]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/134631036_prowar09m.html

Hundreds rally to support U.S. troops

Saying it's about time U.S. military troops realized that many Americans support them in a possible war with Iraq, hundreds of Puget Sound-area residents waved American flags and "Support Our Troops" signs yesterday at rallies in Bellevue and outside McChord Air Force Base.

"We want our soldiers, our airmen to know as they're being deployed that Americans support them," said Sheryl Sheaffer, 49, of Sammamish, whose son is in the Army. "We don't want their last image to be that of the anti-war protesters."

Demonstrators waving "Free Iraq" signs and a "Land of the Free/Because of the Brave" banner, packed four corners at a busy downtown intersection near Bellevue Square. A constant stream of cars blared horns.

Sheaffer and her mother, Nadine Gulit, helped form Support Our Troops, a grass-roots organization in Western Washington, about four weeks ago. They were frustrated after watching another anti-war protest on television, Sheaffer said. "We have to get out and speak for ourselves," they decided.

Now, Sheaffer says, they're speaking on national radio shows and getting e-mails from around the country asking how to form other such groups. They hope their efforts will start a groundswell of national support for the troops and for President Bush.

"I believe in my country," Sheaffer says. "I believe in my president. Sometimes for the sake of all we have to stand up and be strong."

A Newsweek magazine poll of 1,003 American adults last week found 70 percent would support military force against Iraq, with 60 percent supporting a U.S. strike even if inspectors don't find evidence of weapons of mass destruction.

Still, Claudia Joines, 52, of North Bend said she feels U.S. troops in the Middle East are "getting the message that most of America is against the war. We are trying to send the message that regardless of politics, we support you."

That doesn't mean that they want a war, said Joines, one of several members of Marine Moms Online who attended yesterday's Bellevue rally. "We are extraordinarily proud of our kids," she said. "Many people misinterpret that pride as us being warmongers. We're military moms. We don't want our kids to be shot."

A few anti-war protesters also showed up yesterday, some debating with those who support a war with Iraq. "It's just like in Vietnam," said Janice Faris, 60, of Newcastle. "You get the troops over there so you have to support them."

Chuck Lawrence, 52, of Sumner says that as a Vietnam War veteran, he knows firsthand what it's like to come back to a country in which veterans were ostracized, and in which friends he grew up with didn't want to have anything to do with him.

"I want to make sure that what happened to me doesn't happen to this generation," he said.

He doesn't take lightly his decision to support a war to remove Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. "I want to see the people there freed," Lawrence said.

Outside McChord Air Force Base, about two dozen people showed up at a rally organized by Operation Support Our Troops-Pierce County.

Carolyn Verone, 56, of Puyallup said she never wants her Army son to see the kind of lack of support that Vietnam veterans got both during and after the war. Her son called her yesterday to say he was being deployed to the Middle East.

"I had friends who were killed (in Vietnam)," said Verone. "My brother and husband fought there. What I saw from the soldiers that came back — it was very depleting in my heart to think that nobody cared for them."

She said she doesn't believe that all those who are against the war are against the troops. And she herself expressed some ambivalence about whether the United States should go to war against Iraq now.

But she says her participation yesterday was "not for the war and not against the war. It's to support our troops."

Janet I. Tu: 206-464-2272 or jtu@seattletimes.com

[ppaul]

Patriots turn the tide!
FReep on!

[Bob J]

Outstanding work Puget Sound!

[I_Love_My_Husband]

PING!

[zip]

She said she doesn't believe that all those who are against the war are against the troops.

She needs to come to Columbia MO and see that 99.91234 percent of the hippie peaceniks ARE against the troops, America, God, moral values and everything good. "Our" peaceniks are pro Blame America firstists (is that a word?) anti Government at all levels except "their" academia, and on and on. I just wish these clowns would study both sides of the issues before making their grandious comments.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

I beleive in God and i trust my President.

Bumps

[nutmeg]

This is wonderful! Thanks for posting this, ppaul.

Bravo Puget Sound!

[nutmeg]

Liberate Iraq - Support Our Troops!

[nutmeg]

Heartwarming ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent ping list.

[ppaul]

PATRIOT
I
N
G

[ppaul]

Thanks for the link!

[Antoninus]

Pray for our President
I
N
G
!

[bluesagewoman]

Well Zip, I think we raised enough Cain that our peaceniks pretty much put away their really nasty signs. I haven't seen the one that read, "The Military Kills Babies" or the "Bush is a Terrorist" sign for about a year now. If our troops have to see that mess at least the worst of it is neutered. Except when the anarchists come for the big marches, and I intend on having a camera to send photos to the newspapers if they present their hateful stuff again. So many who are joining their ranks have no idea what those peaceniks are all about.

[nutmeg]

You're welcome! Happy to pass another heartwarming story onto you and more FReepers.

[zip]

So many who are joining their ranks have no idea what those peaceniks are all about.

That is the real tragedy. Some of them have no idea how the real world works.

[Libertina]

FReep Report posted from yesterday: BTW, although I participated in this rally, it was put on by a local couple. For FReepers in the South Sound area you can check upcoming dates at supportourtroops.homestead.com. There will also be a link to FRee Republic soon. FYI FReepers in cooperation with several other groups will hold a large rally in Seattle on March 1. Get your signs ready, I will be posting the details and sending out FReepmail/email to all our members.

Just back from the rally... brrrr! My hands and feet are still warming up. My friend (and FReeper) Judai, called me from the rally in downtown Bellevue, 1200 patriots on the street corner there! I could hardly hear her, horns were honking, they were singing and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. (ie: annoying liberals) LOL

Our little rally in Lakewood, which I chose to attend, was only 20. But we were right outside McChord AFB were the troops enter and exit. We got madly waving hands, thumbs-up, honks, even a few salutes. The most heartwarming was when a young military guy stopped his truck, left the motor running, came over and shook everybody's hands. He told us how much our actions meant to him. It made my day. At one point, our group was joined by a couple and their three kids. As the family walked over, each one down to the littlest child was waving a flag. :) It truly touched the heart!

The only sour notes were a nasty woman shouting out Bush "sucked." We nicely reminded her that she was thinking of the wrong administration ;) Another person in a car going into the base gave us a thumbs down, hard to understand that. I guess the military has been infiltrated as well. The last strange incident was a car coming out of the military base, the car had a DOD (Dept. Of Defense) sticker on it and they gave a thumbs down. They should be fired.

Otherwise, support vastly outweighed the America/Republican haters. We were also well interviewed by 2 pleasant reporters: one from the Tacoma News Tribune, one from the Seattle Times. I took the opportunity to thank the Trib reporter for the fine article written after our Camp Murray rally. I also recalled to him our lack of coverage when in Seattle at the 2000+ attended USA rally a year ago. I told him that we were not covered (said the media) because they "didn't have peoiple working on the weekend." This reporter had the truthfulness and good sense to snort at that excuse! LOL I also talked up FRee Republic as much as I could. If we are mentioned in the article tomorrow, I'll post it! :) Reporting from Washington - over and out! :

[Prov3456]

You're right there! One good friend at church this morning said she would attend the "Gathering for Peace" next Saturday-until I explained to her who they are and what they really believe. Then her response was, "Oh, I don't believe that!"

(See post on Missouri locale for details about possible FREEP>)

Thank you, troops, and FREEPERS, for standing firm for freedom. May God bless and protect you.

[zip]

The last strange incident was a car coming out of the military base, the car had a DOD (Dept. Of Defense) sticker on it and they gave a thumbs down.

Strange is an understatement. I wish I had the car #, I would call DOD on these idiots. In their job, they have to follow their leaders or get out.

[Trteamer]

You make me proud!!! Fantastic Job!!!

Our troops are getting the message of support loud and clear. Keep up the good work!!

[Bigg Red]

EXCELLENT!!!

[Bigg Red]

Wow!
Thanks for the flag, girlfriend.