Incoming Troops, Outgoing Vets: Soldiers From Other Wars Help Those From Iraq at BWI

The Washington Post ^ | November 11, 2003 | Steve Vogel

[Flyer]

Bumping to read after I'm done painting.

[VOA]

If y'all see anyone at Hobby or HIA hasseling our troops coming home, please bust
them in the mouth! I'll pay your fine!

Actually, there's a non-violent alternative.
If there are anti-soldier protestors, just show up in suit and tie, a la Men In Black,
wearing sunglasses, and start videotaping them.
Make sure they know they are being taped.
And refuse to answer if they demand to know why you're taping them.

Of course, be prepared for these pacifists to turn violent, to destroy your videocam,
as soon as they start presuming John Ashcroft has sent you get them on file
for Patriot Act violations.

[humblegunner]

"please bust them in the mouth! I'll pay your fine!"

Wilco.

[TexasCowboy]

"Actually, there's a non-violent alternative."

No, sorry. If I'm there, I'll bust 'em!

[VOA]

No, sorry. If I'm there, I'll bust 'em!

Heck TexasCowboy, my exposition was incomplete!
I didn't mean that there was only one methodology...just suggesting an
an alternative for folks (like myself) who just don't know if they'd be able to
throw a good punch!

While...for myself, I might have gone with the "freak 'em out with a
videocam" method, I can't guarantee that if I had a confrontation with these anti-patriots,
I might get that emotion that Clark (of Lewis and Clark) expressed when some
nice Native-American was about to steal from him:
"I felt the blood rise within me."

I wouldn't be suprised at myself if some of these pukes egged me into a bit of pugilism!

I hope y'all find some way of greeting our Best-And-Brightest at the airports in
the Houston area.
And if any sort of altercation ensues with some unprincipled interlopers,
please post if you need any sort of help with legal fees.
(I'm NOT being facetious...just asking you to let us know IF any problems break out)

[Feiny]

Thanks so much for this fantastic article.
Is there any way to find out when these flights arrive.
I am near LAX & would love to welcome home troops. And...I know plenty of LA freepers who would join me.

[Feiny]

Thanks so much for this fantastic article.
Is there any way to find out when these flights arrive.
I am near LAX & would love to welcome home troops. And...I know plenty of LA freepers who would join me.

[TexasCowboy]

LOL!
Yeah, we'll have some cameras in the crowd.
Whatever happens we'll post it.

I suspect you'd be the same way.
If you saw someone taunting our guys, your blood would boil, and it wouldn't make any difference if you got your butt stomped into the pavement, you'd get in one good punch.

I just wish I had been there for the guys coming back from VietNam. I'll never forgive myself for that.
I lost some good friends there, but I wasn't even there to welcome the survivors back home.
I was too busy in my own little world.

That won't happen again, so help me God!

[TexasCowboy]

"Is there any way to find out when these flights arrive."

Hi, good lookin'!

I'm going to start chasing that info Monday.
I'll let you know what I find out.

[BillF]

Is there any way to find out when these flights arrive. I am near LAX & would love to welcome home troops.

I'm not sure, but armymarinemom might have some thoughts about a way to get a schedule.

[VOA]

BillF, I apologize in advance to you and Jim Robinson for stealing this thread momentarily...

Dear Fellow Freepers...I'm hi-jacking this thread for a short side-bar in hopes to inform you to motivate y'all just a bit.....
the deadline (November 13th) for mailing military care-packages via the APO/FPO route to
our best and brightest has passed.

BUT...you can still mail military care packages!
I know, I DID IT YESTERDAY! (Saturday 11-15-03)

It's still TIME to:
SHOP
BOX
and
MAIL

for shipping advice, see threads at these URLs:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1003802/posts
(please not that the USPS website URL are missing a ".com"),
and remember to mark the "Redirect" box and write in "Commander/Chaplain"
on the Customs form...that way your box will definitely be used
AND
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/997310/posts


Further info. on VOA's mailing of two packages on 11-15-03, Saturday

I'll admit that it's costly. I loaded up one of the free "Priority Mail" cardboard boxes from the
local United States Post Office.
I loaded up each of two boxes with all sorts of "comfort food" and "personal hygiene" items that
should be useful, no matter if the recipient gets them or they are redirected by a "commander/chaplain".

I loaded each boxes with food items like...
flavored coffeed (e.g, hazelnut flavored that had sugar in the blend),
artificially-sweetened Tropical-Punch-flavored Kool-Aid (so sugar isn't required),
Spam-brand "Oven-roasted Turkey" (no pork products; metal-sealed for long-term preservation)...something
that a hungry Iraqi might really appreciate as a gift),
Lipton soup-packets in the flavors of "chicken noodle", "ranch", and "beef onion" (humble, but a change of pace!)
Oreo Cookies ("America's Favorite Cookie"...so I bet US soliders like 'em),
M&Ms -- holiday-colors...bet those will be well received around the tent!,
disposable razors (and a bar of "Burma-Shave" brand shaving soap!),
new toothbrushes (heck, might just be useful in cleaning an M-16!) and toothpaste,
solid-form under-arm deoderant....

I'm sure that folks who've actually served in a long-term deployment far from home, especially when separated
from beloved family and friends DURING THE HOLIDAYS can come up with even much more meaningful
and significant items to send to those who are abroad...protecting us, their fellow band of brothers and sisters,
and, at a long reach.....you and me.

[Feiny]

Hi sweetie! I didn't know you were back on FR. I had to check your profile page....glad to see you!

[Taxman]

Damn straight I'm interested!

Any way we can get involved? I probably can go out there Thursday or Friday morning this week.