Posted on 09/11/2004 9:48:00 PM PDT by kristinn
Honor Roll for today: Trueblackman, hocndoc, Tax Relief, stand watie, marylander, Ligeia and daughter, Christopher Lincoln, hoodlum91, Landry Fan, Bob's Babe, dstarr, Ronald Wilcox, libstripper, Sgt. Bono, CaBornAmeriAsianinDC, Baseballmom, Nofel Al-Jazairi and son, and kristinn.
Members of the D.C. Chapter of Free Republic were joined by FReepers visiting from out of town for the rally tomorrow, as well as some of our non-FR friends, at a gathering at the Russian embassy today to observe the anniversary of the September 11 attacks on America and to show our support for the Russian people after the recent terror attacks against them.
I arrived with Nofel and his son around 12:45 p.m., fifteen minutes before the scheduled 1 p.m. start. The embassy sits midway up a long hill on Wisconsin Avenue in Northwest Washington, D.C. Those who remember their Cold War history know the controversy about this location.
The hundreds of bouquets that had been left by Americans earlier in the week had been taken in and the area in front of the embassy was clean.
We checked in with the Secret Service officers on the scene and went over the rules. Basically, make sure people can get by us on the sidewalk.
Nofel, his son and I commenced to making signs for people to hold. Nofel made one in Arabic thanking President Bush and America for freeing his country, Iraq.
About this time a CNN reporter and cameraman arrived to cover the gathering. I explained to the reporter that it looked like my fellow FReepers were going to be late. I apologized for not factoring that in when she called me in the morning about the gathering.
A staffer with the embassy came out and asked what we were doing. He was gratified when we told him we were there to express our support for his countrymen.
FReepers slowly made their way to the embassy over the next two hours. A representative from the embassy came out around 1:30 to thank us and to accept the flowers we had brought. A cameraman from local NewsChannel 8 was there by then and the two news outlets filmed our meeting with the Russian representative. He told us how much it meant to the Russian people to see such support from Americans and we told him how much we Americans valued the support of Russians after Sept. 11.
After the meeting, we set up at the lower end of the entrance to the embassy so that cars driving by would have a good view of our gathering as they drove by.
We received plenty of horn honks and waves from drivers. One man driving by yelled at us to "get a job." Perhaps it was our plentiful American flags that set him off.
Sgt. Bono had brought small American flags which he handed out to people walking by us. A good number of them accepted the flags. Not bad for one of the more liberal neighborhoods in D.C.
We wrapped it up at 3 p.m. when our permit expired. CaBornAmeriAsianinDC took several group photos, which he said he'll post later. It was an honor to stand with our FRiends who had travelled a long way this weekend. I want to thank them for taking the time to share their sympathies with the Russian people on this special day for us.
Thank-you ping!
Thank you.
Thank you and the DC chapter for all your hard work these last 8 +/- years.
Here's a couple of pictures from this afternoon as well as one from the reception tonite at the American Legion Hall.
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/hocndoc/album?.dir=/d902
If this doesn't work, perhaps someone could help me up load one or two of the best.
Thank you to LandryFan for taking the photos - unfortunately, she didn't get in any of them.
I like the sign with the little girl's hand holding the tiny cross. That says it all, doesn't it?!
Thanks to all of you for representing what's best in America!
A few Old North State Chapter members made it up to DC this weekend PING!
As promised, here is the URL with a few pics from the FREEP: http://community.webshots.com/album/186581910KhLWoR
Sorry if I got any of your names wrong, please let me know if I made a mistake and I'll correct...
:
Your submissions please:
AMERICA ATTACKED/AMERICA GOES TO WAR: Online FReeper library -
Post your links to videos, photos, graphics, etc. HERE:
Just a bump to the Freepers in the pictures and 2 of our Texas Freepers. Meek and Gracey, will you ping the Texans?
Sorry, I couldn't figure out how to ping Nofel Al-Jazairi, even tried a search and several alternate spellings
Nofel doesn't have a screen name. Good to meet you yesterday.
The embassy officer was appreciative & gave Kristinn a big hug. Very gratifying. I'll miss breakfast but will be there for the rally on the grounds of the Capitol.
D.C. Chapter Report of Sept. 11 Remembrance
Gathering at Russian Embassy Just a bump to the Freepers in the pictures and 2 of our Texas Freepers.
Meek and Gracey, will you ping the Texans?I'm happy to, Hocndoc. Way to go, Freepers!
Also, here is the LINK
to where your pics are posted.
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Texas ping list!. . .don't be shy.
No, you don't HAVE to be a Texan to get on this list!
Ditto. Look for the "Texas Women Love Dubya" T-shirt!
Thank you so much!
BTTT
:^D
Good work all of you!
Thank you for the report Kristinn. Though we couldn't be with you physically, we were with you in spirit and prayer.
Dixie
Thanks for your effort.
To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor Contact: Sarah Gegenheimer, 202-528-1519, Liviya Piccione, 202-712-3019, both of Kerry-Edwards 2004,
News Advisory:
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Teresa Heinz Kerry will keynote the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's Issues Conference Luncheon on Monday, September 13th. Mrs. Heinz Kerry will focus her remarks on issues of vital importance to the Hispanic community.
Mrs. Heinz Kerry will underscore that under the Bush administration, America is going in the wrong direction. We need a new direction to build an America stronger at home and respected in the world, and John Kerry and John Edwards have a plan to do it.
The following schedule is for planning purposes only. Press who are interested in covering Teresa Heinz Kerry should contact Liviya Piccione at 202-712-3019.
Monday, September 13 -- Washington DC
12:30 pm EST
Teresa Heinz Kerry Keynotes Congressional Hispanic Caucus Luncheon
Washington Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place, N.W.
Room 146 ABC
Pre Set: 11:30 a.m.
Final Access: 12:15 p.m.
OPEN PRESS
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