Vietnam Veterans for the Truth March in DC "Live Thread"

CSPAN ^ | 9/12/04 | mylife

[tgslTakoma]

I took a few hundred photos yesterday, but when I got home last night, I pretty much passed out. It was a very emotional day, for everyone there, I think.

A few observations before I head out to work...

The crowd was pretty darned big, but not as big as if ANSWER was paying to bus people in. These guys and their wives and children paid their own way to DC.

I did watch some of the CSPAN tape before I fell alseep last night and I noticed what I think caused some folks to judge the crowd as being small. CSPAN had a long shot camera view that they went to regularly, to show the entire rally locale; and it appeared to me to be a shot taken from their 400 North Capitol Street studios (on the roof?) a quarter-mile(?) away.

It was a very hot afternoon for folks standing out in the sun, so many rallygoers were standing and sitting in the shade alongside the lawn area.

I will try to work on all my photos tonight after work, to help you all get a feel for the crowd. A couple of Rolling Thunder guys who were on backstage security set up a 12' step ladder and allowed me to climb up and take some photos during the ten munites before the rally's start time. It was a pretty impressive sight!

A last comment, then I have to get to work...

The crowd was very vocal, and CSPAN's microphones did not capture that very well. I don't know why that is; but believe me, they were lively and very vocal.

Somebody from the audience shouted a question, asking if VVT would have video of the rally (they had their own video folks taping). Capt. Bailey asked the crowd if they would pay, say, $40 for a video of the rally; they shouted in the affirmative. So Capt. Bailey said they would do it. I would bet that their video may have better sound. He said to check their website for info on video in a couple of weeks.

Now I'm late... I must go. Later, folks.

[Credo]

A question for the august company of Freepers. There is one thing that is puzzling me. We know Al Hubbard was a complete fraud. He seems to have dropped off the face of the planet since the early 70's. Is he still alive? If so what is he doing?

[dstarr]

I think the book signing was kind of unexpected. I had packed my copy of "Unfit For Command" in my backpack. After breakfast I had gone outside for a smoke when a friend's husband came outside to get my book from me and to tell me that John O'Neill was in the restaurant. I didn't waste anytime getting inside. It was an honor getting to speak to Mr. O'Neill and shake his hand. I was able to speak briefly about my husband's homecoming from Vietnam and how I wish he'd lived to see what has been going on. Mr. O'Neill signed my copy of his book with a special message for me. I even had my picture taken with him. I haven't had time to upload the pictures to my computer yet. I had to come read what everyone thought about the rally. It had me in tears. I wish Gary had been able to be there and to hear these veterans welcomed by such wonderful people.

[baseballmom]

It was great to meet you on Saturday at the Russian Embassy. Sorry I couldn't find the Freepers on Sunday at the Rally. My sister and I stayed in the shade to the right of the stage. What a great day. The speakers were fantastic.

I couldn't get into the crush up front trying to meet John O'Neil. He was fabulous. Definitely the biggest ovation of the day. I was so impressed by the daughters of Sgt. Gell, and Lt. Col Bartholomew. Very moving speeches.

I'm sure your husband saw what was happening yesterday, and probably grinning ear to ear. You must be very proud.

[campfollower]

So WHAT DID KERRY DO IN 20 YEARS AS A SENATOR!
WHAT LEGISLATION DID KERRY INTRODUCE TO HELP VETS.

Glad you asked that!!
In the 80s, he proposed SB1033. It died.
In the 100th Congress, he proposed SB1510. Died.
101st Congress: an amendment to SB2884, which failed.
In the 12 years between the 102nd and 107th Congress, Kerry, great pillar of strength and military "fighter" proposed ZERO bills related to veteran's issues.

Those were the years I spent weeks of my life in the vet's hospital working through the bureaucracy of my active duty husband's brain tumor. I understand things like wait times and access have become VERY much better since Bush took office. Still not perfect, but better and getting more so each day. No thanks to Lurch.

[campfollower]

Damn Gen. McPeak. I DID talk about today!! Weren't you listening?

[campfollower]

The caption for that photo should read, "Daughter of Vietnam KIA tells truth to old guy who drank kool-aid"

The photo shows Carol Gell Crowley talking to that vet. Darned reporters missed the whole story...

[North Coast Conservative]

Finally got a few pics uploaded, we'll see how they tuned out.
Did spend some time down at the Wall on Saturday

Sandy Blalock's message to her dad

FReepers Bob's Babe, Nanie43, and DStarr were there, sitting out in the sun

I think Tax Relief eventually got this call to go through

Mr amd Mrs Conspiratoristo

We had to leave at 4:30, had to get back to the hotel, pick up the car, and make it back to Cleveland.

A perfect day, only topped out by the chance meeeting of the afternoon before:

I was standing on the corner of Constitution Avenue, almost to the wall, and a motorcade comes past, sirens and lights going.

I have my VIETNAM VETS AGAINST KERRY shirt on, big as day, and the limo pulls up, and it is Mr John F'ing Kerry himself.

He started to wave, read the shirt, and kinda turned away.

The whole trip was worth those 15 seconds.

Great rally, and got to meet some guys that were 15 miles away from me when I was "In Country".

It was a great weekend.

Thanks Sis. It is good to be back.

In God We Trust…..Semper Fi!

[campfollower]

Just drove in from the rally after 11 hours in the car with two teenagers (no republicans funded this girl's trip!) and have been catching up on this thread.

I was so honored to participate in this event, and am so pleased to have met the freepers at breakfast yesterday. Wish I'd had more time to talk.

Some quick observations:

My brother and I estimated the crowd at closer to 5,000. He's in a line of work where he has experience with this kind of thing.

I was amazed at the number of people who hung in there in the middle of the park, in the blistering sun, often in coat and tie or uniform. Amazing people. The shady areas were under the trees and hidden from camera view, which was a shame. But I'd say you could multiply that middle (sunny) area by 4 or 5 and you'd have an accurate idea of the crowd.

Watched on my neighbor's TEVO tonight, and was amazed at the muted crowd noises. They absolutely muted this! When it was my turn to speak, the first thing that hit was the incredible vocalness of the crowd. I had to really force myself to focus, as this group of Marines on my left was "talking" to me during my whole speech! They were fantastic, enthusiastic and it's a shame the microphone's didn't catch it all!

The Freepers really know what you're doing, and how to report. I have a lot to learn.

John O'Neill was an incredibly kind and thoughtful man, autographing his book for my daughters and taking quite a bit of time to speak to me (and responding in kind to everyone who made contact with him that I could see). What a truly classy gentleman.

Also in the crowd was the sister of one of the pilots of the 9-11 planes (Burlingame). I've forgotten her name, but she also spoke at the Republican convention and wrote a piece that appeared on www.opinionjournal.com during the 9-11 commission hearings. She introduced herself and was so supportive of the rally.

I confirmed with POW activist Ted Sampley the story that John Kerry did in fact flip him the finger at the Wall last Memorial Day. Made me smile.

I'm still processing much of this, but that's a start.

Didn't we have a great time?!! Wish every one of you could have been there!

[TaxRelief]

That was a SITREP, not a call! Huber was posting our live transmissions.

[dstarr]

Hey! Glad to see you made it home okay. It was great, wasn't it? I goofed when I tried to set the VCR. I guess I got confused between setting that and the satellite receiver. I don't know. At least mother taped it even if she was 20 minutes late starting the tape. We were back here in time for my after school care which ended up that I didn't have to do today. We could have slept a little later. Aaaaagh!

[dstarr]

Kristinn had said that he wanted people sitting up front so that there weren't bare spots there so we sat in the sun. I used my big sign for shade for about an hour or so until everything got under way. It was fantastic to be a part of something so good. I stayed choked up for just about all of the speeches.

[boxerblues]

I have my VIETNAM VETS AGAINST KERRY shirt on, big as day, and the limo pulls up, and it is Mr John F'ing Kerry himself.
He started to wave, read the shirt, and kinda turned away.
The whole trip was worth those 15 seconds.

Perfect ending to a perfect day

[Badray]

Aah, the chance moments that make it all worthwhile.

Don't you just love the look on their face when they realize that you oppose them?

[tioga]

I am so glad kerry noticed you while you were there, LOL. I watched parts of the rally on TV, it was very moving, wish I could have been there.

[Pontiac]

I have my VIETNAM VETS AGAINST KERRY shirt on, big as day, and the limo pulls up, and it is Mr John F'ing Kerry himself.

He started to wave, read the shirt, and kinda turned away.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall of that limo at that particular moment.