NavyDoc's Inaugural Adventure W Pics

[NavyDoc]

Hi! For those that don't know me, I met some Freepers on the side of Penn ave. during the inaugeral parade. They were very nice and were in sharp contrast to the unwashed protestors. A brief bio: Enlisted in the USMC as a 0311 back in 1986. Was a rifleman for a year then got an appointment to the Naval Academy. B.S. in English Lit. Naval Flight Officer (re: "Goose") for 5 years then a military scholarship to U. of Michigan in Ann Arbor for medical school. Now a staff anesthesiologist and pain management fellow at NNMC Bethesda and WRAMC here in DC area. I volunteered to provide medical support to the military mission to the inaugeral parade. I was medical officer in charge of Aide station #4, the first military aide station on the parade route. I was filling in for an Air Force Doc who came down ill so actually all my troops were Air Force Personell: 8 medics, 2 nurses, 1 senior NCO, and one admin type. We were stationed on the street, and had a small heated "shack" (for better words) to keeps supplies, put patients, and warm up once in a while. Mustered at WRAMC at 0100 and was posted on Penn Ave at zero-dark-thirty. Got to watch the sun rise just off the Capitol's left shoulder. Pretty early on the cops started to arrive. They were VOLUNTEERS from as far away as Oregon and Florida, and had come to support this inaugeration. They were fun to talk to and were very professional. They JOKED about being there to smash hippy heads!

They marched on line in a very professional manner... I weigh about 225, am 6' 1" and bench 315#. This guy made me feel small and HE was one of the smaller cops!!!!! Some of Virginia's finest ready for some fun! I liked the above image so I had to get a shot of me in the forground.. Ok, and now a pic of most of my posse: Having lots of fun, then enter the nasty, smelly protestors. THis one was actually fairly attractive and her sign reads,"The only Bush I trust is my own." She was behind alot of regular folks, but her sign struck me as funny...besides I am a sailor after all... There really weren't that many of them, but the ones that were there were a pain in the rear. Shouting epithets at me and my medics, spitting, throwing snowballs/fruit. Since I was there to be a doc, not a photographer, I was too busy to get pics of the really rowdy ones. That blather about "spporting the troops, but hating the war," is pure B.S.. At every chance, they laid as much venom and hate upon us as possible. After the CIC rode by they actually tride to rush the barricades, but were repelled by the police with batons and pepper spray. Of course lil ol' me was right in the middle. I treated a couple of cops for eye irritation and bruises. A few of the honor guard that lined the route for bruises (hit in the back of the head with an apple). Next few shots are of the CIC passing. They are bad shots, but I took them with my left hand as he approached, dropped my left and snapped up my right in a sharp and crisp salute as he drew abreast, and was unable to get any followup shots after he passed due to the above bruhaha.

Oh, did I forget THESE guys with their funny, long "suitcases?" Oh yes, the reason I am now a member of this site: there I was; tired, cold, hungry, my feet hurst, harrased by B.O. and patchatouli wearing idiots...walking up and down when I see some more fools waving signs...except on closer exam, THESE signs are supportive and instead of spitting, they are smiling. Instead of shouting obscenaties at me and my guys, these people are saying, thank you. ?????? I needed to have a closer look, and was thus taken into the fold! JCS marched by...very cool. My boys! Semper Fi!!!!

Well after running around all day, dealing with protestors, cold, and a wild horse. (Bucked his rider, got off the route, and was kicking people one block over), cold, sore feet, and one bruised hand (don't ask...facial piercings can hurt if ya smack 'em!). It's time to call it a day. After the last military person was cleared, we got to stand down, about 2100 that night. We retreated to a local watering hole, and I bought my posse many beers. Goodnight and God bless, Zack Kitchen, M.D. LCDR, MC, USN

[tgslTakoma]

Great report and great pictures, NavyDoc! Thank you for all you do. I'm glad you found the American Sector and RaceBannon and RabidRalph and the rest of the crew on Inauguration day. (PS: Check your Freepmail from Thursday)

Thanks for the ping, JVb. Noted.

[Cultural Jihad]

A great post! Thanks for being there!

[lillybet]

Great Pictures, Thank you one and all, for your service, and I must say you all look realy handsome, Men.

[NavyDoc]

Carolinamom: Thanks for the hug but watch those hands!!!!!!

;-)

[NavyDoc]

Texas: if you ever get up to Novi, go to local Color Brewery. A good friend of mine and a hardcorp repub owns it. If you IM me w your email perhaps I could get you 2 together.

[cake_crumb]

GREAT first post! Welcome to FR!

[cake_crumb]

"They were amazed that the red cross armband did not save them from being called babykillers. Their political awakening was amazing to watch."

Some people just have to learn the hard way. It's painful to watch when it's someone you like

[texasbluebell]

I haven't been to Novi, haven't been many places around here.

Actually I call this town Dullsville.

Gray weather, gray town. Just dull. Too many gray-haired pony-tailed guys. No doubt they're profs who spend their days indoctrinating the young skulls full of mush, as Rush would call them.

A few decent restaurants, but this town could use some good Chinese or Indian or Mexican restaurants!

I mean good ones.

[cake_crumb]

"I think that conservatives by nature are not as demonstrative. We spend our time being productive members of society: jobs, family, etc."

Which is exactly why we didn't know we were still the majority until 2000. We're still not too good with the arm waving and chanting, though we've been known to come up with a few memorable ones. ("Get outta Cheney's House" can be quite effective after a day or three)

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Great stuff!

Thanks for the pics, stories and your service ... and welcome to FR!

[Liberty Valance]

Thank you and welcome to FR!
Great post and pics.

[blackbart1]

Glad to have you with us. And thank you for serving our county and us.

The pictures and your commentary are just wonderful. You are a wonderful asset to FreeRepublic. Will be looking forward to your participation.

[NavyDoc]

It must be the incurable optomist in me (Hey we may be POW's but this gruel and water diet has REALLY brought down my cholesterol!)but I try to find the positive side in any situation...I loved walking in theArb, that cigar shop in the middle of town run by a disabled guy who bitched about the libs every time I went in, Casey's ( a motorcycle bar/ hamburger place on the west side....

[JustAmy]

Welcome to FReeRepublic.

Thank you for your service and thank you for the great pictures and report.

[hoosiermama]

Certainly enjoyed your post/ Thanks for sharing and thanks for serving.

[NavyDoc]

This pic was taken a few yards north of the Freeper area and is on the west side of Penn Ave facing North. THe idiots on the left are some of the anti-American types I mentioned earlier. You can see in the middle my senior NCO pushing his way through the crowd at one of the road crossing points. A few seconds after the pic was taken, the guy w the beard and yellow sign on the left (someone we had been having troubles with all afternoon) reached out and shoved the SSGT (Airforce) as he was passing by. Immediately me and one of the cops on my right were in his face and he ran off. What a turd.

[hoosiermama]

I had really wanted to take part in the festivities this year, but knowing that I had a better view from cspan am rather glad that didn't have to put up with the ______________. SO sorry you and yours had to.

OTOH I remember thowing a few eggs at protestors when I was in college....I may not have been able to contain myself ;^)

[GoldwaterChick]

Thank you, Navy Doc, for your terrific photos and description of the rent-a-protestor bunch. Probably the only advantage of the frigid day was that it kept the odor down. Thank you for your service. Glad you found your way here--these are great people!

[DollyCali]

WONDERFUL POST!

I just put up my Inaug thread the same time as you & was guilty for being so late.. glad I am not the only one.

Welcome to FRee Republic - and thank you for making your first posts/thread such a wonderful one.

I was in the stands right in front (just about) of the Archives. I never did find the FReepers due to too many crazies & no way to find them. I am sure I was close to where your locale as I was told I was very close - but no cigar - to the group.

Here is the link to the thread I posted.. Dolly's Inaug Pix/thread

[BillF]

Thanks for the great photos and story. Thanks most of all for your service!

Click here to see my inaugural thread with photos, sound files, and stories. I've included links to all the inaugural threads of in-person accounts of the parade, swearing-in, and the Free Republic W2 Inaugural Ball.