Official After-Action Thread: March 19 Fayetteville, NC Support Our Troops Rally

Freepers, lurkers and assorted patriots ^ | March 19, 2005 | Constitution Day

[Constitution Day]

Today we met in Fayetteville, NC to Freep a motley rabble of socialists, anarchists, Code Pink-os, and other throwbacks to the 60's! As usual, we were well outnumbered by their hordes of college students, aging hippies and other bused-in protestors, but we held our own as always.

Please post any reports and observations on this thread only.

[Tax-chick]

and accompanying graphics

Like this?

[cf_river_rat]

Had a nice talk with a young soldier, J.J., who came across us by accident. He has only been at Ft. Bragg a week. He is a big Ronaldus Maximus fan and after expressing an interest in the "Viva la Reagan Revolucion" poster, I took great pleasure in giving it to him.

I liked JJ too. He helped me carry my generator back to the truck. He found us by accident, when he couldn't drive through the area he parked his car and came over to investigate. Guess when he found us he found a home. Now I hope he finds this thread. Anyone get his email address? If so send him a link.

Medium Resolution

[ScottK1980]

It was my first freep and I had a blast. Can't wait for the next one and hang out with some great people again.

[SC Swamp Fox]

This man deserves to be recognized as a hero and a patriot.

He is also a new freeper.

[gbwife]

"I was most impressed with the wife of one of our soldiers who was there with her 5 month old son. Her husband is at war for our freedom."

I think you're talking about me...thanks for the kind words and compliments!!! I really enjoyed meeting you and all the other freepers there. Thanks to all of you for coming to Fayetteville to show your support.
Like I said yesterday, I walked over to the protest because it really irked me that a bunch of people from out of state would get bussed into my neighborhood to protest my husband and all the other guys who are risking their necks in order to protect our freedoms, including the freedoms to speak and assemble. I thought it was just plain rude of them to come to a military community with that message. After all, I don't protest them in their backyards.
I think the pro-troops side was the big winner yesterday, particularly after the police arrested the hippie. According to a story in the Fayetteville Observer today, he was one of the speakers at the anti war rally. After he spoke, he ran up, jumped the fence and was trying to run over to the pro-troops side when the police tackled him to the ground. I think it's pretty telling that the only threatening acts yesterday came from the self-described "pacifists"!

BTW-- I'd also like to thank the guy that had the sign that said "You can't support the troops and oppose the war" or something to that effect. I've said the same thing myself and heard other military wives say it too. If the troops don't feel supported by people who say that, then who are they saying it for anyway? My guess is that those statements just assuage some of their own guilt. Typically, people who've said that sort of thing to me are old hippies who were particularly ugly to troops after Vietnam. They use the "support the troops, but..." bit to pat themselves on the back. But military families hear that phrase as, "well, I guess it's not your fault that you're a baby killer..." That's hardly support.
Ok--I'm starting to rant here so I'll stop. Anyway, thanks again to all of you who came out yesterday, particularly those who came to Fayetteville from other areas. We military families and our soldiers appreciate your support.

[gbwife]

my husband sent me a picture of this. it's hanging on the wall inside the base in kandahar, afghanistan. he said it's the first thing troops see when they get in country and the last thing they see before they leave!

[wolfpat]

Here're some more pictures:

[SC Swamp Fox]

Welcome to FreeRepublic!

Warning...this place is addictive.

[Tax-chick]

I'm glad you were there, gbwife! We came from Charlotte with six of our children, so that people like you wouldn't feel like you'd been abandoned to the howling moonbats.

It was worth the trip, even though I'm seeing pictures of me with a dumb look on my face :-).

[wolfpat]

I'm starting to rant here so I'll stop
Rant away. That's what we're here for. Ranting is a good way to get to the truth.

[Constitution Day]

Photos taken by AQGeiger.
(Click for larger versions)

Mother Of All Banners! (MOAB)

Kristinn speaking

TaxRelief offering psychological advice :)

Constitution Day looks on as TaxRelief is interviewed

Fayetteville police officers facing toward a threat to public safety
(hint: their backs were to us)

This line of buses PROVES that these protestors are shipped in from afar.
They don't represent Fayetteville or North Carolina!

Apparently this is the insane moonbat brother of Santa Claus.

Code Pink co-founder Gael Murphy at left.
I don't know the woman in the center but she's obviously another Code Pinko.

Moonbats on Parade, #1.

Vietnam Veteran from the Fayetteville area. I did not get his name.
Thank you for your service, sir! We are proud that you joined us.

Two rally attendees from Rolling Thunder!
They came despite being forced to leave their motorcycles behind. THANKS!

Moonbats on Parade, #2.

Gotta love that sign! Sorry, but I didn't get this gentleman's name.

More of the charming gals from Code Pink.

Mounted police from Fayetteville PD.
Free Republic appreciates the OUTSTANDING JOB all the police officers, sheriff's deputies and other law enforcement did on Saturday!

[Tax-chick]

Free Republic appreciates the OUTSTANDING JOB all the police officers, sheriff's deputies and other law enforcement did on Saturday!

Bump that! They were terrific ... polite, efficient, sharp-looking, and very thoughtful. They shooed Pat and Sally out of the street more than once!

[Constitution Day]

Rear:
Anoreth, Tax-chick, Tax-chick's husband

Front:
The other Tax-chicklets :)

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Of course I was talking about you! Who else was so awesome there! :]

Welcome to FR!! I am so glad that you have joined us!

It is so ironic to me that we have a "support our troops" movement. After all, what have all of the men and women in the United States Armed forces done- all of the time, throughout history?

They have supported us and supported America.

I am sorry that some don't get it. But lots of us do. God bless your family GBwife. It was an honor to meet you and your son- and to chat with you for a bit! I hope we will be able to chat some more some time.

Thank you for everything that you do.

[Tax-chick]

Front row - Elen, Sally, and James the Wonder Baby. Patrick was probably off chatting to the police.

[Tax-chick]

Another picture at post 193.

[Constitution Day]

I thought there was one missing.
I wasn't sure if you wanted to post their names on here.

[Constitution Day]

Going to watch the rest of the State game. Will post more later.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Remember the "Move On" FReepers who said
Ashcroft WOULD prosecute kintoon, hitlery and reno?

These same crowd of "Move On" FReepers NOW
want to give Hanoi Kerry a free pass.

ATTN : Any "Move On" FReepers who think Hanoi Kerry did not have a key part in the March 19
anti war protests contact me.

I have a bridge for sale!

[Tax-chick]

NThey're not in the phone book - and names are already on my profile.