Posted on 08/25/2005 1:01:05 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
CRAWFORD - With singing and tears, protest mom Cindy Sheehan returned to her vigil near President Bush's ranch Wednesday, less than a week after leaving to care for her ailing mother.
Alighting with an armful of flowers from a van that brought her from the airport, Sheehan's first act on returning was to find the cross with her son's name on it amid dozens set in the ground at her new campsite.
"Does anybody know where Casey's cross is?" Sheehan said.
She placed the flowers, then joined other mothers of fallen service members for a group hug.
Rick Burnley, a New Mexico poet with bare feet and long, salt-and-pepper hair, played a Jethro Tull song on a soprano recorder while a small clutch of women sobbed and hugged Sheehan.
"This is the center of the world," Burnley said.
Asked later how it felt to be back at "Camp Casey," Sheehan gave two thumbs up. Her supporters, who have dwindled significantly in numbers during her absence, are hoping that Sheehan's return will rejuvenate their anti-war effort by bringing more attention back to Crawford.
Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, is demanding a meeting with Bush so he can explain his statements that the war is a noble cause. She is vowing to remain at her encampment near the Western White House until he meets with her or returns to Washington.
In downtown Crawford, meanwhile, another grieving parent is gaining attention.
Gary Qualls, a Temple man whose son, Louis, was killed in Iraq, came to Crawford as a protest to Sheehan's protest. A soft-spoken veteran and Bush supporter, Qualls is presiding over an orderly series of tents dubbed "Fort Qualls" behind the Yellow Rose gift shop.
"I am here to bring back and keep respect for fallen heroes and for President Bush," Qualls said.
Opposition on the way
Of his counterparts at Camp Casey, Qualls said, "It's more than apparent they have come here to wage war against decent people."
This weekend, a caravan of demonstrators opposed to Sheehan's vigil are due to arrive in Crawford from San Diego. The "You Don't Speak for Us, Cindy" tour is expected to bring at least 10,000 more demonstrators to this tiny ranching community.
Gregg Garvey, whose son, Justin, was killed in Iraq, drove up to Crawford from Florida and pulled into town on Tuesday. He and Qualls have both retrieved from Sheehan's camp the memorial crosses bearing their sons' names.
"It didn't make me feel good that my son's cross was sitting in a ditch," Garvey said.
The two crosses joined those of several others whose parents also objected to Sheehan's memorial, in a small patch of dirt in front of the Fort Qualls tent.
Dueling protests
The two dueling protests have grown intensely hostile, with each side sharply criticizing how the other has chosen to grieve. Much of the back-and-forth has centered on the hundreds of small white crosses that Sheehan's camp built as part of their anti-war protest.
Qualls, who has challenged Sheehan to a debate, grows teary and emotional when describing his shock on learning his son, a Marine, was killed in Fallujah.
"The people on this side are righteous," Qualls said of his supporters and those in town to show support for Bush and the troops. "I have to stand up for what's right."
Barry Crimmins, a writer for the liberal radio network Air America, has been covering the Sheehan vigil and said he believes her efforts are serving as a "flashpoint" for a growing, national anti-war effort.
"They've turned Bush's vacation home into Baghdad airport," Crimmins said.
julie.mason@chron.com
Translation: Aging, unemployed hippie.
10,000 more to Crawford? Hope someone ordered up the Port-a-potties?
Check out my tag.....
;-)
Crimmins must be cribbing from CA Bob Mullholland's stuff. However, obviously stated is how much the Dems wish to turn the US into pre-liberated Iraq.
Yes seriously, it's shameful and pathetic.
I guess you saw this disgusting picture:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050818/480/casy10208180411
Thanks for all the work and LINKS!
That Fenton Advertising Agency hooked up a year ago with Sheehan. The founder of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream got that anti-war ball rolling.
You are so right!
I hate this woman more each day.
I knew about that, I just never realized that it was the skerry campaign that originated and facilitated sheehan's induction into the dark side!
She's easy to hate............... like Ted Kennedy.
Photos of ol' Mr. USMC should figure large in Mr. Sheehan's divorce action, I would think. Technically speaking, the woman is still married, after all. But we all grieve in our own ways, I suppose.
Let me get this straight. The "Rosa Parks" of the Anti-war movement, the Dinosaur Media's "grief stricken mother" did not even know where her son's cross was? The son that SUPPOSEDLY is the case of this little political theater?
Gee, I wonder who actually OWNS the Peace House and I hope they are counting those donations as INCOME for tax purposes...I don't think/know if they have exempt status...???
Good morning....I wish hubby had some leave left, I'd love to be in Crawford this weekend.
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