About 12:45 the caravan rolled in including Jim Rob. Though supposed to start 1:00 p.m., it was delayed 15 minutes because of the traffic jam. Once it got started, there was the Pledge of Allegiance, singing of the National Anthem and an invocation. Some of us brave souls ventured out into the area between the tent and the stage to wave our signs high. The sun was brutal and I had to retreat to the shade a couple of times. A number of people came up to me to thank me for my service and today's servicemen thanked me for my support -- Lots of thumbs up from folks. (A number of pictures of me and my sign were snapped but I've not seen any posted -- lots of pic on the main thread have X's through them).
I was asked by Dr. Rauol to ask anyone with derogatory signs about Cindy to put them down. I went up to one man who had a sign calling her a "ditch bitch" to take it down. He refused, got indignant, talked about free speech, etc., and asked if I was going to fight him to make him take it down, that the rally wasn't about Cindy but about our troops and their mission. About that time some of the press saw the sign and the confrontation and swarmed over like flies on honey. To avoid drawing any further attention, I let him be but later he worked his way up behind the podium so that the press couldn't help but see his sign in the background. He was publicly asked to put it down, but refused. At that point he was escorted out by the police, only to return after the rally for whatever reason I don't know. However, the police were called back, but he left before they arrived.
This incident was different than the one where the Protest Warriors were mistaken for anti-war protesters and set upon. This occurred even though they were identified as on our side. The emotion apparently overcame close reading of their signs and they too were escorted off the site.
The Gold Star families who opposed their son/daughters name on Camp Casey crosses were asked to meet in a tent by the podium to go over and remove them. Then an announcement came that said all crosses were removed so that the families couldn't have a press moment in all the Cindy coverage. However, I drove by both Camp Casey 1 and 2 at dusk and crosses were present at both locations. (BTW, CC2 has a huge very white tent, almost looks like a permanent structure, not canvas. It is located at the southwest end of Prairie Chapel road opposite that road's entrance to the Bush ranch.)
Two of families there lost sons from the same unit, but didn't know it until they met up in the tent. One of the two was the family from New Jersy sent down there by Hannity. Following the rally, I stayed to help break down and clean up. I started to assist but suddenly felt sick, weak and very hot. I had stopped sweating so I thought I was maybe experiencing the first stage of heat stroke. A couple of ladies got ice cold towels for my head and a cold water bottle for my neck and after a while I felt better and continued to assist Kristinn, who was not about to leave the site without it being pristine (I took about a dozen loads of trash in my pickup to the dumpster). We took chairs back into the community center where I encountered FFforFreedom suffering from severe heat cramps. His cell phone was dead so he took mine and called 911 for help. They came and gave him an IV solution which was administered by other EMT's in the center.
Following the cleanup, I drove over to Camp Casey 1 where I joined other in protesting until an evening dust and wind storm sent me back to my truck and I decided it was time to start back to NM.
CedarDave was everywhere helping out anyway he could. You always know who the toughest freepers are--they're usually the last to leave an event, and they don't leave until the staging site is cleaner that it was on our arrival.
CedarDave did so much to help us achieve that goal. He also helped with setting things up--and whenever he saw someone who needed a hand, he pitched right in.
It's folks like CedarDave who help to insure that whatever action freepers are doing, it will be a success. It was my pleasure to meet you, CD, and I hope we'll meet again someday, on another Freeper Field!
(A number of pictures of me and my sign were snapped but I've not seen any posted -- lots of pic on the main thread have X's through them).
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Somewhere on the live thread, your sign showed up. I'm sure I read it, and really appreciated the message.
Thanks for all your work, and for this report.
Thank-you so much Cedar Dave for doing what I couldn't do, though I support your President and the Gold Star families and all the troops. I'd have loved to be there but I'm a long way away. You did what I couldn't and your work helped make the day the success it was. I may have seen your picture but I don't know which sign I'm looking for. However, all your work on such a hot day was invaluable. Many, many thanks for making our side look good! :)
Thank-you so much Cedar Dave for doing what I couldn't do, though I support your President and the Gold Star families and all the troops. I'd have loved to be there but I'm a long way away. You did what I couldn't and your work helped make the day the success it was. I may have seen your picture but I don't know which sign I'm looking for. However, all your work on such a hot day was invaluable. Many, many thanks for making our side look good! :)
Back up a minute--Protest Warriors were escorted out? Surely, the sarcasm they employ for their slogans is fairly broad and obvious. This is a disturbing bit in a otherwise heartwarming story.
Thanks for letting me use your phone.
I was at the end of my rope. That IV got me back in the saddle to finish loading up.
It was amazing how many freepers were there helping.
Thanks again!
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