Posted on 09/29/2006 7:32:58 AM PDT by Albion Wilde
Washington, DC, September 22, 2006-- It's a balmy Indian summer evening, and all four corners of the entrance to Walter Reed Army Medical Center are swarming with nearly 70 FReepers and a Freeping dog. A man in a red "Free Republic 10 Year Anniversary" ball cap takes in the scene from his vantage point near the Mother of All Banners on the northeast corner. It is Jim Robinson, Free Republic's founder, who flew in from California for this special Free Republic weekend in the nation's capital for honoring the troops.
Since JimRob was here last year, the Code Pink demonstrators have been pushed away from the main gate by DC Chapter ingenuity, so his view across the street is of the main gates of Walter Reed completely surrounded by FReepers with troop-honoring flags, signs and banners, large and small. This Friday-evening FReep, now in its 75th week, has moved decisively away from countering Code Pink to its present focus on cheering the military and their family members who come and go from the gates. And the number of young people has been steadily growing. Tonight, there are dozens.
One of the college men commented, "We support out troops in spite of being from a very liberal campus. Many of our professors try to indoctrinate the students every day. For example, in my Logic class, virtually every example of logical fallacies given by the professor is about President Bush or the Iraq War. Another professor advertised an Iraq war protest in class. Academia is supposed to be a forum for many ideas, but it has become a platform only for the left."
Attendance at this week's FReep has only been surpassed once, in August of last year when Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity provided publicity. Tonight, FReepers from around the country flocked into the Capital for Support the Troops Weekend, for a total of 68 FReepers and one canine patriot.
FReepers present were: Albion Wilde, AllRightAlltheTime, ArmyMarineDad, ArmyMarineMom, BlueBlade, BufordP, ConcreteBob, Danang68, DoozerDude from Ohio, Exit 148 from New Jersey, Fraxinus, Freeping_In_Silence, Gretchen15, GunsAreOK, I Love W, Jimmy Valentine's Brother, Jim Robinson from California, JoyJoyfromNJ, Justanobody, Kristinn, Leofl from Texas, Pasquale from New York, whose son is with the Army in Afghanistan, Sasha123, Sensei Ern, Snoopy (canine FReeper from South Carolina), Syncro from California, Taco Mamma, TFroatz, tgslTakoma, 3D-Joy, Tom the Redhunter, Trooprally (Mr. & Mrs), and Upchuck from South Carolina.
GW students included: Alexis, Bill, Brand, Brandon, Chris, Claire, Dan, Gary, John, John H., Keith, Laura, Luke, Peter, Sergio, Stephanie, Tom and Will.
Lurkers and friends included: Barbara, Bill from Maryland, Brittany, Brynne, Cordelia, Ethel & George, Eva, Jerry from Ohio, Tierra, Tony from Ohio, Tyler, Olga, Protest Warriors Matthew and Russell & Joyce from Pennsylvania, and Korean War veteran Tim.
Protest Warriors were out in force:
WRAMC Garrison Commander Puts In a Good Word
TgslTakoma reports that as she was standing on the southwest corner with JoyJoyfromNJ, a car with an officer in it emerged from the gates and sat for a moment at the traffic light. "I waved," she continued, "and said, 'Thank you for keeping us safe.' He rolled the window down and said, 'I want to thank you for being here. I'm the Garrison Commander. It means a lot.' "
As the FReep began to wind down, Jim Robinson, asked to comment, added, "How grateful I am for all the servicemen who work so hard to preserve our freedom. They sacrifice so much. God bless 'em!"
But no FReep would be complete without a little good-natured prank or two at the Pinko's expense. This night, as the Pinkos huddled to confer at their prompt nine p.m. quittin' time (well before the buses arrive back at the gate containing soldiers they say they support), about 20 of the young people descended as a group to stand at the perimeter of the Pinko area. The students just stood there, at about fifteen yards, and gazed at the Pinkos, who were bunched together with their backs turned. Suddenly aware that they were under scrutiny, the Pinkos began to look over their shoulders at the students, who spontaneously set up a chant:
Again, no problem for the Pinkos.
The FReepers stayed around to wait for the buses and cheer our brave men and women of the U.S. military!
For a complete library of former Walter Reed FReeps maintained by BufordP, click here.
BTTT
FANTASMAGLORIOUSLY.WONDEROUSLYSUPER!
THANKS TONS AND TONS AND TONS. Bringing tears to my eyes.
So blessed y'all did this.
BUMP
Testosterone.
Many of our professors try to indoctrinate the students every day. For example, in my Logic class, virtually every example of logical fallacies given by the professor is about President Bush or the Iraq War. Another professor advertised an Iraq war protest in class. Academia is supposed to be a forum for many ideas, but it has become a platform only for the left."
bttt to that
Thank you for supporting our troops!
BTTT!
Thanks to all. Great pics and report.
Great report and great pictures. You guys are alot of fun. Have a great time tonight and give the pinkos some H_ll.
Loved the report! Great job getting all the info together.
Great to read, as always. Thank you.
Thanks and BTTT!
Awesome!
BTTT!
Thanks for the ping.
You Guys Look Great and thanks for Supporting our Troops!
Thanks so much to all who attended!
God Bless our TROOPS!
Bump!
We're looking forward to it too!
Thank you so much for the PING!!
What GREAT photos and posting! Great to hear what the Commander had to say.
You all are FRally Special!!! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!
However, I sure do miss seeing our very special little WR FReeper (LandryFan) there. I know she would have been there, if at all possible.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.