Gold Star parents Debbie Argel (left), Jan Johnson and Joe Johnson.
Posted on 11/24/2006 4:12:45 AM PST by Albion Wilde
Washington, November 17, 2006-- There is a faraway, yet penetrating look in the eyes of parents who have buried a child, no matter how well they have gotten on with their lives, no matter how much they are doing to honor their hero. It is a look that says, "Nothing is worth getting worked up about. Can you not see that small matters are insignificant? I am here, but part of me is here no longer; I live to honor that part."
This 83rd week of the DC Chapter's Friday night troop-support rally at Walter Reed Army Medical Center was honored by a second wave of visiting Gold Star parents newly returned from their historic survey tour of free Iraq. Debbie Argel Bastian, John Holley, Joe Johnson and Jan Johnson, all of whom lost a son in Iraq, had spent the day in Washington conferring with members of the Senate, Congress and the press to publicize their delegation's findings. Throughout the evening, a steady stream of enlisted personnel and veterans stopped by as well. And as we were packing up the banners at the end of the rally, two of the DC area's most renowned troop supporters showed up and took us by surprise.
Each of the Gold Star parents visiting this week has worked tirelessly not only to honor their sons' sacrifice, but also to improve conditions for other military families and to communicate a different message to the American people than the reactionary undercutting of the war effort by the mainstream media.
"What I wanted to bring back was the truth, to see for myself firsthand what the hell is really going on over there. And I did. I found a very grateful people," Mrs. Bastian was quoted by California's KSBY Channel 6.
Invited by the Kurdish Regional Government, the Gold Star Parents met with some top leaders and some of Iraq's poorest people. "All around," KSBY reports, "they felt a sense of welcome, and reported the many times they heard Iraqis say, "Bless America. Bless President Bush. We've been liberated."
In 2005, soon after her son Derek Argel was killed, Debbie Argel Bastian fought a series of battles with groups exploiting her son's name and the names of other heroes at anti-war demonstrations.
And the Johnsons have also carried the War on Terror forward, each in his or her own way, both before and after their son Justin's death in 2004. Joe Johnson had re-enlisted at the age of 45 in the Georgia National Guard and also served in Iraq, first as a bodyguard for a civil affairs officer and later on an IED sweep team. "It was something I just had to do after 9/11," Joe said on the sidewalk outside Walter Reed. "I put my family through hell. I was already in country eleven months when my son was killed."
His son Justin Johnson had befriended another soldier at Fort Hood before shipping out, a young man from California named Casey Sheehan. Both met the same fate six days apart in Sadr City, Iraq, first Casey, then Justin. Later, Casey's mother Cindy Sheehan would blame President Bush personally for her son's death in a vitriolic anti-war campaign joined by leftists eager to exploit a Gold Star mother. It was a bitter battle that pitted Mrs. Sheehan against Gold Star mothers like Jan Johnson who honored their sons' mission and commitment. When Cindy Sheehan and Jan Johnson have met, sparks have flown. "She won't speak to me any more," Mrs. Johnson commented Friday. "The whole story is in Melanie Morgan's book, American Mourning. Cindy Sheehan and I are the book's protagonists."
John Holley's family is military all the way -- himself, his wife, his son, "brothers, uncles, cousins, on both sides, going back 140 years," he said on Friday."That's the hard thing about it. Out of all those people who served in our family, my son, Spc. Matthew John Holley, was the only one that was killed in the service. My only child."
At the time of Matthew Holley's death in 2005, writes blogger Jeff Edwards, John and Stacy Holley "received some disturbing news about the military's plans for returning their son's remains. Matthew's body was being shipped to San Diego as freight on a commercial airliner. A Soldier would fly in the passenger cabin to act as escort for the body, but there would not be a military honor guard at Lindbergh Field. There would be no ceremony to mark the return of a fallen Soldier to the soil of his country. John and Stacey wouldn't even be allowed to meet their son's remains on the runway. They were told that they could claim his casket from the holding area for oversized luggage, after the suitcases and the rest of the freight had been offloaded from the plane."
Using their contacts as veterans, the Holleys were able to ensure an honor guard for their son. But thoughts haunted them of other families undergoing the "baggage handling" of their loved ones' remains. The Holleys made it their mission to change all that. Working with Congressman Duncan Hunter, who was Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, they helped draft Section 563 of the Fiscal Year 2007 National Defense Authorization Act. The bill directs that combat remains be delivered to the airfield nearest to the designated burial site, and that an official escort be present to render proper military honors. In securing this dignity for our fallen heroes, the Holleys appeared on a wide variety of news programs, from Sean Hannity and CNN to Keith Olberman.
Attendance this week was high: FReepers and lurkers* included Albion Wilde, BufordP, Cindy-True-Supporter, Citizen SMASH, Cliff from MD*, Fraxinus, Freeping_in_Silence, Jimmy Valentine's Brother, Just A Nobody, Keith & Sarah from Olney*, kristinn, PleaDeal, Sensei Ern, sonofTGSL, TFroatz, tgslTakoma, Tolerance Sucks Rocks, Tom the Redhunter, Trooprally [Mr & Mrs] and VAflagwaver.
Also spending time with us were Richie and Neil, recovering soldiers from WRAMC; the group of five soldiers from WR going out for the evening who came over to shake hands all around; and Cliff, a veteran who's proud to have served on the last four battleships of the Navy in his more than 20-year Navy career. He had stopped by WR to check out the gym and ended up staying throughout most of the FReep.
After the "dinner bus" brings recovering troops and their families back to Walter Reed, it's time to break down all the banners. But tonight, as we gathered on the northeast corner to pack up the signboards, coffee dispenser and pizza boxes, we were treated to a great surprise:
Gold Star links:
Spc. Justin W. Johnson Memorial Page
Matthew John Holley Memorial page
Captain Derek Argel Memorial page
Parents of fallen U.S. troops visit northern Iraq (Reuters)
Photos from Gold Star Parents' Trip to Free Iraq
*Iraq Survey Group Report Released (Gold Star Families Visit Free Iraq)*
FReeper Kristinn Taylor Reports from FREE Iraq
Report #2 by Kristinn Taylor from FREE IRAQ!
Kristinn's Report #3 from FREE IRAQ
Free Republic links:
BufordP's archive of Walter Reed FReeps
Photos by Plea Deal.
Photos by [Mrs] Trooprally.
Walter Reed ping!
Mega-ping!
Freepmail me to be added or deleted from this once-per-week Walter Reed ping list.
Bookmarking.....
Thankfully I will have high speed internet and a new computer next week so I can finally see these fabulous threads you post without crashing.
I do want to say thanks to all the DC FReepers who have given so much to help the guys and gals at Walter Reed and their families. Our Nascar season is over until February but we continue to pray and hope for everyone's recovery at all the hospitals including Bethesda and Brooke. Please keep me updated if you can on any additional names we should add to our prayer list and of those who have thankfully been able to return home to their families.
Thank you to our troops.
Great report! You just never know what's going to happen on any given Friday. Today the sun is shining and it will be a grand night for supporting the troops.
Big old thankful bump.
What a great after action celebrity report. It's so great to see the pics of all the FReepers out in support of our troops. Glad to see everyone is bundled up and staying warm and I'll be thinking of everyone tonight.
God bless you guys. Best wishes to all.
(except the dirty, rotten Code Pinkos, of course)
Dinah
P.S. Buford and the bear made me scream! Too funny.
BTTT
Fantastic report recounting a fantastic night! Thanks, AW and all the faithful DC Freepers!
God Bless all of you... I need to move there.
Somehow, a Taxman Bravo Zulu! seems inadequate to thank all of you for the important work that you are doing at WRAMC.
For now, that is the best I can do.
Tasman Bravo Zulu!
Walter Reed, brave warriors, honored guests, and dedicated FReepers bump!
Keep up the great work!!
I talked to a soldier after the Ft. Huachuca FReep who came to thank us for defending the honor of the troops. He has been to Walter Reed too and has seen you all on the corner. He wanted to thank everyone for coming out and supporting the troops and tell you how much it meant to the soldiers there and elsewhere.
These words sure help on the cold, dark nights at WR. Thanks for letting us know.
[Mr] T
Just beautiful. You've got a cheerleader here in the heartland. God bless you all!!
BTTT! FR's finest supporting America's finest!
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