HONORED GUESTS JOIN WALTER REED FREEP, Week 83, 11/17/06 (Join us tonight, 11/24!)

DC Chapter | November 24, 2006 | Albion Wilde

[Albion Wilde]

Photos by Plea Deal and [Mrs] Trooprally

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."

Gold Star parents Debbie Argel (left), Jan Johnson and Joe Johnson.

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."

Gold Star parent John Holley with FReeper Cindy-True-Supporter.

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.

Several soldiers from Walter Reed stop by the MOAB (Mother of All Banners) to shake hands with FReepers. Left to right: tgslTakoma, four soldiers (from yellow-haired woman to man in black & red jacket), Keith & Sara from Olney, sonoftgsl, soldier (in orange with ponytail), Fraxinus, Albion Wilde, Tolerance Sucks Rocks and TFroatz.

Solder John and his beautiful family passed by and waved.

Alert: Entering "Blame America First" Zone

Side view of the Pinkos makes it look like there were more of them than there were.

But there weren't many, so we'll handicap them and let them count the elderly lady in the wheelchair twice. The Party of Appeasement's victory in Congress doesn't seem to have inspired them to display their excruciatingly bad taste in any greater numbers.

The lefties flanked themselves with genuine flags so passersby would think they were not conducting a revolting anti-war display at a military hospital and would wave to them. From the perspectives of both advertising and psychology, they have what is called "identity confusion."

All Clear to Return to Troop Support Feature:

Cindy-True-Supporter on the southwest corner, with the DC Chapter's Burma-Shave signs in the background.

BufordP FReeped with honor, before the bear fight he got into here and here. Judging by its expression after the tussle, the bear won.

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.

A different tour bus company brought the soldiers back from the Fran O'Brien's dinner this week.

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:

Hal Koster (center rear), co-owner of Fran O'Brien's Restaurant (whose daughter in the Navy just got back from Iraq), and Jim Mayer (left), the Milk Shake Man, stopped by as we were breaking down the banners. They were swarmed by thankful FReepers, grateful for their generosity to the wounded troops at Walter Reed.

* * *

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.

[Albion Wilde]

Did y'all know that troop supporters are the greatest lovers? =)

"I knew that. Of course, I knew that. Why wouldn't I know that?"

[Albion Wilde]

It makes me feel selfish that I am not there enough.

Hush that, W04Man! You are a most faithful FReeper, and your wonderful signs are here when you can't be!

Y'all, W04Man is retired military and gung-ho only begins to describe his spirit, concern for the troops and willingness to do all he can for them. We salute you, W04Man!

[Albion Wilde]

Mr. Koster and Mr. Mayer both made a point to tell us this more than once - What we are doing every Friday night DOES MATTER. The troops inside know we are there, and they love seeing us when they ride through the gates.

"Bears" repeating. Thank you, tgslTakoma!

"Milk Shake Man" Mayer bump! . . . . . Mauler Bear bump!

[Albion Wilde]

The Aleethia Foundation pays for the weekly dinners.

Thanks, concretebob, for this great link!

[Albion Wilde]

I'd say that bear got a BufordP booty call.

Now who's your daddy?

[Trteamer]

Another AWESOME FReep!
Have fun tonight!

[TBP]

I'd come but I'm actually out of town this weekend visiting my sister-in-law for Thanksgiving.

[concretebob]

Did y'all know that troop supporters are the greatest lovers? =)

Thats because we make love like we wage war

We don't pull out until we're finished

Ya'll started this

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

pingback and thanks.

THANKS YOU TROOPS AND TROOP FAMILIES!

[Albion Wilde]

Thanks for your post 'n' bump! We had a great FReep tonight -- a mellow post-Thanksgiving evening, with lots of soldiers stopping by. Report by Plea Deal will be up in the week to come.

[Jezebelle]

It's wonderful to read such an adress.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[jan in Colorado]

Thanks for the ping and this very special report! Thanks also for posting all those links. I look forward to spending some time today reading ALL of them!

God Bless you DC FReepers and God Bless the troops!

[JoyjoyfromNJ]

I'm impressed as always by your steadfast freeping. And on Black Friday as well! I'm still walking around like a zombie from that experience. I know that the soldiers are blessed to see that you folks aren't "fair weather/only when it's convenient" supporters.

[potlatch]

Thanks for the ping Albion, always enjoy your reports and picts! Been out of town.

[freema]

Sounds like another wonderful Friday - each better than the last. Thank you for the ping, AW.

[Albion Wilde]

Monday bump!

[BillF]

Belatedly pinging the full DC Chapter ping list.

Please come to Walter Reed and join the FReep this coming Friday. Report of the Nov. 24 FReep has not been posted yet.

[Albion Wilde]

Thanks, BillF!

[Fraxinus]

For some of us this is convenient, for me it is more convenient than going to to do many of the less patriotic activities (TV, bars, ect.) that I could be doing. This is much more rewarding than being a couch potato.