Replies

I was there, and I'd say there were 10-15,000 protesters. Their march stretched about a mile, from the Lincoln Memorial side of the bridge towards the Pentagon. It was difficult to say how many patriots were there since they were dispersed along the march route, but I'd say about there were about 7500. Don't put too much faith into my numbers or what the news organizations say, either. However, I sure the yellow card carriers had less than a tenth of what they had said were going to be there.

The protesters were much more polite than I've ever seen them before. I'm sure having a large number of responsible adults watching their every move and countering their ridiculous chants took down their courage a notch or two. In one case, a protester, with wife, a 12-year old daughter and a toddler in a stroller, flipped the bird to the vets around me. They started telling him he should be ashamed of doing that in front of his little girl. The dad got mad, but the look of realization on the girl's face was priceless. She's not daddy's little girl anymore, I think.

What are you vbasing that on? your
perceptions from on the ground?
As far as I know, there was no
airial, or even rooftop coverage
of the march, and damned little
perspectiive shots from either
the beginning or end of the march.

The best shot at the Pentagon
of the Antis, couldn't have been
much more than a couple thousand.

Once you looked past the stnds,
there were only small clusters
of people. and *they* dramatically
shunk during the course of the
speakers weak rantings. By the
time the last speaker finished,
I doubt there were more than
200 people in front of the stage..
And they were only there, because
their busses weren't there for
them to get on.

Like you Sir, I was there (finally home and warmed up!). I tried to estimate the protesters that walked thru the Eagles gauntlet at the Lincoln Memorial. Based on the width of the "parade" the rate of march and the time they took to pass by my estimate is about 10,000. I note however that it appeared that 1/3 were there to espouse a variety of liberal agendas (health care for mothers, free the Cuban five, Katrina problems, etc) so there were probably about 6,000 anti war protesters.

The Eagles appeared to be about 2000 at around 1200 when I went from the rally site to the Memorial. While more would have been better the ratio was intimidating as they had to pass thru the "hard faced old men" who showed the same fighting spirit they had as young men in that now distant Asian War. I saw no violence but the moonbats saw that a lot of their fellow citizens do NOT agree with them and will not allow the young men fighting for us in SW Asia to be stabbed in the back the way they were in Vietnam. One of our speakers at the rally made that point ("We have your back"). Sounds like a bumper sticker to me... (GOE... We have your back... stand fast!).

My other impression is of the faith and courage of those who came to DC for the GOE. It was bitter cold... I watch a vet in motorcycle club leather (there were a lot as you can see in some of the posted photos) shake so bad from the cold he could not light a cigarette. There were also a lot walking with canes and several in wheel chairs including a few from Walter Reed or Bethesda who were well cared for. God and Jesus were present among the Eagles and both were acknowledged by men who have leaned on them in battle. The park service police were professional. They enforced good order but seemed happy we were there (overheard from a policeman after the protesters parade... "thank you for defending the Wall"). I am glad I went and proud to have been associated with brothers and sisters who love God, country, and each other in a way that the so-called protesters will never comprehend.

"WE HAVE YOUR BACK BROTHERS... SOLDIER ON!"