Posted on 05/08/2007 7:08:36 PM PDT by Tom the Redhunter
The FReep got off to an early start because about a dozen milbloggers attending the Milblog Conference in Arlington VA came at about 5:30. tgslTakoma was good enough to arrive early so as to provide signs, banners, and flags for the milbloggers.
Unfortunantely they were only able to stay for an hour, so when I arrived at my usual time of 6:30 they had to get back to their conference. No matter, because enough of the "regulars" were on the scene to take over their duties. We appreciate their presence and a huge THANK YOU for starting things off that evening.
Honor roll of attendees:
armymarinemom (Mil), Bill from MD, BillF, *Bob from PA, BufordP, cindy-true-supporter, Fraxinus, George & Ethel from MD, HowardLaw, Jean from MI (Mil), Jimmy Valentine’s brother, JoyjoyfromNJ, Judy from VA (Mil), kristinn, Lauren from VA, maica, Sensei Ern, tgslTakoma, TJ (GOE), Tolerance Sucks Rocks, Tom the Redhunter, trooprally (both Mr. & Mrs.),T.J from Gathering of Eagles, and VaFlagwaver
cindy-true-supporter had a 101st Airborne Division flag that we and the soldiers inside the hospital signed as a THANK YOU to John Mellencamp, who played a charity concert at Walter Reed this past April 27, see story and pictures at DefenseLink.
Here is Kristinn and an unidentified milblogger taken at about the time I arrived
The MOAB looks particularly good, I think, in the evening sunlight. It is directly across from the main entrance to Walter Reed, and most people who exit the base hospital turn left, so they come right past it. I can tell you from over a year and a half of speaking with troopers and their families that it lifts the spirits of everyone there.
On the opposite corner are gathered your author, Tom the Redhunter, Mr Trooprally, Jimmy Valentine’s brother, and BufordP
Shortly thereafter we set up our famous Burma Shave signs so that motorists would know who was who. Before we had them we noticed that many people would honk for us, and then as they passed by Code Pink would also honk for them. Realizing that that wouldn't do, we realized that we needed some way to differentiate the two groups. Some enterprising FReeper came up with the idea of the Burma Shave signs. They also have the added benefit of annoying the pinkos, who from time to time have tried to sneak up and knock them off the cars. Ever since the last such incident we've kept a sharp eye out and no vandalism has occured. For the record we always put them on our own cars.
Speaking of pinkos, I'll splurge and show two photos of them this time. Usually I figure they don't rate more than one, since our FReeps there have long ceased to be about them. To be sure, part of our presence is to keep them away from the entrance, but we're really about a pro-troops message.
At 7:30 they had a whopping 4 people down there, and their number never rose to 10 the entire evening
Later Mrs Trooprally noticed that they had one of their stupid American flags with the peace symbol in place of the stars. She gave me the camera and I went down there to get a shot of them
If you've evern done any counterprotesting of leftist groups or even seen photos of their protests, sooner or later you notice that they almost never have any American flags with them. The few that they do they disgrace by flying upside down, or jazzing it up in some way like in the photo above. But they just can't fly it straight, as it was meant to. On the other hand, at conservative rallies you'll see lots of American flags, and all of them are flown properly.
But of course we are there because it's a hospital, and as such troops are coming in from the war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. They fly them into Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, and from there to Walter Reed. Here's one of the buses coming in from Andrews to Walter Reed.
We also had the return of Lauren, whom we hadn't seen in some time. If you're reading this, ,Lauren,, it was good to see you again!
George & Ethel have become regulars and it was good to see them again last night
During the course of the evening a soldier and his girlfriend (or wife?) stopped by in their car. He had lost his eye in combat, and in place had a glass eye. But the one he had in that night had a little purple heart in place of the iris. Mrs Trooprally tried to take a photo of it but I don't know if you can really see it here.
Lastly, here's what it's all about; greeting the troopers as they come back from their Friday evening dinner
Come join us every Friday night between the hours of 6:30pm to approx 9:30pm.
Directions to our Walter Reed freep location from the Takoma metro station
* A special Thank You to Mrs Trooprally for taking the photos for this AAR. You can find all of the photos she took for this FReep on her Photobucket site
* Thank you to BufordP for maintaining the BIG LIST of all Walter Reed FReeps.
* Thank you always to Kristinn and tgslTakoma for all the work they do. Kristinn is president of the DC chapter and our chief organizer, and tgslTakoma hauls the MOAB, flags, most of the signs, and our "picnic table" back and forth every week.
* Tom the Redhunter blogs at The Redhunter
Ping DC Chapter
Great Job !!!
Thanks so much Tom for the report...the weather looked good.
The arriving buses must love to see those signs! That is what it is all about!
But the one he had in that night had a little purple heart in place of the iris.
WOW!!!
TtR, Thanks for the AAR. One slight correction. I believe the flag was from the All American Airborne division, ie, 82nd as opposed to the Screaming Eagles of the 101st.
Another terrific AAR with fabulous photos!
I am a newbie Freeper but not in reading these reports at Walter Reed. I have been lurking for several years.
Oregon is a long way from the East Coast and I may never be able to show up in the flesh but I sure am there in spirit!
Thank you D.C. Chapter for all that you do!
Great report, Tom the Redhunter! By the way, I was there for part of the evening, and my signs were there all evening!
The last soldier with a glass eye that I knew also popped it out regularly. In fact, once he was with FR at a Cindy Sheehag protest at the White House fence and he popped it out to show her his sacrifice. But the crushing crowd of reporters jostling to get a picture of the Sheehag made him put it back in.
Tom the Redhunter - Thanks for the report. And you are right, it IS all about the Troops. Talking to the troops and knowing that word of our FReep has gotten to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan is rewarding.
[Mr] T
The Thanks for this AAA goes to Tom the Redhunter and [Mrs] T for the pics. I was along for the ride. Now the Olney AARs are a different story.
Take care and stay out of trouble.
[Mr] T
Belated WELCOME to FR with your screen name.
[Mr] T
Thanks to all who make the effort and show up as often as they can so that our beloved troops will know that America does care about them and honor them.
Okay, how did I miss the Purple Heart Eye???? Especially when it was taken out for the picture. . . . Dang, I always miss all the good stuff!
And I’m squealing on Tom the Redhunter who tried to make us think he’d read BufordP’s awesome AAR on the Olney Freep from the week before. It was very obvious that TTRH had slacked off. Tsk, Tsk. But this AAR makes up for I guess. :-)
Morning bumpage!
Last week was one of the best times I have had at our weekly gatherings. Lord willing, I will see you all tonight.
As always you folks are fantastic! Sure glad you are there!
We had a couple of treats at the rally tonight (Sunday) in Woodland Hills, CA. A wife of a wounded Iraqi veteran stopped by to thank us for being out there. Her husband received the Purple Heart for injuries sustained from a IED. He didn’t accompany her because he was in San Diego visiting some of his buddies that are still in the hospital, but promised to bring him next week. We were chatting when a guy pulled up and gave us about 8 bottles of water as a way of saying “thank you”. Always a nice experience when someone goes out of their way. Anyway, it was a great day, and a great rally!
Don’t forget! Next Saturday is Gathering of Eagles’ Recruiter Appreciation Day! Let’s all show the recruiters we care!
ping
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