Posted on 05/24/2008 5:15:10 AM PDT by maica
West Chester, Pa.
Memorial Day isn't until Monday. But for Rich Davis, a 20-year veteran of the Navy, it seems to come every Saturday. That's when he pulls out a handmade sign and heads for a street corner near the Chester County Court House in this suburban Philadelphia community.
Mr. Davis, 54, is a pro-military protester who makes a public stand each week in support of the troops and their mission. . In 2001, Mr. Davis retired from the Navy and ended up settling in West Chester, where he spent 2006 and 2007 watching antiwar protesters rally each Saturday from 11 a.m. until noon outside the courthouse near his apartment. The Chester County Peace Movement, Mr. Davis would later learn, had been demonstrating at the site since March 2003, when the U.S. invaded Iraq. At first he hoped someone would challenge the protesters, speak up for the troops, and defend their mission. On Sept. 8, 2007 he decided that someone had to be him.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
"In a way they're right," he told me. "I was trained by a family that taught me to love our country, not blame it. And I am paid by troops and their families who say thanks for doing this, thanks for being here."
Mr. Ferris is an assistant editor and columnist at the Philadelphia Inquirer.
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DC Chapter members and all street corner patriots will like to see this article.
A good article from Philadelphia via the online Wall Street Journal
Mr. Davis is definitely a FReeper in heart if not in reality. FReep on, Mr. Davis!
Thanks Maica for posting this article, and thanks Mr. Davis for your stand-up patriotic attitude.
More and more Americans are being motivated to get involved by street corner patriots. Last night at Walter Reed, two near-by Marylanders showed up for the first time (with their children) to join the DC Chapter’s Friday night Support The Troops rally. They had been to GOE’s last two events in DC and they want to be more involved.
Also Deborah, a visiting GOE from Denver, related last night how some friends of hers have been street corner patriots in Greeley, CO countering the so-called antiwar, but nevertheless violent, protesters.
Keep up the good work Mr Davis!
You’re probably right; however, “Pi$$ing Off the Protesters” wasn’t likely at the more demure WSJ.
Yes, he would be supporting the troops in his daily life, but he is out on the street because he got tired of seeing anti-American-victory protestors using their right to demonstrate go unprotested for 4 whole years.
These sanctimonious demonstrators need to have a reality check, and Rich Davis has given it to them. The reason why DC Freepers have given up their Friday nights to stand outside the gate at Walter Reed for more than three years is because Code Pink had decided to demonstrate their views at that location. If not for the Code Pinkos violating the peace of our wounded warriors, their families and their caregivers, Freepers would not be standing on those particular corners.
So, we really are protesting the protestors, when we stand up for our military heroes.
More and more Americans are being motivated to get involved by street corner patriots.
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I feel the same way. Conservatives of the ‘older’ generation, (which now iare the Vietnam era folks) see what peril lies ahead for the future direction of our country, if the indoctrination of today’s youth is not countermanded. The patriots of the Vietnam era are now entering retirement and are getting involved in speaking out. Many veterans are motivated, like this Rich Davis, to once again be active for our country.
Let their voices be heard, and their signs be seen, all over America!
D.C. Chapter Master Ping List
West Chester finally goes big time with some good publicity. Doctor Raoul has been helping out for some time in West Chester.
Seen he was. Though there was plenty of room on the corner, he says he was bumped, shoved and challenged. One person asked, "Do you live in fear?" Another demanded, "Why don't you go and serve?"
"They had that corner for five years, every Saturday, unopposed," Mr. Davis told me. "They couldn't stand the thought of one person having a sign they couldn't tolerate."
PING!
Yes, indeed!
This is good to hear and I like the summary of why we are protesting the protesters too.
Ping!
He is totally my hero!
I’ve been to at least a dozen counter protests against the anti-American slime left...the “peace protest” always turns into a b!tch session against a America...and they ALWAYS claim anyone protesting against them is “getting paid”....they are a joke....
Rich Davis is a great American..God Bless this Navy vet and all who get out there and show support for our troops..I loved reading this story.
(GO NAVY!)
Bump!
That's because they accuse others of what they themselves do.
I'm sure the illegal immigrants bused to the anti-Bush and "peace" protests that have taken place here in the Central Valley of California over the last 7 years did not stand there out of the goodness of their hearts.
Yes indeed he has.
You will also see Freeper Marylander and me in the pic in the WSJ.
What a wonderful bunch.
YOu can also see more pics of the group at
http://midnightbluesays.blogspot.com
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