Walter Reed, Week 196, Bitter Cold, No Sweat! (or smoke)

January 20, 2009 | Kburi

[kburi]

In the face of a bitter cold, but clear and starry 12 degree night, we manned all four corners at the front gate. A decision was made to not put up the MOAB because of the wind and the extreme cold which makes the PVC frame very brittle.

Some also discovered a not so well known tobacco fact. That is, extreme cold makes smoking cigars difficult. The cold actually puts cigars out by taking away the heat of the cherry. So one has to keep puffing or keep talking. Can’t do both on a very cold night.

Trooprally turned his car into a “warming sanctuary” which much appreciated as we periodically took a warm break.

Halfway down the block were 5 moonbats. When I went down to count, a police car with sirens and lights was pulling over a speeder. It stopped in front of the moonbats. Two moonbats broke into a run, then stopped when they realized the police weren’t after them. A funny moment. Makes you wonder what they do during the day.

The bus arrived a little early and was full of soldiers and their families. They pulled through the front gate waving at us; with a little boy at the rear of the bus furiously waving his small flag at us.

VISITORS

Satin Patriot unexpectedly joined us at the end of a business trip to DC.

Coby, up from southern Virginia, also dropped by to spend time with us. Part of his military service was spent at Guantanamo.

We were visited by a wounded (in Iraq) warrior, Ron, a 1st Lt. He is from Indiana and will be at WR for the next month or so. We enjoyed talking with him and he seems to be recovering well.

HONOR ROLL

Trooprally, Fraxinus, 3D-Joy, Chief, Cindy_True_Supporter, Lurker Bill, RonGKirby, Satin Patriot, Pleadeal, Kburi, and Jimmy Valentine’s Brother.

Photos are by Plea Deal. The camera didn’t weather the cold as well as we did and so only a few pictures were taken.

Why We Are at Walter Reed

Satin Patriot posted the following in her Feb 29, 2008 Walter Reed After Action Report. It’s a good reminder why we feel it’s important to stand at the four front gate corners of Walter Reed Army Medical Center every Friday night.

With thanks to Satin Patriot and apologies for some slight editing.

“Sometime back, some idiots got the fabulous idea to protest America and her wounded warriors on American soil at the insanely appropriate location of, get this, a HOSPITAL. These people are not known for their tastefulness, tact, or appropriate behavior. (Frankly, those things are diametrically opposed to anything of which they may be comprised and any belief or cause for which they stand.) Well, they decided that this would get better and better if they did it weekly instead of proving their idiocy only once. Seven remain to this day, every Friday night from 7-9pm on the dot.

A group of patriots got annoyed by this. When good people get annoyed enough, things happen. These people decided that this travesty could not go unanswered, so they moved into the neighborhood and took over.

So, every Friday night from somewhere around 6:30 until the bus returns, the patriots stand at the front gate of Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), and they stand, not in opposition to the idiots, but in support of the wounded warriors and their families who temporarily make this place their home.

You see, when you have nothing to do and nothing for which to live, you find an identity in negativity. You become known to yourself and others by the things you dislike or don’t support.

When you have an identity and you are aware of the value of things like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, then you become known, to yourself and others, by the things you love, the values for which you stand, and the beliefs you espouse.

WRAMC is one of our oldest and most prestigious military hospitals. During peacetime, the hospital services the military and dependent population much the same as any other hospital services the civilian population.

You may or may not know this, but the US military is at war. During wartime, the hospital cares mostly for our warriors who have been wounded or injured in the line of duty. (Yes, there exists still the usual patient populace, but the numbers skew toward the war-related injuries.)

In peacetime or war, this facility serves those super humans who CHOOSE to put their lives on the line in defense of our lives, liberties, and pursuits.

I could easily wax verbose on the many reasons our military deserves our love, respect, and support, however this has already grown too long. If you don’t see those reasons for yourself, ask someone who stands on those corners, and you will be educated and enlightened. “

Thanks Satin Patriot.

MOAB (Mother Of All Banners) Slogan Contest

To all Freepers:

Our current MOAB (Mother of All Banners) has been in use for some time and is starting to show a lot of wear and tear.

We believe it’s time for a new one.

We could put the current slogan on the new one but we'd rather leave it to you to come up with a new phrase.

The troops, their families, and the workers at Walter Reed have seen the existing one for some time. And we’d like to refresh the message with your input.

Keep in mind that the new message must fit on the banner and that it should be pro-troop, that is, something that will inspire and encourage the troops, their families, and the workers at Walter Reed. We would like to unveil the new saying on our 4th Anniversary, which would be Week 208 or April 3. We will announce the winner on that AAR thread. The cutoff for suggestions will be early March (sorry, we don't have an exact date, so just keep 'em coming until we stop posting this in the AARs).

The contest judges will be your Walter Reed AAR writers: BufordP, Jimmy Valentines Brother, Kburi and Tom the Redhunter The grand prize will be ... Bragging Rights!

Information

If you can't get to D.C. to join us but would like to do something for the wounded, you can find a wealth of ideas by FReepmailing Tom the Redhunter, Cindy-True-Supporter, VAFlagwaver, or PleaDeal.

Come join us every Friday night between the hours of 6:30pm to approx 9:30pm. There is parking easily available right next to our group.

A big Thank You to all those who store and bring our flags and signs every week.

January 16, 2009 Photos

Satin Patriot and Rongkirby – Keeping Warm

Trooprally - Standing Tall

Cindy True Supporter and 3D-Joy

Lurker Bill – No Short Sleeves Tonight

Jimmy Valentine’s Brother - Hot Coffee Break

Rongkirby and Fraxinus

[kburi]

Walter Reed, Week 196
DC Chapter PING

[Boiling point]

God bless you folks for braving the weather and manning the corner. I always enjoy the pictures. Great job!

[scan59]

Good for you folks! Cold hands, warm hearts.

[Secret Agent Man]

Good job you guys. you’re doing it for all the right reasons, and you will outlast the people fueled by hate. Because this is who you are, and you’re not being eaten alive by hate.

[trooprally]

Heart warming AAR, sure didn’t seem so warm that night. Thanks for the real nice report.

Besides the extreme cold affecting the PVC, Plea Deals camera pooped early because of it.

[Mr] T

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

Batteries and I agree that we don’t like the cold weather. Even though I was layered up, I was glad that Plea Deal had been misinformed about the expected return of the troop bus. I was running low on anti freeze and the cold was getting through the layers.

Hopefully 3-D Joy has returned to the sunny, warmer climes of Florida.

[WVNan]

Same here JVB. I hate the cold. I’ve been hoping and praying for some of that global warming, but it’s lost some place. Cudos to all of you who braved the elements.

VICTORY IN IRAQ
THANK YOU AMERICAN TROOPS

[mass55th]

A friend of mine’s daughter is stationed at Walter Reed. She was home last week visiting her father who is recovering from surgery. I mentioned the Freepers who are outside of Walter Reed each week, and she wanted me to say “thank you” to all of you, and that it really means a lot to the soldiers being cared for there.

[Taxman]

Taxman sends a warm BRAVO ZULU! to all.

God Bless you for what you are doing every FRiday night.

[Tom the Redhunter]

Thank you for holding down the fort on a cold one!

I’ll be there next Friday