Posted on 03/10/2009 6:21:41 PM PDT by Jimmy Valentine's brother
6 March 2009, Elder Street and Georgia Avenue, Washington, DC
DC Chapter Members in attendance: rongkirby, Fraxinus, Trooprally, Lurker Bill, Cindy_true_supporter, 2nd Class Citizen, Plea Deal, Navy Vet, Tom the Red Hunter
The moderating temperatures enabled the chapter to deploy our MOAB. Reliable sources informed me that only three people, as opposed to the standard four to six, were required to deploy the MOAB.
I don’t know if it was the climate change or the anticipation of adjustment to DST but there was an affect on some of us manning the watch this Friday past.
kburi warned us about his brother.
Mr. Trooprally had an exchange with a wing nut on a bike. Something to the effect that Homey D. Clown is still torturing in Iraq. This came as a surprise to us and we immediately called Eric Holder to inform him of this horror.
Trooprally adds the following:
“The Northwest corner was busy tonight.
Being very warm, finally, more soldiers than normal were walking about. We greated them with a warm “Thank You for your service” and struck up a short conversation with many of them.
Fraxinus and I were on the northwest corner this night, enjoying the warm weather and the troops coming and going. A white Walter Reed shuttle bus, full of soldiers and their families, stopped at the red light before turning into WR. Frax and I waved, lifted up our signs to show all on the bus how much we appreciated them. Suddenly the door opened and a wounded soldier got out and handed Fraxinus a bag of burritos. Before we could say anything he was back in the bus and the bus was moving.
It was one of those spine tingling moments. I could only think that this was someone’s dinner or evening snack that was just given to us. But I also think to have said “No thanks” would have been an insult to the soldier. So Fraxinus added the burritos to the FReepers pizza and everyone enjoyed this soldiers gift of thanks.
The soldiers aren’t the only ones who we are thankful for. We also thank the staff that walk by for helping the wounded soldiers. The staff generally out number the soldiers that walk through the gate. And as we do, they walk by in all sorts of weather. Some are heading to the bus stop, some to waiting family parked on Georgia avenue, some to their cars which are also parked in the church lot that we park in.
We thank them all, all the way down to the cook and bottle washer, as they walk by. They must get tired of presidents, senators, congressman, actors and the like coming in and seeing the troops. Sure, their job is to help the wounded, that’s what they get paid for. But they see more than us, the pain, the second guessing and pressures of being wounded.
Early on the staff just walked by, looking tired after a days work, or not looking forward to starting their night shift. Now, we get smiles back, thank yous for being out at the corners, and our favorite, God Bless.
Who knows, we might just brighten a staffers day and they may just be a little kinder to a wounded soldier, or do their job in a better way."
Other photos:
Tom and Cindy
Tom and Frax
Ron G and Mr. T
A Navy Vet – not only rides a two wheeler to WRAMC but is a skilled seamstress that will put you in a tailor made gown
Heroes returning from a well deserved night on the town
Stop by DC Chapter Bloggers:
CHCKNHAWK’s Blog at A Soldier’s Perspective
Tom the Redhunter's blog
PleaDeal's (GunnNutt) blog at Semper Gratus
The wounded warriors inside the hospital are heartened by the sight of ordinary citizens cheering for them and displaying our thanks for the service and sacrifice they've made on our behalf. We hope that if you find yourself in the DC Area on a Friday evening that you’ll swing by for a visit
Directions to our Walter Reed freep location from the Takoma metro station,.
Thanks to BufordP for Keeping the BIG LIST: All DC Chapter Walter Reed FReeps
I know Trooprally is looking forward to this report.
Way to go and thank you all for being there.
God Bless the DC Chapter of FR for doing this for so long. Kudos to Jimm Valentine’s brother for using a 64 dollar word:)
JVB
good report, and very prompt. Bufordp has a high standard to meet.
See you Friday the 13th, (not again!)
KB
Absolutely, I always enjoy a timely WR AAR. Especially when they are well written as yours are. Great pics also.
Yep, real nice night, no soda cans either. Looks like our warm weather is being help captive in Florida. Cooler North Dakota weather is on the way.
[Mr] T
You are a great observer, JVB. You put what you see in very readable fashion. Good job. Not only handsome, but the man can write. Hey Troop, why don’t you wax poetic and witty like that? Must be because your beauty is confined to your “legs”? Just kidding. You guys are the bees’ knees.
Uh oh, that sounds serious.
Yes it is. No one else saw it but a polar bear was see lurking in the parking lot.
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