Posted on 11/13/2010 5:05:01 PM PST by trooprally
People ask why we counter Westboro “Baptist” Church, why not just let them be the proverbial “If a tree falls in a forest and no hears it, did it fall”? BELOW is why we counter them.
FReepers, students, patriots and Veteran Harley riders (about 50) defended our Fallen Heroes this Veterans Day at Arlington Cemetery. We came by the dozens and overwhelmed Fred Phelps’ one-branch family tree called Westboro “Baptist” Church. They started the morning with about a dozen miscreants. Two hours later when they left, only 3 had stayed around.
A special thanks to those who took their shift to help hold the MOAB when the wind pick up. They were GunsAreOK, iMacMan, new FReeper Tammy Cat, Tolerance Sucks Rocks, Lurker Richard, and an active duty Air Force member stationed in Washington.
And another special thanks to iMacMan and [Mrs] Trooprally (aka [Mrs] T) for taking pictures. Link to their combined photos are HERE
Other FReepers who were there: SouthernBoyupNorth (one of the Harley riders), Cindy_True-Supporter, rlmorel (came down from Massachusetts just for our FReep), RongKirby, stratman1969, Lurker Bill, and me, [Mr] Trooprally (aka [Mr] T).
And Patriots Toothless Dawg (GoE), 4 American University students, 2 Georgetown University students, Ann, Cory, and Toni. They were twitted or heard about our FReep on facebook.
Stratman1969's Marooned in Marin web site also has some excellent pictures and videos. Check out the bag piper video that “cleansed” the WBC protest area after their departure. It took just a few seconds for us all to realize he was playing. You could have heard a pin drop.
Several hundred yards east of our position is a Seabee Memorial. There was a ceremony there this morning. The patriots going there (BELOW) appreciated our presence.
What was really impressive were the Vets on their Harleys BELOW . It warmed our hearts to see them block WBC from visitors coming to Arlington for the Veterans Day ceremony. While our permit restricted us to a barricaded area, they were freer to roam around so long as they kept moving. It was also humbling when the Vets came over to our area to have their pictures taken in front of our signs. As we deeply appreciated them being there, they deeply appreciated us being there. Whether any of the bikers were part of the Patriot Guard Rides is unknown. Since this event is not within the purview of their Mission Statement, they are instructed to take off their PGR insignias.
BELOW: Some of the Vets’ jackets.
BELOW: Vets’ bikes.
The Vets originally stood in front of WBC. The LOEs told them that they had to keep moving in which they made a big moving oval, flags waving. One could hardly see WBC. Kinda reminder me of the question: "Where’s WBC"? BELOW: Vets standing tall in front of WBC. For those who hardly ever see [Mrs] T (Army Vet) in other FReeps that we do because she is taking the pictures, see is the one in the white ski cap just to left of center.
They also pulled a dozen of their Harleys in front of WBC and revved their engines. After a while, the LEOs had to ask them to move on.
And then there were the FReepers and patriots.
BELOW LEFT: [Mrs] T talking to some Arlington Cemetery visitors with Tammy Cat behind our barricade. BELOW RIGHT: Our MOAB stands tall. Wind was not blowing at this early time, neither had all of our patriots yet showed up.
BELOW LEFT: Rlmorel and three ladies who heard about us on either Facebook or were Tweeted. BELOW RIGHT: L-R: Lurker Richard (2ndHandRose’s husband), Ann and 2ndHandRose.
BELOW LEFT: 4 American University students. BELOW RIGHT: L-R: GunsAreOK, Tolerance Sucks Rocks, iMacMan, and Cindy_True_Supporter.
BELOW LEFT: Toothless Dawg who later joined his other Vets n front of WBC. BELOW RIGHT: Lurker Bill setting up. He had already set up his sound system and it was loudly playing patriotic music. Rlmorel looks on.
BELOW: God was favorably looking down on us.
DC Chapter Master Ping List
It was a great day to be at Arlington Cemetery defending our fallen heroes. We wished that we didn’t have to be there, wished that we could be inside Arlington’s gates, honoring our fallen, but we defended their honor.
[Mr] T
Great Work, One and all. This is the way to fight back and you know its got to be eating them up. That twice at least in two weeks they were out protested!
God bless all of you is all I can say!
WooHoo! Great post and pictures. You all sacrifice very much of your time and energy to do this great work and it is very much appreciated. God bless you all.
Thank you so much!!
but we defended their honor
~~~~~~~
Yes, you did! God bless super you and Mrs. [T], the
other great FReepers who came, and the other patriots
who were ‘called’ by their love of country to be there
to defend the gate to honor.
Thanks to all.
You guys are awesome!
Thank you one and all for doing this. My screen got really blurry looking at those pics. God Bless.
Love you folks!
“Standing For Those Who Stood For Us!”(Patriot Guard Riders)
PING!
Outstanding!!! God Bless you all and the DC Chapter. I am in awe.
Awesome.
Just awesome!
Thank you for standing for all of us.
May God stop the plague that is Fred Phelps and the WBC.
don’t the members of wbc ever actually GO to church?
Thank you to all who did this on our behalf. And God bless our troops.
I’ll pass your thanks and the links on to the guys I rode up with. I am sure it will be appreciated. Now that I have relocated to Fredricksburg Va the DC chapter will probably be seeing more of this old reprobate.
See ya round the swamp!
Combined general and Maryland PING!
Thank you.
Thank you to each and every one of you who stand up for our military and their families. God bless you for your dedication and courage. And, may God always bless and protect our military men and women and their families.
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