Posted on 08/01/2011 11:36:56 AM PDT by kburi
On a hot July Friday evening, temperature at 100 degrees, you might expect everyone has left for the beach. Not at the Walter Reed front gate! Tonight, over 41 Freepers, lurkers and visitors arrived to support the wounded warriors and their families on one of the few remaining Friday nights before the final transfer to Bethesda and Ft Belvoir.
A number of Freepers returned to join us. They came from Florida, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Georgia.
SeektheTruth brought a sign all the way from Florida thanking the DC Chapter of Free Republic for its 328 consecutive Friday nights at Walter Reed.Waiting for, and cheering the bus bringing the wounded warriors and their families back from the Aleethia Foundation dinner is always Friday evening’s highlight.
Tonight, the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) bus pulled up, stopped and the wounded warriors who could get off, did so, and thanked us for being there.
They quickly discovered that it was us who thanked them and their families for their service. Only one other time in the six years and four months of consecutive Friday nights has the bus stopped, allowing several FReepers to go on the bus.
Tonight, several wounded warriors and family members not only came out to talk with us, but also a number of us went on the bus and talked with those on the bus.
What a honor!
Trooprally had arranged for everyone to light sparklers as the bus drove up to the front gate, and just as we did, a fire engine down the street turned its flashing lights on. We weren’t hassled and later, that fire engine with lights and sirens on, actually blocked traffic allowing the DAV bus to make its left turn into Walter Reed!
It’s never quiet on Friday nights.
Mrs Trooprally arranged for 6 large pizzas, several coolers of cold drinks and some Freepers brought desserts including some delicious velvet cupcakes. We have developed a pretty nice food court over the years.
A breeze kicked up about 8:15pm which relieved the intense heat.
A car leaving WRAMC stopped and the mother who was driving told Bryan, “I am taking my son home now, thank all of you for your support here.”
Her son, a wounded warrior, was in the back seat.
Army Captain K (Medical Corps) walked through our crowd on his way home, and asked what we were doing.
It was his first Friday at Walter Reed having just been transferred here to work with wounded warriors at Fort Belvoir (Virginia).
After hearing about our Friday night commitment and seeing the signs, banners and flags, he said he was stunned to find this type of support for the wounded warriors and said that if he stayed any longer he would have moist eyes.
WO4Man sent a video of July 29 highlights at Walter Reed:
MOAB and Flag Row
WO4Man Securing the Corner 
Tonight’s Big Crowd
Tonight was the 328th consecutive Friday night that the DC Chapter of Free Republic has been at the front gates of Walter Reed to support our soldiers. Our calculator says that is 6 years and 4 months of consecutive Friday evenings. A lot of people over the six years have made this commitment possible.
It doesn’t seem possible, but after tonight only four Friday evenings remain.
August Calendar For the Walter Reed Transition
The DC Chapter of Free Republic invites all who have participated over the past 6 ½ years to join us on any the dates below that you can.
August 5, 12, 19, and 26 We will continue at the front gates until the last wounded warriors are moved to Bethesda. We expect the Friday night dinner buses to operate through early August. However, it depends on how many wounded warriors sign up. Many are already at Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda.
The Aleethia Foundation is already coordinating these dinners from (get used to the new name) the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, or WRNMMC for short.
The DC Chapter will continue at the front gates of Walter Reed until August 26. Walter Reed officially closes during the last week of August .
FReepers, Lurkers and Visitors on July 29, 2011
Mr. and Mrs Trooprally, CindyTrueSupporter, 3D-Joy, BufordP, Fraxinus, GunsAreOK, Kburi, PresUSA222, RonGKirby, Sensei Ern, Tammycat, VictoryNY, AGreatPer, Albion Wilde, Credo2, DollyCali, JoyjoyfromNJ, NewEnglandPatriot, Patriot Sister, RLmorel, SeektheTruth, stratman1969, WO4Man, BOQ, Lurkers Allie, Bill, Bryan and Terry, Captain K, Carol, Jessica, Jim, Laurie, Ted Nettles and Anne from Patriot Guard, Mr SeektheTruth, Cathy and Audrey from California, Jonn Lilyea of This Ain’t Hell blog, http://thisainthell.us/blog/ , and Phil Kever, Iraq veteran and author of “182 Days in Iraq”
Moonbat (eruption)News
Four moonbats tonight. They seemed a small afterthought compared to the 41 or so FReepers and visitors the front gate. Walter Reed Security continues to insure that they display their signs according to WRAMC policy. This seems to annoy the moonbats. In the picture, union boss and lead moonbat protester, Bruce, gave the finger to the Walter Reed Security Police as they drove away. WR Security had just made them remove their signs from Walter Reed property. They left promptly at 9 pm.
Union Boss Bruce says “Thanks” to Walter Reed Security Police 
FOOTNOTES
The DC Chapter invites you to join us every Friday night between the hours of 6:30pm to approximately 9:30pm. The last Walter Reed dinner buses are scheduled through early August. And we plan to soldier on until the last soldier has been transferred (August 26 will be our last Friday night). So the clock is ticking and we would be honored to have you join us before these long term consecutive Friday evening rallies come to a close.
BufordP's Walter Reed FReep archive
Trooprally’s Sparklers Light Up As the Bus Arrives 
CindyTrueSupporter and 3D-Joy Board the Bus
We Thank Two Wounded Warriors 
Allie, Laurie and RonGKirby 
Mrs Trooprally and 3D-Joy
SeektheTruth and Mr SeektheTruth
Dolly Cali with Josie and Toby. Ted and Anne of Maryland Patriot Guard are standing behind Dolly Cali. 
Mr SeektheTruth, JoyjoyfromNJ, BufordP, Bryan, Terry and WO4Man
Carole and AGreatPer. Trooprally and Ted are talking in the background, 
3D-Joy 
Cathy and Audrey from California 
SeektheTruth and Credo 2
VictoryNY
Jim, Fraxinus, a visitor and Patriot Sister 
BufordP talking with SeektheTruth, Standing - Sensei Ern and John Lilyea 
More Photos sent By WO4Man
DC PING
Thanks for being there and representing us. And thank you for supporting our troops.
The last of the big ones, but it’s not over yet until 08/26!
Maryland PING!
Nice turn out. Well done
Bump to the Top!. Nice video, good work all!!!!!
God Bless our Military and all the patriots in DC who were there at Walter Reed to honor them every Friday for over 6 1/2 years!
Simply outstanding. God Bless you all.
Friday nights are the only time I wish I still lived in DC. Some of my fondest memories are standing in front of those gates with all of you.
Unfortunately, you’re just too far away for me to join you again.
Thanks to all of you who have done so much to making our wounded troops’ lives a bit easier...........
My DC area Ping list, in case it contains other patriots in the DC area.
Forgive the repeats!
Just having you and others comment, lets us know how wide the support is.
Thanks for your post.
Much respect and lots of heartfelt thanks.
I believe this week you said that you had to pick 'n choose from about 100 pictures from WO4Man and [Mrs] T.
Your AARs will be part of history.
And a thanks to all who showed up this week and the previous week. You made the last weeks at WR something to remember.
[Mr] T
Here’s some photos and videos I took:
http://maroonedinmarin.blogspot.com/2011/07/final-freep-supporting-troops-at-walter.html
Enjoyed being with everyone Friday night.
KUDOS to all of you!!! This is the Citizens of FReeperville at their best...
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
The DC Freepers are the best. Your group no matter the weather has stood tall for those that need the support against the moonbats. You are a credit to FR and deserve much more than a pat on the back and a few attaboys.
One of the highlight of my DC trip back in 08 was joining you at WR for a few hours. The military of the U.S. is the best in the world and they are worthy of our support and gratitude.
Carol, my good friend, and I arrived very early at Walter Reed around 4:00 PM after we ate at the DC Fish Market. With 100 degrees we just wanted to sit and wait for the regular Freepers to show and a breeze.
Just as we relaxed in a few folding chairs a very loud large crash happened in front of the main gate.
Within minutes Carole was over to the most damaged car that was rear ended observing what to report. She called 911 and gave a full and precise alert.
1. One person hurt that needed medical help immediately.
2. There were unidentifiable fluids coming from the second car and it needed attention.
What an introduction to your first Freeper event.
I mean, Carole was a trooper. She later said, "after working in New York City for 25 years and watching officers, you sort of know what to do".
Carole directed traffic around the accident until the fire trucks and EMS vehicles came and she continued until they took control. Welcome to Free Republic you lovely courageous lady.
wonderful report. Just got home about an hour ago. Still have not unpacked yet alone download/work up pix. Will get them up ASAP.
It was wonderful being with you all. Sorry the heat & my various maladies made me such a dead beat. I had to leave early & wondered around the area over an hour trying to go 5 miles to my cousin in Bethesda as my GPS died on 270 coming in earlier in day
New one purchased next day so rest of trip was not such a mess.
Really warms my heart to read about your weekly rallies.
Should I ever get back to Washington DC it would be my honor to join you.
video perhaps eventually
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