Posted on 10/01/2013 8:24:42 PM PDT by M. Thatcher
TOLEDO -- Locally in the Glass City, we can see the affects of the government shutdown at our museums, monuments, and national parks. The gates are closed and locked, denying access completely to the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge.
TSA employees were still working at Toledo Express Airport, but when WNWO called the TSA to find out if they would be affected, there was a message that said the public relations representative did not have access to her voicemail or email due to the government shutdown.
In a letter from Marcy Kaptur's office in the 9th District, it read, "...only services deemed essential for the safety of human life and protection of property will be continued."
But for a group of World War II vets visiting the national memorial in Washington D.C., an all expense paid trip which is called an "Honor Flight," the shutdown was not stopping them from seeing the tribute that was inspired by them.
"It just goes to show you why we won World War II," says Honor Flight of Northwest Ohio President Lee Armstrong.
Many elderly veterans, some in wheelchairs, broke through the barriers set up around the memorial, as police, park service employees, and tourists looked on.
"The Germans and the Japanese couldn't contain us. They weren't going to let barriers contain them today. They wanted to see their memorial," says Armstrong.
Honor Flight of Northwest Ohio has a trip scheduled to depart from Toledo next Wednesday, October 9.
"We will make the call this Friday to determine if the flight is still a go, or if we will have to re-schedule," Armstrong explains.
He says they are considering going ahead with the trip even if the government is still on shutdown, but when he called the parks service, he was told they would face arrest.
Armstrong says, "I said, are you kidding me? You're going to arrest a 90/91-year-old veteran from seeing his memorial? If it wasn't for them it wouldn't be there. She said, 'That's correct sir.'"
When he asked for her name, he says she did not give it to him and then promptly hung up the phone.
99% of veterans on Honor Flights have never had the opportunity to see the memorial that is devoted to their service.
Through October, the are over 35,000 veterans scheduled to visit the site, more than 900 in the next five days alone.
It may all be waiting in limbo if the government can't complete their job.
Recall if you will, that it was the Park Service Police that investigated the death of one Vince Foster.
They made a number of determinations including suicide
They have cars equipped with 5 gallon cans of whitewash
Let’s do it. I’m not a “younger vet”, but I’ve got a bike and I’m only 100 miles from DC.
What time do you want to meet at the Memorial next Wednesday?
In a time - long ago; in a land far, far away...
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
Quite right. However, the question is whether there is precedent for the U.S. government to use unreasonable force against U.S. military veterans who assemble to share and voice personal and relevant concerns.
I am not predicting such an event in the present situation, but we should not think it impossible.
Perhaps a few of the larger questions are, by what authority does the government have the right to restrict public access as in this particular instance? What are the limits of any such assumed or actual authority as it may be applied to other public facilities?
“A military man can scarcely pride himself on having ‘smitten a sleeping enemy’; it is more a matter of shame, simply, for the one smitten. I would rather you made your appraisal after seeing what the enemy does, since it is certain that, angered and outraged, he will soon launch a determined counterattack.”
I wonder....
...have they shut down the Grand Canyon?
Obama might hire some of his sons to beat them to death.
That's about right: Federali Jerks. We were in DC for the 4th of July and walked through the WW2 Memorial after 10pm at night. No one bothered us, there were no park service folks around. I was left with the impression its available for all to see any time of day.
BTW: It's a spectacular sight when it's lit up in the evening.
From the Grand Canyon NP website;
Due to the lapse in appropriated funds, all public lands managed by the Interior Department (National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, Bureau of Land Management facilities, etc.) will be closed. For more information, FAQs, and updates, please visit www.doi.gov/shutdown.
Not at 90+ years old they won’t.
They DID their part already. That’s up to US now, to protect THEM.
How fast can we get a couple thousand people down there to put a protective cordon around them, that’s the question...
Neither did mine.
WWII Airborne... died at 54 years old.
There is a contingent of US Truckers going to DC within the next two weeks. It might be advantageous for them to show up a little early to provide a little help.
Truckers Ride For The Constitution
http://www.wnd.com/2013/09/truckers-roar-to-d-c-with-impeachment-movement/
Anyone with any contacts with folks in this group - now would be a good time to makes some phone calls.
Exactly! Who needs the govt to honor the dead? Who needs them to take a hike in a Natl Park for goodness sake?
word of the day: NONESSENTIAL
“..What happens when a 100,000 motorcycles descend on DC???..”
Ping to post #113.
Truckers Ride for the Constitution is upcoming.
Ohio Ping
they wouldn’t dare arrest them - the push back would be huge and epic
A confrontation is looking more likely today.
At their age, it will probably be the first and last time they get to see the monument. And bam-bam is going to have them arrested.
I had same thought. A Rolling Thunder escort and shield for the WW2 vets.
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