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.
Yeah, my family had a number of gold stars in the window. My wife was a flight nurse also, but during the so-called “cold war”. Those were the days in which we followed our leaders without question. Now? Not sure how I would react. Piss poor state of affairs, huh?
Yep. In memory of my dad, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, I'm ready to roll.
"In a shutdown Executive Branch decides what stays open and what closes. WW2 Memorial barricaded to disabled vets after they contacted Obama" Rep. Steve Stockman
I have an uncle, now deceased, who served with the 84th. Infantry Division during the Bulge. Who was your father with?
This is ludicrous!
It’s an open-air, open-walkway exhibit. There’s absolutely no reason to block it off. It actually costs more money to put up barricades and man them, than it would to simply allow people to walk through the area.
This is being done for spite; to turn the screws and attempt to deceive the American people into thinking that shutting down the government is worse than it actually is.
My father never got to see it.
That’s sort of what I thought. I expect we’ll see the barricades strengthened soon. Probably chained together more tightly and a second row, so we’ll see. But as I suggested, Obastard could be a real hero here, and he won’t be able to bring himself to do it.
What happens when younger vets turn out in support???
What happens when a 100,000 motorcycles descend on DC???
Kick-stands UP
What is your take?
I would like to see them try too. That would turn out the Tea Party and others in droves!
WWII veterans storm D.C. memorial closed by government shutdown
Tuesday, October 01, 2013 6:39:51 PM
Was the honor flight of 80 year old veterans gate raped by the TSA?
asked for guidance on how to respond to the breach of security.
I bet they will have the dogs out and fully loaded M4s with those Hollow Point training rounds in 30 round magazines.
Tazers at the ready!
Teach those old geezers to storm the memorial. Terrorists!
Looks like I was right! I even bet 5 bucks the vets beat the obama out of the NPS weenies!
truth be told it is not "ObamaCare" at all, it has nothing to do with "care" it is ObamaTax, and it is no "Government shutdown" it is a Government Showdown, punitive action in defiance of a branch of government in opposition to Obama's imposition of his Cloward-Piven strategy
I would love to see the WW2 vets get to enjoy their memorial, even if it makes Zer0 look good in the process by making an exception for them. He’ll have plenty of opportunities to embarrass himself in some other ways....
If memory serves, Patton and Eisenhower were involved in that as well.
This situation is not quite the same, though.
My take..
First of all ‘the barriers’ throughout Washington are a ploy of the Democrats and Obama......there’s no reason to keep people from “Looking” at any Monuments. They belong to ‘the people’ after all... not to the Government.
Second...these Vets reveal the heart and minds of Americans....any who attempt to arrest a single one of them will make Obama look really terrible than he is already...so that’s not going to happen. If it really does happen????
Then the outcry, in some tangible way, needs to be made known from every American. Am not sure just how much more Americans are going to handle of this corruption and terranny before they rise... but it’s fast moving to the edge.
At work today people are really angry....one individual shared their Insurance for a family three months ago was $500 and recently notified it will now be $1000. not counting co-pay or deductibles.......and they are not eligible for any subs...make too much money according to Obama.... She was one very angry woman!
One has to ask...Did she vote for him?
an honor guard of Patriot Riders should make sure the Park Police do not molest the Vets.
The WW2 Memorial is unattended by any Park Police and is open to the street and sidewalk.
This is a time and place where the citizenry tells the government who is really in charge.
Enough of these petty fascists.
We don't have until the end of obassets term at the rate this country is being destroyed.
No...in fact she’s a conservative. We had quite a good conversation...she’s well informed and pro-active concerning her family and life. That’s why three months ago she checked on her health Insurance and was stunned to be notified of the cost hike recently.
<...”We don’t have until the end of obassets term at the rate this country is being destroyed”....>
Nope we don’t...there’s the debt ceiling and amnesty coming up pronto... he wants Amnesty along with Obamacare with his name on them....and so do the Demorats who will then look good to the low-end voters and foreigners who just love the free rides.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.