Posted on 05/27/2002 9:06:51 PM PDT by Angelwood
The D.C. Chapter of Free Republic made no formal plans to meet as a group this Memorial Day Weekend. Many groups were gathering for services, ceremonies and demonstrations throughout the Washington, D.C. area.
The members of Rolling Thunder gathered in hotel parking lots throughout D.C., Virginia and Maryland before making their annual trek to D.C. and the Mall. My family was at one of these hotels and it was full (hundreds of motorcycles lined up) of people dressed in red, white and blue getting ready to leave for D.C.
Other memorials services were held throughout the weekend at the Mall, the Vietnam Wall, the Navy Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, etc.
Late this afternoon, tgslTakoma, her son and daughter, and my husband and myself met at the Pentagon Memorial. Various family and work obligations have kept us from our vigil at the Pentagon recently, but we did not want to miss being there today.
The parking lot was almost deserted and only a few others were there at the same time we were tending to the flowers under the larger tree.
The trees had been surrounded by the orange plastic fencing material familiar to all in the D.C. area. We believe the fencing is up in order to protect the saplings and to allow some grass to grow. There have been so many visitors stopping at these memorials, that there is little ground cover at this time; and the circle outside the fencing material is now devoid of grass.
We found where the plastic was held together and unwrapped the wires so we could enter the area. We placed two new containers of fresh red, white and blue carnations and small flags on either side of the tree and tgslTakoma brought red, white and blue silk flowers to brighten the upper end of the memorial and be a more permanent display. She made new laminated signs for BKO and BCM. As usual, the signs depicting Barbara Olson's picture and information were missing. The ones for BCM - John Moran were still there but showing signs of the weather.
A couple from the West Coast (CA) had stopped to visit and tied a memorial balloon on the fence near the smaller tree. They came over to where we were working and took pictures and shared with us how 9/11 had affected them.
The D.C. Chapter lost a valued member of our group this weekend. The news that CommiesOut had passed away from a heart attack was unexpected and has hit us hard.
We didn't have a placard to leave at the Pentagon memorial site with a photo of CommiesOut, but the flowers, our prayers, thoughts and memories included our good friend and fellow D.C. Chapter member. We will all miss CommiesOut dearly.
FReep On!
Take care,
g
Side note: I will work on putting something together for a remembrance of CommiesOut to be placed at the Pentagon... I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to listen to a few stories (while enjoying a Polish beer) from Peter detailing his involvement in Solidarity and the hardships he and his family encountered because of it. I regret that we didn't have more time.
After the kids and I had finished our work on the knoll, I wired the fencing back together and stopped to take some pictures, which I will post links for tomorrow evening.
My daughter and I walked over to the MPs on duty nearest to the knoll and I thanked them for allowing us to work within the fence to spruce up the memorial, and they were gracious.
After leaving the Pentagon I took the kids to Arlington National Cemetary, and I took many more photos there. I had not been to Arlington since I was the age of my daughter (yikes!). What a beautiful and peaceful resting place for so many (more than 245,000) who gave so much for all of us so that we can live in freedom.
Sorry to ramble so, I must go to sleep now.
CommiesOut, I will miss you.
And, thank you for putting the information back about Barbara Olson and the new things you put out.
Yes, am so sad that CommiesOut is gone - but I know he is with the eternal God - but we will still miss him.
Thank you so much, you and all the DC chapter, and especially for this report. You all are so very faithful.
Inside a different ring at the Pentagon
DC Chapter's memorial to BKO and BCM
Flags and flowers adorn the site
Poems, candles and religious medallions, too
This was left during CPAC weekend
Red, white, and blue ribbons were attached to the trees by an anonymous person
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