Grand Rapids Patriots on the Offensive.

5 APRIL 03 | tomasUSMC

[TomasUSMC]

Today Saturday was a great day for America and a very bad day for the pencil necked tofu eating gender challenged cowardly appeasenik terrorist lovers. At Veterans Park today the Pro America Rally was cancelled. It was a cold overcast ice-rainy slushy day, that had been preceeded by an even worse thunder and lightening ice storm night. So... the event was cancelled and it was annouced as cancelled on T.V. That my friends is the good news. Why? Because the park filled up ANYWAY!. Thats right! When I got there there were 3 former Marine vets. Thats all. I joined making it four Marines with three beautiful American Flags. As we talked about how important it was to brave the inclement weather here to show solidarity with our troops who were showing such bravery in Iraq... we looked across the street and three S.U.V.s pulled up and out poured out about two squads of Grand Parents, Moms and Dads and children. The sun broke through turning the ice coated branches of the trees into glimmering works of art that no diamond expert could even imagine. More great americans came. Blacks, Latinos, Whites, Orientals (something you don't see at the terrornik meetings here). One of the DJ's from 107.3 said a few words and then had to go since his show was starting in 20 minutes. I then started to speak and then everyone started taking part. We must have had a dozen parents, spouses, children of veterans in Iraq come up to the podium and each proudly showed U.S. pictures of these great American heros and told us what unit they were with and how proad they were of them. We had several come up and say prayers ( something else you won't see at the terrornik meetings). We started and ended with the pledge of alligence, each time leading us was a small beautiful child. 4 or 5 patriotic songs inclulding the Marine Corp hymn. And in honor of those 50 stars on our flag, yours truly pumped out 50 Marine Corp pushups URAAAH! I shared with those there that I felt priviledged to be counted amoung them this day. When the going gets tough the tough get going. We decided that next Saturday, we would meet at 1pm again and that in the event of tornadoes, earthquakes, acid rain, pestilence, flocks of Vampire bats, herds of dinasours, and a Martian Invasion, ......WE WOULD MEET AT 1PM!

later in the day the terrorniks appeared and I bombed and strafed with precision guided truth munitions this convoy of courage and intellect challenged human spineless stench. Just one Marine with one American Flag is enough to drop kick a hundred terrorist lovers arguments. Come on and join the fun. God Bless America and her allies ...and may the devil take the rest!

[cubreporter]

Proud of you all!

[Great Dane]

Well done.

[freepersup]

HONORARY STRIPES - Marine Sgt. Maj. Bruce Mackamul, left, pins honorary Gunnery Sgt. stripes on actor R. Lee Ermey, of Palmdale, along with Maj. Gen. Jan C. Huly on Friday at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. Ermey, a 10-year Marine, was a staff sergeant when he was forced to retire from the Marine Corps after being injured in Vietnam. Ermey is best known for his role of a drill instructor in "Full Metal Jacket."

[freepersup]

OUTSTANDING CONDUCT MARINE !

[Centurion2000]

bump .... Semper Fi

[RepublicanHippy]

Good job Tomas. Sorry I couldn't be there to stand with you and the other patriots this time. I did catch your TV show though. It was hilarious! They should sydicate you. I liked the part where you took out your pocketknife and simulated popping out Sudam's eyeballs. Too funny! Photogirl and I were laughing hysterically.

For all you Freepers in the Grand Rapids area - you have to check out Tomas' new TV show at 4:00 pm on Saturdays.

Tomas, is it possible to get a copy of the January 29 video (I will pay for it of course). Or at least let me borrow your copy so I can take it to O'Rourke's or somewhere and have a couple stills made (like we talked about already). Freepersup really should have a copy too because of the awesome "still" of him your son put in the video.

RH

[vnix]

Only 50 push ups? shame......




RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!!

[freepersup]

(Chris Clark/Grand Rapids Press)

FLAG-FACED SUPPORT:
Brittney Maring, 14, Middleville, Mich., attends a rally Saturday, 3-29-03, on Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids, Mich. She and other family members came with flags and painted faces to show support the United States' armed forces.

(Chris Clark/Grand Rapids Press)

STARS, STRIPES, AND UNION JACK:
Hundreds of people rally on Calder Plaza Saturday to show support for coalition forces.

(Chris Clark/Grand Rapids Press)

LITTLE SOLDIER:
Jonathan Lee O'Brien, 11, Kentwood, waves the flag while dressed in full military gear at Saturday's rally on Calder Plaza. His extended family includes three reservists and one active duty soldier.

(Delbridge Langdon Jr./Grand Rapids Press)

MILITARY MOMMY:
Mariann age 15 and Cinda Debolt, whose son, Michael, is on the front lines and getting care packages from mom.

[freepersup]

It's really a joy to follow the reports of the rallies that are being attended, by all of you in the greater Grand Rapids area. Things have been relatively quiet here. One Support Our Troops rally took place recently, and a few appeaseniks managed to gather without my knowing about it. Otherwise, they would have been held accountable (scorned).

Two of the pilots from my former IL. Air National Guard unit are facing possible disciplinary action, as they are on trial for a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan where 4 Canadian soldiers were killed.

Unfortunately, friendly fire incidents happen when and where there is war. They are anything but friendly. It has happened several times in Iraq.

Tomas: I posted a few images that seemed to have disappeared... I'm not sure what takes place when that happens ? I had forgotten about Daniel videoing the event of January 29th, when I had the pleasure of standing shoulder to shoulder with the good people of Grand Rapids, but I appreciate the reminder by RepublicanHippy. If you would be interested in making a copy for me, I'd be much oblidged and would cover the cost. Thanks-

[freepersup]

Oakland County / Southfield, Michigan-
Support Our Troops Rally

Pic 1 is a side view of the crowd (my estimate was 100-200 people). I never did get a good wide angle shot.

Pic 2 is a view of the stage. The speaker is Rev. Keith Butler of Word of Faith church in Southfield.

Pic. 3 is a view of a bagpipe player closing the rally.

Those are the only pics that came out well. The other speakers included county executive L. Brooks Patterson, the county sheriff, the county prosecutor, a refugee Iraqi scientist, several veterans and Miss Michigan as a singer. A Hmong veterans group attended, as well as a Pontiac Police honor guard.

Photos & report by Larry Lucido

[Larry Lucido]

Thanks for the assistance with posting, freepersup.

The rally was at the Oakland County Courthouse in Pontiac. I was not able to get any wide angle shots of the crowd. It was a cold and icy day, as can be seen from the trees in the background, but the crowd was in good spirits.

A lone protestor carried a "Support our Troops - Bring them Home" sign (barely visible at the far left in pic 1). He hardly raised an eyebrow.

[freepersup]

The rally was at the Oakland County Courthouse in Pontiac. check-

You're welcome- we have an obligation to each other and to our troops to get the word out. If all of us here at FR merely printed out the images and reports from the vast library of rallies and mailed them to the troops in the field we would multiply the power of the events many times over.

[Zetman]

Great job!!! I was born and raised in Grand Rapids, and still think it is one of the best places in the country to live. I am currently living in the greater San Francisco Bay area, with all of it's associated loonies and commie nut cases (Berkely - need I say more??). This area could definitely use a good dose of "Grand Rapids"!! Keep up the good work!!

[MIgramma]

Sorry to do it this way Thomas, But I tried your reg. e-mail listed and it wouldn't go.
So, how do you get to Veteran's Park? Where is it?
We'll be coming down from north of town, probably by M-37.

[TomasUSMC]

Get to 131. It runs due north and south. Get off on the pearl ave exit and head east three blocks. You park and ask anyone there. Call me if you wish no problem. 6164589414. My email is LETSROLLUSA@hotmail.com. (caps for the letsrollusa part) Tell all your friends. Thank you very much. God Bless.
Tomas