CLAIM JUMPERS NOT PATRIOTS (Gay Agenda Defiles California Veterans Memorial)

PatriotWatch ^ | Wednesday, August 27, 2003 | PDN News Desk

[comwatch]

CLAIM JUMPERS NOT PATRIOTS

STEALTH, DENIAL and the RULES DON'T APPLY?

• Governor Gray Davis supports the concept...
• The memorial was installed without proper approvals... .
• The Department of General Services didn't approve...
• Legislature's Joint Rules Committee denies they approved...
• Maurice Johannessen, state secretary of veterans affairs denies he approved the project
• Russell Lopez of the Governor's Office said Johannessen did approve the plaque
• Openly gay Assembly Democrats Christine Kehoe of San Diego, Jackie Goldberg of Los Angeles, Mark Leno of San Francisco and John Laird of Santa Cruz behind the plaque.

Assembly members, from left, Jackie Goldberg, John Laird and Christine Kehoe place a wreath Tuesday at the California Veterans Memorial, near the site of the disputed plaque. Sacramento Bee/Randy Pench

Staking a claim Capitol Park memorial honors gay veterans By Jim Sanders -- Bee Capitol Bureau - (Published August 27, 2003) A small marker unveiled Tuesday in Capitol Park was hailed by gay-rights advocates as the first such state-sanctioned landmark honoring gay and lesbian soldiers killed in action. The tiny memorial -- about a foot long -- graces the walkway of the California Veterans Memorial and is engraved with an eagle and the words "In Honor of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Veterans Killed in Action." But while supporters applauded the pavement marker as symbolically historic and long overdue, some veterans groups blasted it as offensive and disgraceful, saying soldiers should not be honored based on sexual orientation. Controversy also erupted over whether the marker truly was state sanctioned.

[comwatch]

God bless you sir...

A request if I may. Would you please email this message so I can pass it on to the Senator's office who is stading up for our veterans on this issue. We're expecting a measured but firm response even though our local veterans groups are slow to step up. I need your help!

[cake_crumb]

"But while supporters applauded the pavement marker as symbolically historic and long overdue, some veterans groups blasted it as offensive and disgraceful, saying soldiers should not be honored based on sexual orientation."

Since when has truth and honor ever stood in the way of the Democrat Pandermonium Machine? Even the SCOTUS is pushing the gay agenda, allowing less than 1% of the population to dictate the thoughts and actions of everyone else.

[jimkress]

Not only did this comwatch person falsify the title, they also deliberately falsified the article link. It does not go to the Sacramento Bee. It goes to some site called "Patriot Watch"

How can you claim to be a "Conservative" or "patriot" when you lie about the article you posted and deliberately direct people to a site which has nothing to do with the supposed source of the article? Only Liberals lie like that.

In fact, from all this I am led to believe that the article is a fake and should be removed.

[Lazamataz]

Why am I not suprised this was erected in CA?

(GROAN)

[proud2serve]

It did go to another site, but the article is attributed correctly to the Sacramento Bee, this is a legitimate form of attribution. At the end, it also gives the contact info for the author of the actual news story. I don't know about falsifying titles, is there a rule in this forum that says that you have to put the actual title as the heading and having a link to the website of the contributing news agency (Sacramento Bee)? Not being sarcastic, just trying to understand what the rules are in the event I post something in the future. :O)

[comwatch]

"Not only did this comwatch person falsify the title, they also deliberately falsified the article link. It does not go to the Sacramento Bee. It goes to some site called "Patriot Watch"

I would rather deal with this issue that correct you or the moderators. I'll ignore the personal insult and chalk it up to you being clueless as to who we are and what we do.

The issue is on Newsmax (http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2003/8/27/142215.shtml)and spreading like wildfire FINALLY!!

The Moderator's statement is inaccurate. The Source box was filled in as "Sacramento Bee via PDN News Desk. That should be easy enough to prove.. it's FR that shortened the source NOT ME. I have been posting this way for years and the website that it points to is ours!

Rather than worring about "policy" we best worry about the event I brought here. It's breaking news on Newsmax and will be in dozens of media sources by day's end. I brought it to Free Republic first but it wasn't considered worthy of breaking or frontpage news.(http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/969297/posts)

[SkyPilot]

comwatch, Freepmail me with your request. And to the beautiful, lovely, and dazzling Rintense....this post is for your bunch. The support of your "Dose" is like a blanket on a cold November night. :^>

Luv ya!

[comwatch]

Thanks for asking these questions. I have asked many times for a definition of the various news headings. I'm sure "Breaking News" is abused... I may have myself, in the past, done so. The point is, THIS STORY is breaking all over America right now and we played a key role in getting this out and getting our friends in the Legislature demanding to know how it happened. That battle rages as we exchange this. When it was first presented here, we took the the photos and made it an issue. Some one else decised it wasn't an issue that warranted the larger exposure that Breaking News or Front Page news offers FR visitors. And yes... there are just some folks who have a personal issue with me... I care less about that, than rightng a wrong.

I'm not going to grovel and thank anyone for restoring what should never have been removed nor allowing me the right to defend myself. I appreciate the email in support of the ISSUE and our right to bring it to Free Republic.

THIS WILL BE MY LAST COMMENT on that! Now we have work to do. I'd appreciate your help by keeping the emails coming. Those that have sent them, know there's getting attention.

[jsbankston]

Anyone, no matter what their race, gender or sexual orientation that gave their life fighting for this great country should be honored. They are all heroes to me.

[TheOtherOne]

Sexual monuments should never be erected.

[comwatch]

EQUAL TIME:  From their own News and Notes

 

CALIFORNIA GAY VETERANS
MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION
Leading the Fight to Pass AB 1520

 NEWS AND NOTES
August 18, 2003

 California Approves First Ever
Gay Veterans Plank
At State Capitol

 

Gov. Gray Davis Administration
Set to Make History.

Will Arnold Answer our Question
About Equality for Gay Veterans?

 

Tom Swann President 760/324-5670
Steve Valkenburg Vice President
Randy Schecher, Secretary-Treasurer

The Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA) announced recently that a sidewalk paver can be purchased and installed recognizing Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender veterans killed in action. The paver is limited to the same size, font, color and material  as the existing pavers purchased by other organizations.  The gay veterans are being treated like any other organization of California veterans.

The CDVA Secretary himself signed the letter.  All 5 members of the legislative LGBT caucus had signed a support letter requesting the paver.  The state government does not discriminate against gays by legislation. 

 

Save the date:

Tuesday August 26
11 AM
Sacramento CA State Veterans Memorial

Invited speakers:

 

State Sen. Sheila James Kuehl

State Assemblymembers Goldberg, Kehoe, Laird and Leno

Will present a flower wreath to honor LGBT

Killed in Afghanistan and Iraq War.

 Bob Lehman of AVER

Tom Swann of AMVETS

Randy Schecher of AVER 

Post 448 American Legion Color Guard

 CDVA Secretary

Historical Perspective:

10 years ago Tom Swann was fired as a GS-11 civil service employee when he told the Navy he was a gay veteran. The ACLU won a historic case adding sexual orientation protection for over 252,000 Navy civilian workers.

10 years ago the Sacramento Bee covered a gay veterans memorial service at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the state capitol.  The ceremony included Post 448, Keith Meinhold and Miriam Ben-Shalom. A Mr. Fong was seen hiding behind trees and bushes taking pictures.  When gay veterans walked toward him he started running away.  So the gay veterans started following him along with the TV cameras and reporters.  Finally when they caught up with Mr. Fong he said he was a federal employee and was taking pictures to give to the FBI.  He said gay veterans were communists and needed to be reported as a threat to national security.

Tom Swann said he shed a few tears when he saw CDVA Secretary Maurice Johannessen himself signed the letter.  The secretary is a former Republican State Senator and veteran himself.

There are 2.7 million veterans in California. Some studies show gays represent between 3-10 percent of the military population.  Swann believes the percent of LGBT veterans in California is closer to the 10 percent and may be even 15 percent because many gays move here from other states after their service.

Swann feels it is because gay veterans have more equality in California.

Swann also is pretty sure California is the first state to approve a permanent gay veteran recognition on the grounds of a state capitol.

 Location:

CDVA officials showed Tom Swann (who is legally blind due to AIDS) the location for the paver on Tuesday.  It is near the computer where veterans can register their military service.  It is also near the California Veterans Memorial dedicated in 1996

  CGVMA LGBT VETERAN REGISTRY PROJECT

Recently Bill Maness said, "Gay veterans is an oxymoron."  Tom Swann was interviewed about this quote in New York Blade magazine.  How do you feel about this?

The California Veterans Memorial at the state capitol grounds in Sacramento has a computer terminal.  This database is open to the public.  It contains stories of California veterans.  We encourage all LGBT veterans to go on-line and register. 

Be proud of your service.

Go to www.cdva.ca.gov and register today.

 Don't be written out of history.  If you served then register today.

[comwatch]

I agree with you in part... but lets not "single out" ANYONE as more deserving than another. I warned people earlier... that computer kiosk... now your kids can read "We were gay soldiers" not "We were Soldies" or "Band of Gay Brother" .... PLEASE! Is that what you feel is appropriate to the other 97% or greater number of those who served without asking to have their "preferences" carded in stone? If you think we're making this up, look at the last lines above. That's the next strategy unless we stop this NOW!

---

The California Veterans Memorial at the state capitol grounds in Sacramento has a computer terminal. This database is open to the public. It contains stories of California veterans. We encourage all LGBT veterans to go on-line and register. Be proud of your service. Go to www.cdva.ca.gov and register today. Don't be written out of history. If you served then register today.

[Barney Gumble]

How many transgender soldiers have their ever been? Somehow I doubt even one.

[SkyPilot]

Postal letters seem to do more good than cyber-emails.....so I will send mine.

Many thanks.

[comwatch]

Send me an email and I'll be happy to provide you with the front line combatants snail mail addresses.

[DoctorZIn]

PING!

Your One Stop Resource For All The California Recall News!

Want on our daily or major news ping lists? Freepmail DoctorZin.

[SAMWolf]

Bump. Nice to see this back. It needs to be addressed.

[comwatch]

Thanks Sam.

Perhaps we can ask the Freeper Foxhole gang for their input as well. Here's something to act on for those so inclined:

STEALTH, DENIAL and the RULES DON'T APPLY?

• Governor Gray Davis supports the concept...

• The memorial was installed without proper approvals... .

• The Department of General Services didn't approve...

• Legislature's Joint Rules Committee denies they approved...

• Maurice Johannessen, state secretary of veterans affairs denies he approved the project

• Russell Lopez of the Governor's Office said Johannessen did approve the plaque

• Openly gay Assembly Democrats Christine Kehoe of San Diego, Jackie Goldberg of Los Angeles, Mark Leno of San Francisco and John Laird of Santa Cruz behind the plaque.

Memo from the plaque instigators themselves: "Tom Swann said he shed a few tears when he saw CDVA Secretary Maurice Johannessen himself signed the letter."

Who is the liar?  Johannessen or Swann?

Ask them:

California Department of Veterans Affairs
1227 O Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
1 (800) 952-5626
1 (800) 324-5966 (TDD)

The e-mails that have come in so far have helped shed light on this otherwise secret behinds closed doors agenda. For those haven't yet done so, but would like to communicated directly with the State Senator who is trying to help us, Click Here

The memorial kiosk will be next with gays swamping it with tributes to themselves. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO STOP IT NOW. I hope to post more contacts after work. Meanwhile, anyone who would like to be quoted in the press release we intend to put out this week, can post FOR RELEASE here or via email. PLEASE include your branch of service if you do.

Bless you all and God Save America!

Dave Jenest - PDN

[Saundra Duffy]

I wish these gay rights zealouts would STOP GETTING IN OUR FACES WITH THEIR AGENDA!! This is so out of place and uncalled for. Just another PHOTO OP! Sheeeeeesh.