Posted on 09/25/2005 5:09:56 PM PDT by mdittmar
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2005 – Their message was simple: "We support our troops," said rally organizer Kristinn Taylor. "We love them and we support their mission."
"We know that what they are doing is just and noble," he added. "We remember what happened on Sept. 11. We know that it's because of the sacrifices that they are making day in and day out, night and day, that we have not had another terrorist attack on our soil."
"Keep doing what you're doing," agreed Kevin Bush of Reston, Va. "We all love you; we all support you; and it's worth it."
Kevin's Mom, Jan Bush of south New Jersey, echoed that sentiment: "Hi, guys! Don't give up," she said. "We're with you; we're backing you; and we know that you're going to succeed."
"How could you not be here?" asked Ann Baish of McLean, Va, as she fought back tears. "They're our troops. And we need to stand by them and let them know over there how much we do support them. ... There are just so many Americans that are proud of our troops," she explained, "and we just came out because we want them to know it."
In fact, rally participants were united in their belief that the media give too much attention to critics of the war, while deliberately downplaying the deep reservoir of public support that U.S. troops -- and their mission -- actually enjoy.
"Overall, Americans support our troops no matter what," said John Wroblewski, whose son, Marine Corps Lt. John Thomas Wroblewski, died in Ramadi, Iraq, April 6, 2004.
Yet, according to Debby Argel Bastion, "the news seems to, for some reason or other, sensationalize, I think, the very few people who really don't have an understanding of what's going on over there, and who oppose what we're doing" in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Her son, 28-year-old Air Force Capt. Derek Argel, died May 30, 2005, when his plane crashed in eastern Diyala province. He and his special tactics squadron were training the Iraqi air force and identifying for them emergency landing sites. Argel, three other U.S. military personnel, and one Iraqi officer, 34-year-old old Capt. Ali Abass, were buried in Arlington National Cemetery in August.
Those who support the troops "are quiet and silent types," said 21-year-old Air Force Airman Ryne Regan. "So you don't hear a lot from us, but we're out there in big numbers. That's why a rally like this is so important: to let our guys know we're behind them." Regan, who waved a large American flag, said he is deploying to Iraq in two weeks.
Gold Star family members said that older, full-time soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are unfazed by the negative media coverage of Iraq and Afghanistan. "They're professionals, and they stay focused on the mission," Wroblewski explained. But according to Bastion, "for the younger men that are over there and maybe struggling a little bit -- maybe it's their first time over there - Derek would say, 'It is just terrible for their morale.'"
Argel told his mom that "we have to focus on telling them that that is not the way that the general public feels. The general public loves us and loves what we're doing."
For that reason, advised Reed, "Don't pay attention to what's going on in the media. Pay attention to what's coming to you in the care packages and the letters and the e-mails. That's the sentiment of the American people, not what you see in the media today."
Some Iraq war veterans at the rally cautioned, though, that that's easier said than done.
"You know, when we were in Iraq and saw the people back home protesting us, it killed us, you know. It took away from it a little bit," said 28-year-old former Army Spc. Ryan Bowman, who served 12 months in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division, from February 2003 to February 2004.
Bowman, who hails from Philadelphia, attended the rally with his friend and fellow Iraq war veteran, 27-year-old former Army Sgt. Michael Lilli, also of the 101st. Bowman and Lilli are no longer active-duty soldiers.
Bowman was married two days ago. However, Bowman postponed his honeymoon to attend the rally, because, he said, "I've got to be there. My wife knows why; she knows the reasons. She couldn't' come, but ... our friends are over there now; and I've got to be here to support them."
Lilli, who hails from Baltimore, choked up and fought back tears as he recounted a particularly poignant moment in Mosul, Iraq. He and his team were clearing a series of hard-fought city blocks, he said, when a young Iraqi boy who spoke English fairly well volunteered his services as a translator.
"He was with me and my team as we were clearing one of these buildings," Lilli said, "and he asked me if he could take a picture of Saddam off the wall. And I said, 'Sure, go ahead.' And he put it on the ground and he started stomping on it."
Lilli had to pause to regain his composure. The memory of that moment clearly stirred in him great emotion. But the Iraqi child was stomping on the picture "because Saddam had his family killed," Lilli said. "And I saw in him why we were there. ... They need us to be there. And you'll never see that on the news."
Diane Von Ibbotson lost her son, Army Cpl. Forest Jostes, in Iraq. He had been setting up a medical evacuation point for fellow soldiers who were wounded and were trapped in an abandoned building in Sadr City. "We're here for our troops," she said. "They have our back over there and we have their backs right here."
Related Site:
America Supports You
If you want to try to match the enemy number for number at demonstrations, knock yourself out.
I spent years planning military operations. To win you fight the battle on your terms, not the enemy's terms. I don't parade around with a sign, because in this very conservative area I don't have to. But I've done more than you will ever know to advance the conservative cause.
A warm thank you to all who helped.
Ordinary people do not like to take to the streets with signs and banners as they equate those actions with moonbats. They are involved with their families, their work and their community and many of them do what they can to preserve and promote a decent, strong society. This is good and necessary.
Some of us see the need to take it to the streets. If for no other reason than to capture the attention of the Media and force them to acknowledge that ordinary people like ourselves do not condone or approve of the anti-American antics of the left. Our Troops need to see us on the news. It is not the numbers that are important, it is the coverage and the images produced. This also, is good and necessary.
I am getting a little tired of going to these threads and seeing people berated for not attending or for attending or whatever.
We all do what we can.
Great meeting you this weekend, Flora.
I'm about to go to the recruiters' office to bring them cookies or something. Store bought, of course.
Keep up the good work.
I'm firmly in your camp, Coop. No more excuses. Let the patriotic rallies begin! It's not a numbers game, it's our right and our duty! Think of what the troops are doing for us!
Good meeting you this weekend.
And how is our waiter doing? I appreciate you removing that fly from my soup Friday night BTW.
Dinner on the sidewalk Sat. night was a lot of fun and gave us a breather before we hit the metro. It took us longer to get to our car in Franconia than it did to drive home!!!
But it was worth it counter the commies and see some old friends.
You all worked so hard and made it a great show of support for our Troops and America. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
At the restaurant, I went upstairs to get in from the cold. Then I ended up sitting under the ceiling fan and near the air-conditioning vent. Glad you had fun and I'm glad you had a safe trip home.
Bump for some of the greatest people the world has never known.
Whatever it takes to make yourself feel better for sitting on your derriere.
29 posted on 09/26/2005 7:07:26 AM CDT by Coop (FR= a lotta talk, but little action)
BUMP!!!!
I know you!
Did you behave this time?!
Good Job!
Hey KID!
Of course NOT!!
It was a great event and weekend. I am off to Walter Reed this Friday and then after the weekend back to Florida.
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