Posted on 11/17/2006 1:50:02 AM PST by BillF
With temperatures in the low 60s and little wind, we had a great turnout of dedicated FReepers from the DC Chapter and beyond as we FReeped on all four corners of the main gate at Walter Reed (WR) for the 10th month in a row, the 230th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps and the day before Veteran's Day. Our control of the four corners followed the Pinkos' (i.e., Code Pink anti-troop hate group) retreat as explained in the thread relative to January 20: Code Pink Retreats from Walter Reed-Freepers Win! (Week 40 Report at #1352). Before that, the Pinkos had the Western two corners near the main gate and we had the Eastern two corners near the main gate.
Our honor roll of attendees, apart from the two Gold Star parents as discussed below: Albion Wilde, Apple Blossom, Bill from MD*, bmwcyle, Brittany*, BufordP, chcknhawk with his wife and 3 kids, Cindy-True-Supporter, Cordelia*, david_a_e (from Connecticut) with his wife, his daughter, the daughter's boyfriend, and two of his college students, Doctor Raoul, George* and Ethel*, ilovew, iMacMan with wife and their proud Canine-Americans (dogs for those of you in Rio Linda) Rio and Coco, Jimmy Valentine's Brother, JoyJoyfromNJ, Just A Nobody, Keith* from MD, Pasquale (from NY), PleaDeal, PrezUSA222 (former lurker who’s previously been at WR FReeps), Sensei Ern, Sirak* from CA, Sisku Hanne, tgslTakoma, Tolerance Sucks Rocks, Tom the Redhunter, trooprally [Mr.], VAflagwaver (former lurker who’s previously been at WR FReeps), and BillF.
Since their "banishment" to a block away from the main gate, the Pinkos are largely out of the sight of the troops and relatives coming and going into the gate.
On this particular night, two of the Pinkos, followed by others, came down towards one of our corners and police responded to the resulting verbal conflict.
On a more positive note, we were honored to have two Gold Star parents join us in support of the wounded warriors at Walter Reed. Mike and Angela Anderson are the parents of Cpl. Michael D. Anderson, Jr, a Marine who was killed in Iraq combat action on Dec. 14, 2004.
Albion Wilde was quite helpful in writing this report. She contributed, among other text and info, the following quotes from the Andersons:
Comments from Angela Anderson:
"It's the most unnatural thing in the world for parents to bury their child. There are still many troops out there and we want to give them our support. Our son, Cpl. Michael D. Anderson Jr, knew what he was doing and he wanted to do it. He has a web memorial site: http://www.cplandersonjr.org/
Comments from Mike Anderson Sr regarding his recent trip to Iraq with other Gold Star Families [DC FReeper kristinn went on the trip and reports here.]:
"The American people should be able to see what I saw [in Iraq]. I met a woman 80 years old who lost relatives 23 years ago and is still holding out hope to see them walk in. [After Saddam's raids] they never knew what happened [to their loved ones].
"We went in a 9-vehicle armed security convoy to a concentration camp. There was absolute squalor. A woman we talked to said that persons of means were sent there [to live like animals]. Saddam grabbed them up and put them in these camps. Her daughter, son and husband were executed. [The authorities] are still digging up bodies, sometimes even infants with bullet holes in their heads. For whatever reason, this story doesn't get out there, but it needs to get out there.
"[Anti-war protesters] probably wouldn't believe it, anyway. If it were Cindy [Sheehan] over there, she'd be in a private jet with full press coverage.
"Our trip over there was historic -- no civilian parent group has ever before traveled to a war theatre. [When we began negotiations with U.S. authorities to make the trip, we found] there was no existing policy for it.
"There is a huge price to pay for freedom. My son rotated out of a Special Ops unit to rotate over there. I'm very proud of what he did. The American people are very impatient. Don't get me wrong; even one death is too many; but to compare this war to Vietnam, where 58,000 [American troops] died -- there is absolutely no comparison."
We also had long-time WR FReeper trooprally [Mr.] in attendance. [Mr.] trooprally, a Gold Star brother. The Marine brother of trooprally laid down his life for our freedom in the Vietnam war decades ago. It was quite fitting that trooprallys [Mr. & Mrs.] went to the dedication of the Marine Museum earlier in the day.
This FReep is a continuation of a struggle over more than one and a half years with Code Pink at Walter Reed after a preliminary skirmish more than two and a half years ago. The background is in the beginning of a report a while back. Click here for a listing of reports (the link itself may open a pop-up window) from all of the WR FReeps as compiled and updated by BufordP. (Unfortunately, the photos from the earlier reports will be missing until I replace them on a new web host.)
PleaDeal was quite helpful in writing the report. In addition to her photos here, she contributed the following text, among other items:
Anyway, I counted 11 Pinkos including the mystery moonbat parents.
The confrontation with the moonbats was pretty funny! They stayed too long (past 9 pm) and were visible to the troops coming back from . . . dinner. Maybe that spurred them to come to the aid of the mystery parents when voices were raised up at our side. (There's a fair picture of the Pink Posse prancing up the block) Voices got very loud at that point with people yelling over each other. When McCarron started cursing, the group broke up and started back down the block. Or, maybe it was because they saw the Cops coming!
Two D.C. cops appeared out of nowhere and asked "What's going on here?" We said it was the Pinkos' fault as they infringed on our territory. The cops then went towards the retreating commies. However, they stopped long enough to give tgslTakoma some crap about not video taping the confrontation. [tgslTakoma] stood her ground and the pair finally went after the legitimate quarry. I don't know what they said to the Pinkos, but the commies beat feet pretty quickly afterwards.
After all that, the mystery parents stayed up on our corner and continued to bust chops. Sensei obviously has the scoop on that part.
I noticed a definite increase in "HOOAH!"s last Friday from cars passing and exiting from the hospital. I think the troops are counting on us even more since the politicians have taken a turn for the worse.
The verbal confrontation involved a Pinko couple, who claimed to be parents of a soldier currently deployed to Iraq. I was on the opposite side of the street, but bmwcyle and Doctor Raoul exchanged words with the purported parents who came to our corner (per accounts given to me by bmw and Raoul), leading other Pinkos to join them. Doctor Raoul said that the purported parents claimed that Halliburton was supplying their son with contaminated water in Iraq. Raoul further said that Kevin "Maimed for a Lie" McCarron, also known for being on video stealing a FReeper sign, called Raoul a liar when Raoul pointed out that McLie had previously described our troops as killers. bmwcyle wasn't buying the purported parents' story and heated argument occurred. Police came over to order the Pinkos back, but also tried to get tgslTakoma to turn off her camcorder as she recorded, from a distance, the police interaction with the Pinkos.
The purported parents came back to our Southwest corner, site of the original verbal confrontation, via a round-about route and then happened to just then get a phone call from their purported son in Iraq. Sensei Ern talked with the purported parents and, via their cellphone, the alleged soldier-son.
If bmwcyle, Doctor Raoul, tgslTakoma, Sensei Ern, or anyone else wants to add their perspective to the interaction with the purported parents or any other part of the FReep, they are invited to do so.
I will try to add photos to the thread later today, but you can also see the link to PleaDeal's photos, above and repeated here. (I had computer problems that delayed this whole process.)
I also thank iMacMan, who was kind enough to email photos to me. I'll try to post his photos first since PleaDeal's photos are already available online.
Special thanks are due to the veterans who attended the day before Veterans' Day FReep including bmwcyle (Navy), BufordP (Air Force), chcknhawk (Army, also Iraq War Veteran and former WR patient), Cindy-True-Supporter (Army), and Jimmy Valentine's Brother (Army). In the year and 8 months that we've been at WR on Fridays, we've been honored to have veterans and members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard join us.
Special recognition goes to some who traveled extra far to attend the FReep. david_a_e came all the way from Connecticut with his wife, his daughter, the daughter's boyfriend and two of his college students. There was also JoyJoyfromNJ from New Jersey, Pasquale from NY, Sirak* from California, and Sisku Hanne from Pennsylvania. Then, there's Doctor Raoul and Just A Nobody, both of whom travel long distances at every opportunity to join us at WR.
All of the long-distance FReepers (and others on other occasions) have gone the extra mile to support the troops. Here's hoping that their dedication will be an inspiration to you to join us at Walter Reed.
At the end of the FReep, and as usual, FReepers cheered wildly as the wounded heroes and family members returned in a bus from a big dinner. The bus driver turned on the light so that we could see the WR patients and family members waving in appreciation of our small efforts to thank them for extraordinary sacrifices.
Let's help our wounded heroes maintain a positive attitude. We absolutely must keep the pressure on Code Pink and keep showing the wounded troops at Walter Reed that Code Pink doesn't speak for the nation. If you live in the DC area and haven't yet come out for one of these FReeps, please do so this next Friday. Injured Walter Reed patients, including amputees, and their families have repeatedly told us how important it is for us to be there to counter Code Pink and their ugly anti-troops agenda.
If we can sufficiently outnumber the leftists often enough, we can hinder their psychological warfare operation against the wounded troops ("Maimed for a lie" was one of their commonly-used signs in the early days) at the hospital. What about you? Can you spare a few hours on a Friday night?
Can you give up this Friday night at the movies to support troops who've given up limbs for your freedoms? Will you?
If you missed all of the first year and ten months of these FReeps, please join us at least once in the near future. You'll be glad that you did.
This FReep is rewarding, fun, and important for our troops and our nation.
We shall continue FReeping the Code Pinkos every Friday night until they stop their obscene blood dance outside the hospital of our war-wounded. If you agree with me that it is outrageous for Code Pinkos to protest a war at a hospital with war-wounded troops inside, please come out and join us in a peaceful counter-protest.
One of the amputees told me months ago that he doesn't want other wounded troops coming into Walter Reed and seeing only the Code Pinkos at the gates. He explained that the FReeper presence there was extremely important to counter the Pinkos. Please join us and be a part of our peaceful counter-protest to Code Pink.
Keeping the Pinkos away from the desirable locations at the gate of Walter Reed requires us to have enough people to occupy each of four corners.
Please don't let the troops think that regular Americans are too busy with TV, ballgames, movies and other recreation to peacefully counter America-hating leftists.
Being there with us in spirit is great, but we need people to hold the MOAB (Mother of all banners), other signs, and flags. Maybe you can't come every week, but please make it your patriotic duty to join us at least once in the near future.
As always, the DC Chapter's rules for protesting will be in effect.
Briefly, they are: No violence. No profanity. No racism. No provocations. Obey the law. Treat all law enforcement officers with respect.
Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 7200 Georgia Ave., at Elder St., NW
We've been setting up on all four corners at Walter Reed's entrance gate per our permits, whereas the Pinkos are barely visible about a block away (and out of any good location).
On street parking is usually easy to find. Location is about 6 or 7 blocks from Takoma metro station and is walkable, but it is best if you get a ride. If you want a ride, FReepmail me, preferably with your cell phone number as far in advance as possible. If you wait until Friday afternoon, I may be away from the computer.
FReepmail me to get on or off the list.
Injured Walter Reed patients have repeatedly told us how important it is for us to be there express our support for the troops and our opposition to Code Pink.
Our troops are bold enough to face bullets, mortars, IEDs, and suicide bombers. Are you bold enough to get out from behind the keyboard, FReep in person, and stand up for the wounded troops at Walter Reed?
If you're in the DC area and don't have family, work or medical considerations that keep you from FReeping, can you spare a few hours on a Friday night? Will you?
Pinging some attendees, who are apparently not on the DC Chapter ping list.
Please FReepmail me if you want to be added and you can be notified of DC Chapter activities. You do NOT have to live in the DC area to be added to the ping list.
Bless you all.
BTTT!
I have been to Walter Reed three times in the last month because I got vision correction surgery there. I wish I would have been able to "see" you guys the last couple of times but the timing didn't work out. I will say that I did hear a few comments inside the hospital that were very thankful of the show of support from your group. Please keep it up and know that they really do appreciate it.
It was such an honor and privilege to speak with and to shake the hands of Mr. and Mrs. Henderson, the Gold Star parents. They had arrived in DC separately (she from California, he from the GS trip to Iraq) to attend the dedication of the new Marine Corps Museum the same day as this FREEP. Obviously they were exhausted and jetlagged but came out to support our troops in yet another venue. They spoke with various Freepers and I know Mrs. Anderson stood under the MOAB waving her flag to the traffic and madly waving to the returning bus. (I can't access the photos from this location so I don't know if there are any photos of the Andersons posted.) I think our presence there was an encouragement to them, just as their steadfast support of the troops was an encouragement to us. God bless those who have received the unwanted honorific of "Gold Star family".
Hey all!
First, I need to confess something. I was so angry after the confrontation last week. I was upset that we would yell at the parents of soldiers.
I gave this couple the courtesy to believe they were genuine. They might have sons serving, but they are using that fact to the advantage of their own agenda.
Prior to finding out there real agenda, I considered stop Freeping because I was so disgusted with how this couple were treated. I now understand I am the naive one, and they deserved the tongue-lashing they received.
Here is what happened from my perspective:
I saw a new couple talking on the SE corner. Since I am happy to welcome newcomers, I went over to meet them.
They were talking with a couple freepers, whom I don remember.
They made comments that were the standard moonbat talking points. Haliburton, bad water, blood for oil...and initially, they were exchanging conversation at a normal level. Then, things got heightened. Instead of conversing, it escalated to a shouting match.
Now, for the normal moonbat, I heartily welcome the verbal volleys at them, to shut them up. But, thinking these two were genuine concerned parents of soldiers, I felt it was out of line to be shouting.
Then, as the shouting began, not more than a minute later, the police officers showed up on cue, as the moonbat couple moved down toward the Pinkos. This raised my suspicions. As they moved down the street, I began calling them liars.
After the confrontation, after the police left, the "parents" crossed the street, and returned to our corner.
When they came back, they remained calm, and asked why we didn't believe them. I tried to speak reasonably with them. While we were speaking, his "son" called "from Iraq". The "man" offered to let anyone speak to his "son". Everyone refused, except, I love our soldiers, and figured if this were a geniune soldier, in a tent in Iraq, maybe I could offer a word of support to counter the negative filth that his "father" was feeding him. (I did this despite the suspicions of more experienced Freepers...like, why was his call timed perfectly to be where we were, even though it was 0530 in Iraq...why wasn't there a delay in the conversation? I had legitamite answers, including direct experience with international phone routing.)
So I spoke with the caller. I thanked him for his service, asked about his job, and acouple other questions that normally, only a soldier would know but I won't mention here so as to not give any pinko insight into our queries to identify liars. He made comments about being concerned by the lack of support here in the USA. I told him that he needs to not worry about what he hears on the news, because the news feeds are not showing the genuine support the majority of Americans have for our troops.
He mentioned having bad water, and I told him how it has always been part of the Army to have screw-ups happen, and to not get discouraged by it.
We spoke further about Army life whe I was in, and how it is now. But, I didn't want to make him waste his time with me when he could be talking to his "father". So, I gave him my email, spoken in phonetics, figuring if he were a fake, he might not understand what I was saying. He said he got it. I handed the phone back to his "father".
While I was on the phone, the bus came in, so I missed the bus.
Later, I saw the couple meeting a soldier from WR. He did not know them, but recognized the picture of his "son". They went and talked and I figured they should have time together, so I went home. This was when I felt they were legit, else I would have been up in his face, exposing him for the fake he is.
The way I found out this couple were fake is that I read their bragging on a post on a pinko sight.
Strangely, in their gloating of how badly they suffered at the hands of Freepers, they neglected to mention the nice treatment I gave them...hmm, I wonder why?
Not really. I KNOW why. Being treated with courtesy doesn't get them attaboys from their pinkos buddies.
From now on, I hereby declare that any such "parent" of a "soldier" who is actually a pinko shall be named "Borat".
"Borat" is a movie that is currently playing in theaters. It is made by a Jewish man named Sasha Cohen. It stars himself, as a guy from Khazakstan, named Borat. The movie shows his coming to America and taking advantage of the compassion and kindness of Americans to his own goals and designs.
Am I upset by being boratted? Not much. More so, I am disgusted that these people are so blinded by their bigotry that they do not see their own pre-concieved notions were wrong. I feel sorry for their children...not just this couple, but for every child of members of their misguided organization.
I feel sorry because I now get the feeling these "parents" are HOPING THEIR CHILDREN DIE SO THAT THEY CAN BE THE NEXT CINDY SHEEHAG!
They don't wear the fact their children are fighting for freedom as a badge of honor. They look forward to the day their child's death elevates them to a higher status. They view confrontations such as Friday as merit badges, but they really look forward to their promotion.
THAT MAKES ME SICK! THESE PEOPLE ARE SICK AND DEMENTED!
I need to stop now because the more I type, the angrier I get. Not for being decieved, but because these people are so ego-centric that they will sacrifice their own children for personal gain.
I need to point out, I was NOT talking about the Gold Star parents. They are incredibly honorable. They were not praying for their children to die for personal gain. I know the Gold Star parents would much rather have their children than the status that losing a child in a war gives them. I also know the Gold Star parents are proud of their children.
Wow, it is such a fine discrepancy between the Gold Star parents and the fakers I ranted on.
If my rant offended a Gold Star parent, please forginve me for allowing my emotions to limit my ability to express fully what I meant. Please know my rant is toward fakers, not Gold Star parents.
Thanks to all the veterans who stand with us every week.
The lefties are always surprised when we say how many former (and current) service members we have with us.
Bears repeating! Thank you to you all for your service -- and also [Mrs] Trooprally (Army), ConcreteBob and Coop (Marines), TrueBlackMan (Navy), Danang68, Citizen SMASH, ROTC participants Gavin and PREZUSA222, and the many present and former Walter Reed patients who have formed friendships with us.
I know I have missed some who have served -- please forgive me and by all means, post on the thread any who have gone unrecognized.
Last but not least, many Walter Reed FReepers are the parents, sons, daughters, siblings, spouses or other family members of veterans and active duty troops -- being a military family member is a special kind of concern, sacrifice and exercise of faith that often goes unrecognized.
FReepmail me to be added or removed from this once-weekly Walter Reed ping list.
Great report, BillF! Wonderful to have you back!
Rush is talking about Walter Reed Now.
Someone from DC needs to call him to tell about the disreputable Code Pinkos.
I've tried but get a busy signal.
I'm sure someone else could do better than me if they could get through
800 282 2882
BTTT
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.