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D.C. Chapter Invited to Meet President Bush at White House Troop Support Event (Photos)
Photos by TgslTakoma and Mrs. Trooprally | Tuesday, September 18, 2007 | Kristinn

Posted on 09/18/2007 4:00:20 PM PDT by kristinn

Freeper in the house

President with Angelwood
President Bush and Angelwood

Mr. Trooprally - Blue Star dad
Mr. Trooprally

Mrs. Trooprally - Blue Star mom
Mrs. Trooprally

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Front: Angelwood, tgslTakoma; debm29palms. Middle: Kristinn, Flib, Mr. Trooprally, ponsdorf. Back: Laura Youngblood.

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President and Mrs. Bush

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Vice President Cheney and Angelwood

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Angelwood, Karen Hughes, Mrs. Trooprally

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SEcretary of State Rice

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President Bush with military families.

Members of the D.C. Chapter of FreeRepublic.com were invited to the White House today for an event for troop support organizations with President Bush. Other groups included Vets for Freedom (in the beige polo shirts), Families United for Our Troops and Their Mission (in the red polos shirts), Move America Forward, Gathering of Eagles, the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

It was a beautiful and moving day. The President spent what seemed like two hours meeting with everyone who wanted to speak with him. There were many Gold and Blue Star parents there who wanted to tell the President they still support the mission.

During the President's speech, the crowd erupted in to a loud, boisterous chant of "USA! USA! USA!" Yep, the Freeper table started it, LOL!

The Presidents' speech:

President Bush Meets with Military Support Organizations

South Lawn

9:07 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for coming. Laura and I are honored to welcome you here to the South Lawn. Welcome to the people's house. (Applause.) First, I'd like to thank Katy Benko for singing the national anthem. It's not only a beautiful morning to sing the national anthem, it's a beautiful setting in which to sing the national anthem. Katy's husband, Ryan, is deployed to Iraq. Katy, make sure you email him and tell him how appreciative we are of your service, and tell him how appreciative all of us are of your voice. (Applause.)

Laura and I want to thank the members of our -- my administration for joining us. Mr. Vice President, we're really thrilled you're here. Thank you for coming, sir. (Applause.) Secretary of State Condi Rice is with us today. Madam Secretary, appreciate you being here. (Applause.) Secretary Jim Nicholson of the Veterans Affairs Administration; thanks for coming, Jim. (Applause.)

For you veterans who are here, there is no more solemn obligation by your government to make sure you have all it takes to -- for your health care, and for your support. I feel a very strong obligation, since it was my decision that committed young men and women into combat, to make sure our veterans who are coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan get all the help this government can possibly provide. (Applause.)

I appreciate the Secretary of the Army, Pete Geren, for joining us; the Secretary of the Navy, Don Winter; General "Hoss" Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife Sandee. By the way, General Cartwright is a Marine. (Applause.) I'm not playing to the crowd or anything. (Laughter.)

I want to welcome members of this crowd who have lost a loved one in this war against terror. Our hearts go out to you. We love you. The best way to honor the sacrifices that your loved one made, as well as the sacrifice you have made, is to accomplish the mission, is to achieve the peace. (Applause.)

Laura and I welcome the families who have got a loved one overseas, whether it be in Iraq or Afghanistan, fighting these extremists and terrorists. The best way to honor your loved one is to make sure that he or she has the full support of the United States government as you accomplish the mission that we have set. (Applause.) By the way, for the loved ones here, I fully understand the best way to sustain a volunteer army is to make sure you're happy -- (laughter) -- is to make sure you've got good housing; to make sure that you've got good health care; to make sure that you understand that we know that you're in this fight along with your husband or wife or son or daughter. And that's exactly how this administration feels. (Applause.)

For the veterans who are here, for those of you who are veterans in Iraq and Afghanistan, thank you for volunteering in the face of danger. (Applause.) And for the people who aren't veterans yet, still remain on active duty, thanks for wearing the uniform of the greatest country on the face of the Earth. We're proud of you. (Applause.)

I want to thank the service organizations and those who have come together to support our families and our troops. I can't tell you how important it is for organizations like the Vets for Freedom or the VFW or the American Legion and other groups to -- Gold Star Mothers, got you, okay, thank you -- Blue Star Mothers, Gold Star Mothers, all the mothers, yes. (Applause.) Every day is Mother's Day as far as your concerned, isn't it? (Laughter.)

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Don't forget the dads.

THE PRESIDENT: And the dads, yes. I knew this was going to happen. (Laughter.) Yes, the wives; okay, fine. (Laughter.) Everybody is supporting our troops. I want to thank you for doing it. (Applause.)

It's important people hear from you. It's important people hear your voice. And I want to thank you for organizing. I want to thank you not only for the grassroots support of our families, I want to thank you for going up to Capitol Hill. And here's a message I hope you deliver: The Commander-in-Chief wants to succeed -- (applause) -- and the Commander-in-Chief takes seriously the recommendations of our military commanders. General Petraeus came back to the United States to deliver the recommendations he made to me. Inherent in his recommendations is, one, his belief we're succeeding, his belief we will succeed, and I ask the United States Congress to support the troop levels and the strategies I have embraced. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA!

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. When the history books are finally written about this chapter in the war against extremists and radicals, they will recognize certain truths: one, that we recognize that if we were to retreat from the Middle East the enemy would not be content to remain where they are, but they would follow us here. We recognize that the best way to protect our homeland is to defeat an enemy overseas so we do not have to face them here on the streets of America. And we recognize that liberty is powerful, that liberty will yield the peace that we want for generations to come; that will recognize that this generation of Americans did the hard work now, so that future generations could live in security and peace.

And so on this beautiful morning we thank you for your steadfast resolve, we appreciate your support of those brave souls who have volunteered in the face of the danger. We ask for God's blessings on the families and our troop in harm's way. And we thank you from the bottom of our collective hearts. God bless you all. (Applause.)

END 9:15 A.M. EDT


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Breaking News; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; US: Maryland; US: Virginia; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: aar; bush; bush41; dcchapter; freepers; homefrontheroes; militaryfamilies; thankyou; walterreed
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To: hocndoc; kristinn
They knew they were freepers at the vp house. In Barbara Bush's book she said Doro? disguised herself and participated.

Kristinn - great to see this. How did the invite come about?

141 posted on 09/18/2007 8:21:42 PM PDT by Citizen Soldier (Made in USA and proud of it.)
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To: kristinn
You guys! I am so jealous---but so proud of you and so happy that you had this chance. You have all earned it, and it's great to see you get it!

Keep up your good work---hope to join you on those 4 corners again one day soon.

142 posted on 09/18/2007 8:24:36 PM PDT by basil (Support the Second Amendment--buy another gun today!)
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To: Angelwood; kristinn

see page 376 of Barbarba Bush’s book “Reflections” Doro, Sam, Ellie and Robert were with you guys


143 posted on 09/18/2007 8:29:52 PM PDT by Citizen Soldier (Made in USA and proud of it.)
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To: kristinn
I am so glad the DC Chapter was recognized for the outstanding support they and visiting FReepers give each and every Friday night at Walter Reed. Congratulations to all that participate.
144 posted on 09/18/2007 8:39:45 PM PDT by NonValueAdded (Fred Dalton Thompson for President)
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To: Libertina
"Wonder how this invitation will shake up Bill O’Reilly’s ignorant comment that our patriotic FR is a “hate group”? ROTFLOL"

Good point.

145 posted on 09/18/2007 8:48:57 PM PDT by maxter
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To: kristinn
WOO HOO!! President Bush knows who his FRiends are. Well deserved recognition for all your hard work.
146 posted on 09/18/2007 8:49:48 PM PDT by barker ( A smile is a curved line that sets things straight.)
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To: kristinn; tgslTakoma; trooprally

Absolutely Awesome

Thank you for the wonderful report & great pix and the ping! So happy you were all able to share the joy of celebration with real patriots. You are most of the time in the trenches butting heads with jerks. And what perfect weather. You all look great.. and I even recognized Mr. T in his disguise(a tie???)
147 posted on 09/18/2007 8:54:12 PM PDT by DollyCali (Don't tell GOD how big your storm is -- Tell the storm how B-I-G your God is!)
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To: kristinn

No group is more deserving of a White House invitation than those who were there today. The families of the slain, those serving, vets, and DC’s faithful FReepers.


148 posted on 09/18/2007 9:10:13 PM PDT by EDINVA
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To: STARWISE; trooprally; debm29palms

I am looking...:)
Snappy outfit on Mr. T.
I’m thrilled for each one of you!!


149 posted on 09/18/2007 9:10:42 PM PDT by La Enchiladita (Where were you when the world stopped turning...)
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To: kristinn

Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of folks!


150 posted on 09/18/2007 9:54:11 PM PDT by Mr. Silverback (Support Scouting: Raising boys to be strong men and politically incorrect at the same time.)
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To: kristinn; Angelwood

I’m so happy and tickled for you and the rest of the Freepers getting to meet the President! I can’t hardly believe it... After all the years of work and hard labor....Congratulations and God Bless you!! What a wonderful honor.


151 posted on 09/18/2007 9:55:51 PM PDT by Freedom2specul8 (Please pray for our troops.... http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/)
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To: kristinn

I’m sure I speak for all of FR when I say how proud we are to have you representing us in DC.

You all so deserve the praise!!


152 posted on 09/18/2007 10:49:26 PM PDT by CyberAnt (America: THE GREATEST NATION on the face of the earth!)
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To: kristinn; All

You all are so Special!!

All of us FReepers out here in FReeperland are proud of all you DC FReepers that got the special invitation to the WH. You DC FReepers are the very best to represent FReeRepublic.com and we’re happy that Prez GW and the first lady thinks so too.

Way to go!!! You all are very deserving!!! : ))


153 posted on 09/18/2007 11:21:24 PM PDT by SoldiersPrayingMom (....A nation divided against itself, cannot stand.)
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To: kristinn
Thanks to all FReepers and especially our extraordinary D.C. Chapter. The dedication these Ladies and Gents demonstrate to our beloved Republic and her military, both serving and veterans is an inspiration. We are all so proud of you.

Nam Vet

154 posted on 09/18/2007 11:43:54 PM PDT by Nam Vet (Timely reporting from Attila's right flank)
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To: tgslTakoma

WOW!


155 posted on 09/19/2007 2:33:27 AM PDT by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink)
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To: La Enchiladita; DollyCali; STARWISE; gate2wire; USMCPOP; freema
You all make me blush. Good thing there is a shadow on my face. I was hoping no one would recognize me without my cigar and tall flag pole.

The tie is my Marine Bull Dog tie. You can just make out the Bull Dogs on it.

We'll get a narrative up hopefully today about at least [Mrs] T's and my time there. We'll ping you all.

[Mr] T

156 posted on 09/19/2007 2:58:23 AM PDT by trooprally (Never Give Up - Never Give In - Remember Our Troops)
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To: USMCPOP

I’ll call Al Gore, see if he’s got any ice! LOL!


157 posted on 09/19/2007 2:59:17 AM PDT by freema
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To: trooprally

Eager to hear every little detail! Don’t leave anything out!


158 posted on 09/19/2007 3:11:42 AM PDT by freema
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To: tgslTakoma; Angelwood; trooprally; kristinn; Jim Robinson; BufordP

tgsl, thanks for the ping.
I know BufordP is way jealous.
Thanks to all for representing the DC Chapter and FreeRepublic.
Thanks to Jim Robinson without whom none of this would be possible.


159 posted on 09/19/2007 3:47:48 AM PDT by Jimmy Valentine's brother (Democrat, a synonym for Traitor)
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To: kristinn; Trueblackman

Don’t tell me. Tell trueblackman...and Sean.


160 posted on 09/19/2007 4:08:42 AM PDT by BufordP (Had Mexicans flown planes into the World Trade Center, Jorge Bush would have surrendered.)
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