Gathering of Eagles: Oil City, PA (03/28/08)

me | 03/28/08 | Spacetrucker

[Spacetrucker]

As I am somewhat new to doing on-the-ground reporting, and I simply wanted to give these patriots in an out-of-the-way small town their due, their diligence and determination truly struck me today - below 30f, windy and on a busy street corner (Petroleum Street bridge and Front Street). Apparently this particular troop rally has been going on for quite some time (several months), and as I work nights it is quite conceivable that I could miss it (asking for a pass :-) ). Hearing and seeing about these kind of rallies going on in our major metropolitan areas is nothing new - getting people together is more likely in areas where population allows for it. But in downtown Oil City? Granted, the majority of the participants were from the Titusville area, and associated with the VFW there, but until today I had no knowledge of a presence of the G.O.E. being represented in my area. Twice I stopped for info on the group, and both times the honking horns were practically non-stop! Proper thanks go to Beth Wagner, the 'reluctant to be identified as organizer' of this event, Carrie Swartout whose husband serves in Air Force reserves, Howard Snyder(who was carrying a flag that flew over Al-Asad airbase in Iraq for Carrie Swartout) and all of the others whose names I failed to get - there were 15 hardy souls in all involved today. Some of these people were involved in last Friday's Walter Reed troop rally, so some of you may remember them. God bless our patriots!!

[Spacetrucker]

An aside - Carrie's husband, Jason, serves with the Air Force reserves - 910th Airlift Wing - they have 3 children with a fourth on the way (all were present at this rally). Jason has served 3 tours and is going back for a fourth this November - where DO we get these incredibly brave heroes... Jason was kicked by war protester Anne Dewalt as he was counter-protesting in Diamond Park, Conneaut Lake (full article here - http://www.meadvilletribune.com/archivesearch/local_story_085235916.html?start:int=0) (I can't remember how to set a hyperlink to an article - someone help please). I hope this gives those standing up for our troops here the recognition they deserve.

[Spacetrucker]

pls help - I do not know how to do pings, nor do I remember how to post photos - please help me out!!

[Spacetrucker]

Just some photos from the event...they also have a poker run going on August 16th from Forest Hills in Tionesta, PA - 100% of the proceeds are going to Operation Helping Hand - you Walter Reed FReepers should be able to appreciate that fact! :-))

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[freema]

Pennsylvania Peace Protestor fined for January 19 assault, but it’s called ‘harassment’.

[Spacetrucker]

edit to post #1 - the VFW is from the Tionesta area, not the Titusville area - just an absent-minded slip, no slight intended to any of our patriots in either area.

[tgslTakoma]

Ping to the DC Chapter list...

Troop supporters holding the line in Oil City, PA!

Thank you for posting the report, Spacetrucker!

[stratman1969]

Is this the one who attacked Skye or someone else?

[bmwcyle]

bttt

[freema]

Anne Dewalt kicked Jason Swartout.

[pissant]

GOE BUMP!

[Spacetrucker]

Well, I’m just glad I could do my part to get them some recognition. It’s really good to see the patriot spirit alive and well in small town PA.

[R. Scott]

...patriots in an out-of-the-way small town ...

Small town? I used to live in Conneaut lake!
15 people ain’t a bad showing.

[Spacetrucker]

Well, I’ve had some pm me about showing up and some friends showing up - it’s every Friday 1630 to 1730 in Oil City - hoping for more!

[BufordP]

Thanks for the report!

[pepininpa]

Thank you so much for taking the time to come out and meet us at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Oil City on Friday night! We always WELCOME all fellow patriots to come stand with us..our GOE rally “regulars” consist of members of the Titusville VFW Post 5958 and Ladies Aux (anyone needing a ride meet by 1600-they bring a van over), members from the Oil City VFW members (across the bridge), and 2 OIF veterans along with members of their families. You do not have to be a Veteran or member of anything to come and joins us...Spacetrucker should be able to tell you we are a pretty friendly bunch.
By the way...little misunderstanding...Carrie is not pregnant, all 4 of her kids were present Friday night.

[Spacetrucker]

Absolutely! Just doing what I thought I should do - and BTW, OOPS - thought Carrie said she had one on the way (lol). Hope to be able to see you there again, and hope to bring more people - I have had some inquiries since this posting, so let’s hope!

[pepininpa]

Just wanted to give you a little background on why we stand at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Oil City...I am Beth Wagner, and my brother Fulton Schaffner (OIF Veteran) and I began standing publicly after Mary Ann Caton (history asst prof at the UNIVERSITY OF PITT AT TITUSVILLE) and her “grassroots group” 5th District Peace Project stood one block from my brothers house protesting the war, but supposedly “supporting the troops” thus the beginning of the the signs you see around the area stating “SUPPORT THE TROOPS, END THE WAR”.
They publicly call OUR TROOPS the TERRORIST and claim that President Bush is the one who blew up the Twin Towers in NY....the 5th District (a modgepodge of VFP and WIB members) had the audacity to stand at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial holding Civil/Peace Flags there as they denounce our gov., our flag, and our military IN THE NAME OF “PEACE”-as they have done in Pleasantville and in Franklin also.
Here is a LETTER TO THE EDITOR I wrote and actually got published stating my opinions of the goings-on:
BEFORE JUMPING ON THE “PEACE” WAGON, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

As I read a blurb from The Derrick about a supposed Civil War/ Peace Flag in which an Assistant Professor of History and Political Science teaching at UPT claimed to have been around since the Civil War, I wondered if I had missed something in history class. As a veteran, I felt the need to investigate this flag.
Instead of becoming more educated on the Civil War/Peace Flag, I became more baffled. Only a few web sites, one of them entitled ‘The Civil Flag’-Forgotten Flag or Flag of Fiction? and another entitled The United States Civil Flag for Peacetime mentioned such a flag. After spending time comparing notes from both, I realized that this professor of history apparently DID NOT DO HER HOMEWORK. Her mention of the flag being in existance since the Civil War and for some reason phased out was almost verbatim of the web site claiming this to be a real American peacetime flag. Does this prove that this flag ever existed before the year 2000 for the purpose of protesting war, I believe not. If I put a pair of red white and blue underwear on a stick, authored a website about it, stood publically claiming it “ a peace flag from a certain era that just phased out for some reason”, does it make it a real flag? NO, OF COURSE NOT! It is down right disgraceful for one to stand publicly claiming peace, but allowing your members to call our troops terrorists, misleading the public about a peace flag, and assuming because of your teaching status that no one will question your groups motives.
This act has only enraged a community who pledges allegiance to the ONLY official flag of the United States of America. As Americans, we all have the right to stand publicly in support of our beliefs, but it is wrong to purposefully mislead the puplic. I believe we ALL desire peace, and I will continue to stand publicly in support of our troops and their mission.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL KEEP UP ON THE HAPPENINGS OF OUR AREA.....AND BRING ALL AREA TROOPS SUPPORT GROUPS TOGETHER AS “ONE” IN SUPPORT OF OUR TROOPS AND THEIR MISSIONS-This is what the 5th District Peace Project, Women in Black, and Veterans for Peace have done in NW PA...and Mary Ann Caton can thank her friend Judith Etzel for printing all of the propoganda against our troops....WOULDN’T IT BE NICE IF WE ALL HAD A FRIEND WORKING FOR THE PAPER (BY THE WAY, JUDITH’S HUSBAND IS A MEMBER OF THE VETERANS FOR PEACE ALSO)...

[Spacetrucker]

I have one brief thing to say ... the late Ronald Wilson Reagan believed in peace too ... “Peace through strength”.

[bigfoote7]

Thanks for a good report, spacetrucker. I went down to the rally tonight, there were a lot of horns honking in support. Guess this war is not so unpopular in Oil City, Pa.
As for a GOE presence in Venango County, There are 4 of us from Franklin, Pa. who have been to at least 1 of the Washington, D.C. rallies. I wrote an essey, somewhere on Free Republic titled: What good is a free press, if it is not a fair press. The local papers have printed zilch regarding the Gathering of Eagles, it is as if we never existed! However, 45-50 anti-war protesters are worthy of front page headlines.
Absurd!! I would make one more quick point and that is that in the independent Baptist churches, where I have spent 48+ years, patriotism has always been promoted!
David Foote, pastor of Baptist Temple, Franklin, Pa

[pepininpa]

Thank you so much for coming out to join us and bringing Stephen and Burt with you. It is an honor to stand among such patriotic people...look forward to seeing you again! Gloria’s 81 year young mother stood out with us in Meadville Sat. afternoon- God bless her soul.
Beth