Fayetteville, NC FReep: After-action thread II

Free Republic Network & others ^ | 03/21/2004 | Constitution Day

[Constitution Day]

Some random thoughts:

On Saturday, March 20th, 2004, the Old North State Chapter of the Free Republic Network was joined by FReepers & patriots from NC and other states.
We came from points far & wide to FReep International ANSWER when they descended upon Fayetteville in an angry, festering mob that had the sheer shamelessness to bring their anti-military vitriol to the home of Fort Bragg.

I arrived at our permitted location before 10 AM, and it wasn't long before people began to arrive and set up signs and flags.

One thing that was striking to me at this event was the amount of media present.
I was interviewed by at least two local TV stations, one local newspaper, and the New York Times.
kristinn has a full list of the media present at the event.

Before long, there were many veterans and a few active-duty soldiers with us, and I deeply appreciate their service and their time spent with us, advancing the cause of freedom.
As the beautiful morning progressed, many drivers passed by, honking their horns and giving us thumbs-up for being there.

Before noon, we began to notice the anti-war march making its way up the street.
You couldn't miss the ramshackle "peace truck" leading the way; this was the same truck that Freepers were falsely accused of vandalizing.

We yelled "WE GAVE PEACE A CHANCE, WE GOT 9/11" at them as they passed us, giving the middle finger and shouting who knows what kind of epithets at us.
After they had passed, we relocated to the hill across from the park where the anti-war rabble had arrived at.
The Rolling Thunder group was out in full force with their Harleys, signs and flags displayed prominently.
I listened in amazement as virtually every liberal cause celebre was trotted out for their audience.
This ran the gamut from pro-union diatribes to anti-police screeds, feminist dictums, Halliburton/Cheney conspiracies and the like.

The D.C. and S.C. Chapter members present were also a great help. I'm especially grateful for the emcee duties of kristinn and Doctor Raoul, who also led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of "God Bless America".

The officers from the Fayetteville Police Department were very professional and I personally would like to thank them for the hard work they did.

One thing that was striking was that the Airborne & Special Ops Museum and the war memorials across the street had to be cordoned off from the "pro-military" anti-war crowd.
I will post more later.

[dixie sass]

There are more events coming up Jumper, either Free Republic or groups that have come out of FR such as the Second Amendment Sisters Mothers Day SAFER Rally against the Million Moms.

[dixie sass]

Thank you for everything you and Constitution Day did. It was a fantastic job!!!

[dixie sass]

Flora, Tax Relief or Ligeria told me about your son. Prayers went up immediately, hope that he is better and that you are holding up.

[dixie sass]

A Freeper in the making - tell him and his sisters I said hello!

[dixie sass]

I can't believe the press coverage. They were everwhere Saturday, weren't they?

[dixie sass]

I'll second that!

[Flora McDonald]

Thank you, dixie. We will know more in a couple of days but he is in good spirits.

It was great to see you and I enjoyed the conversation immensely. Something tells me will meet again!

[dixie sass]

It was so good to see you again! Wish that y'all could have stayed longer.

[dixie sass]

She sure did. All of you from the D.C. Chapter - it was wonderful to you all again especially at an event like this.

[dixie sass]

I'm glad to hear he is doing better.

...and it all started with one rally in D.C. and has been building ever since 1997?

We are America.

[dixie sass]

I'm proud to be an American, to be able to get out and show people that I support my country and the men and women who protect us everyday.

It's also a thank you to my father, grandfather, uncles and cousins all the way back to the Revolution who fought and died to keep this country going...


I'm proud to be an American!

[dixie sass]

Why didn't you come?

[dixie sass]

Good photos!

[dixie sass]

lol

[dixie sass]

Thought about you this weekend and those handsome sons and the precious grandson!

How is everyone?

[armymarinemom]

Thought about you this weekend and those handsome sons and the precious grandson!

That grandson is wrapping us all around his pinkie finger! He is doing well and seems to understand that Daddy is going to work against the bad guys. He has said that he wants to go help.

[bunnygutz]

Hi, I am one of the local Fayetteville people who was there Saturday... I signed up just so I could tell all you wonderful people THANK YOU for coming out and supporting our troops!

I had been warned it would be that way, but I was so disgusted to have to hear all the crap and drivel from the out-of-town communists and sympathisers. It is obvious they just wanted a soapbox and decided to use my hometown because they knew they could get attention. I wished I had brought earplugs.

Anyway, I just wanted to make sure you all knew how much you were appreciated.

(I was the gal with the yellow sign that said "Who paid for YOUR freedom"; my husband was the big guy running around with the South Vietnamese flag.)

[dixie sass]

Yes Flora, I think we will be meeting again also. I enjoyed the evening with you and Taxman and the good Dr. R.!

[Howlin]

This was our weekend to stay with my father-in-law who is awaiting back surgery; also grandson's birthday party.

[dixie sass]

I have no doubt that he will!

When I first arrived in Fayetteville Friday, one of the first people that I met was a mom and dad whose son had just gotten back from Iraq the night before! They didn't know what was going to be taking place the next so I told them - they were appalled that there were people like that around.