Report From Crawford

(Crawford, TX) At Fort Qualls, hundreds of Pro Troops supporters stayed through the long day of Texas August heat, to voice their prayers and heartfelt support for American military efforts in the war on terror. Fort Qualls, a place set up for an operations base for pro troops supporters, was set up by Bill Johnson, who owns The Yellow Rose gift shop on the main corner of downtown Crawford, TX. In front of the shop is a replica of the Liberty Bell, which rang out eerily as the event wore on. It was a lonely peal, a constant reminder of the reality of war, and the cost exacted, and why American blood is spilled. Throughout the evening, our military placing themselves in harm’s way were also remembered.

There were also a handful of anti - war anti - Bush protestors on the opposite corner. They left before dark.

I was approached as I got into my car by a gentleman who said he wanted the *****troops to come home. He claimed he had served in Vietnam, and did not think he should have, and he did not believe that our troops belonged over in Iraq now. He went on, with spittle coming out of his mouth, about how he “supported the troops, but not the war.”

Fort Qualls was erected by Bill Johnson, owner of “The Yellow Rose,” a large gift shop in the quaint quintessential small Texas town of Crawford. on The name is in honor of a local hero, Marine Cpl. Louis Wayne Qualls who was killed last fall in iraq.

Within the “compound” are several booths. One is set up to honor the fallen hero, Cpl. Qualls, which has various personal items, such as his last email before his death. In the email, he speaks of going hunting with his father, and how he wishes he could have gone with him.It truly brings home the reality of losing a son or daughter, brother or sister, husband or wife. All of the fallen heroes are somebody’s loved one.

The fort is decorated with banners, flags and the bell outside. On the corner, stands a large bronze angel, who is extending her hands in a gesture of welcoming. The artist, Lei Hennesy, whose Marine son is serving his second tour in Iraq, donated the statue to the town of Crawford prior to the elections last fall. Lei lives in the area near the crash site of the flight that went into the field in PA. on Sept 11.

She wishes to use her talents to aid in America’s patriotic efforts. She called upon those in attendance at the candlelight prayer vigil, to also use their talents to contribute in a meaningful way to our country’s efforts to defeat the enemy. She felt compelled to do so as a response to 9/ll. She has a statue at the site of the World Trade Center, as well as Crawford. She described that her intention for the statue was to comfort others, especially children. She also wants to convey comfort to those who have lost loved ones since that day, due to this war.

At the base of the angel, is the tribute to the fallen: the combat boots, with the rifle inside upon whose end sits the combat helmet, with the dog tags. It is a most moving sight. In front of that are the crosses that have been confiscated from Cindy Sheehan’s roadside tribute, where she has taken the names of heroes and inscribed them upon white crosses along the roadside, without obtaining the permission of next of kin. It has been a point of much contention, and the survivors have removed them from that site, and moved them to Fort Qualls.

Also present was the group “The Texas Military Family Foundation, which exists to support soldiers training, deploying, returning home, as well as wounded/injured. There were several groups of citizens about, all different races and ages

As the evening sky began to darken, a strong Texas wind whipped the displays, and the flags flying at the Fort, signaling the possibility of a thunderstorm. As lightening threatened, from dark ominous clouds, candles were lit, and hymns were sung, prayers were said, and comments were made from family members whose loved ones had committed the ultimate sacrifice: giving their lives for their country.. The crowd of several hundred ignored the coming storm, and the blowing dust, as they collectively remembered the fallen, and responded to the speakers with supportive comments, such as “Thank you for your sacrifice.” Hugs were given out abundantly. Prayer for our President, and our military were said as well as prayers for our success in the war on terror. The speaker prayed for our enemies to come to repentance. He went on to pray that, barring repentance, lacking repentance, that the enemy reap the natural consequences of waging war against the United States.

A veteran of Vietnam, and a member of the motorcycle group, “Rolling Thunder,” told of how frustrating it was for them in that time, knowing that we could have won that war back in 1968, if we had the backing of the American people. He spoke of the discouragement he felt to come home to, an America that did not appreciate what he and his comrades had done over there. He stated that it was the worst sort of morale buster for our troops today, to see such attention paid to the relatively few that want to pull out.

We heard from several families whose loved ones had perished defending freedom, and every single one of them said that their loved one died believing in the mission, and did not regret being in Iraq. One father related that their son told them that he truly believed that if they were not there fighting the terrorists that the young Iraqis would not stand a chance to grow up with a normal life, and might be motivated to become terrorists themselves. They all said for their family not to worry if something happened to them, and they did not return, that there was a very large group of military who would finish the job.

Angela Garza from a nearby town, McGregor, TX spoke. She is being deployed this week to Iraq, and is serving in the Air Force Reserves. She related the fact that in one brief morning time period, that over 3000 Americans were murdered by our enemy. We have been in Iraq two years, and have lost less than 2000 Americans.

I was told by the police who were guarding the event, that if I tried to go to Camp Casey, that I would be turned away, that they were only allowing “shuttles” in.

©The American Eagle News And Economic Report Article may be reprinted with written permission

"President Bush said my son died in a noble cause,
and I want to ask him what that noble cause is."
Cindy Sheehan

Cindy : Iraq Freedom is the noble cause.
No longer do I fear the butcher Saddam Hussein murdering my children!

Dallas/Fort Worth Star-Telegram 8-28-05 Jack Douglas Jr.
CRAWFORD TX-
President Bush's supporters poured into Crawford by the thousands Saturday,
for the first time outnumbering war protesters led by Cindy Sheehan,
who began a vigil here three weeks ago,
demanding a personal meeting with the vacationing president
to talk about her son's death in Iraq.

Lame Stream Media : News Flash!

President Bush already met with Cindy Sheehan in June 2004 for 10 minutes.

From The Reporter, Vacaville, CA archive: Bush, Sheehans share moments.

Quit lying!!!!

Anyone who thinks Hanoi Kerry and Hanoi Jane
aren't behind the anti war crowd
needs to get a clue.

You're dealing with a mad woman.....LOL. This lady is NUTS! She is getting so high on herself!

Sheehan ponders run for office

"Although the nation's highest elected post is likely out of reach for the so-called “peace mom,” Cindy Sheehan said she won't rule out a run for public office in the future. It won't, however, happen in 2006.

“The reason I think I can't run right now is because I'm a one-issue person: It's all about the war,” Sheehan told the Tribune-Herald. “And I don't even want to learn about anything else. I think, right now, we can do more outside of politics than in politics.” "

(snip)

“I think we have to have a new party, Camp Caseykins, Caseycrats or something,” she said. “I don't identify with either party at all. I don't identify with them. I think they're different sides of the same coin.”

"Her speeches have routinely skewered the president and sounded eerily like addresses at the last Democratic National Convention."

I'd bet Hilary doesn't like this comparison.

really if she ever wakes up from her delusion don't ya think she might just put a bullet in her head--if she really understood the depth not of her convictions but rather of her unsurpassed tackiness.

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