Posted on 03/18/2007 3:38:28 PM PDT by bmwcyle
The Gathering of Eagles, the squeaking of mice – Part 1
The morning started at 6:30 AM. Apple Blossom and I got up and headed for DC. What the day was going to be like was any guess. I have been going to local freeps since 1998. It started from the Saturday mornings at the White House to the fun at Olney and Walter Reed. We had heard that we had many on the way but it you never know until you get there.
The traffic was light and we found parking quickly. The day already started well. While going down Constitution Ave., it was clear that there wasn’t many moonbats in town. Our side had a large number walking the streets. We arrive at the park as the numbers were climbing.
I found several Freepers in the area and met some great heroes of America. The groups were greeting each other and getting interviewed with obscure press people. I don’t know where these interviews were played or printed. I know they weren’t FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN.
Race Bannon was the first to pass the camera.
I found this WWII Navy man in one of those interviews. He can still put his uniform on. How many of us can do that?
Other Freepers had arrived and were standing around doing interviews you will never read or see.
The gathering was going to start speeches before 10:00 AM. The speakers were fine but the real action was not in that field. The moonbats were gathering by the Lincoln Memorial. They were not alone.
The crowd was getting ready to listen but it was time for me to move.
On the way to front lines, I ran into these three gentlemen. They seem to have strong opinions on Jane Fonda and a certain Cindy. I can only image what they want to do with those signs.
Some vets were at the Vietnam Wall. The lines were going through metal detectors. This was the reason many of them had shown up. They were there to protect the people who gave it all for this country. Some of these men were there for the first time and some of them could not bring themselves to walk past the names on the wall. I just walked through the crowd thanking them for their service and welcoming them home.
do your thing
BTTT - I'm so glad you were all there for those of us who couldn't be. (raucous round of applause)
To be honest, after some of the recent stories, I'm very nervous about taking the babies around the leftists. But if there's a repeat next year, I'll stick the Dad with the under-10 crowd, and bring the group that can handle themselves to see what the Opposition looks like. Unless I have another baby.
(In Fayetteville, they were dressed as fairies, which is truly weird ...)
Good on ya!! New independent estimates put our side at 25,000 strong yesterday. A figure you'll never see on TV.
Thank you and all the others that participated in the Gathering of Eagles.
I've been waiting patiently for your report.
Excellent!!
It is not over. There is more.
Thank you for being there on behalf of all of us who wanted to, but couldn't.
Nice to see that WWII Navy vet.
My father was in the battle of Guadalcanal. Oddly enough he's more talkative about it since he got dementia. He's the stereotypical Reagan Democrat but as a cop, he never liked the 60's hippies!
There to protect what is sacred to them, even when it's so painful to themselves. God bless them all.
Great report! Thanks for standing in for so many who couldn't be there... but we were there in spirit.
BTTT.....
However, I've been a bit heartened today to see some fairly good writeups in papers like the WAPO and the Chicago papers.
Who's that fat guy??
Moonbats dressed as fairies actually sounds pretty true to form.
I don't remember any fairies two years ago, although there were some men in tutus.
Maybe there was a "Cirque du Soleil" theme.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xFOyIaY_oo
Video I took of a WWII Sailor from WWI who was in the Tarawa Invasion
Cool
Thanks for being there.
You created such great spirit for our vets and for America that you were beyond awesome. My family and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Lined up, early in the morning, to see the wall. Good security by the Park Police.
Standing on the road, watching the moombats on the other side.
Broke out my new colors for the GOE
Yours truly hamming it up with two active duty Marines down at the Lincoln Memorial.
The Irish were out, dressed in all their finery.
Gold Star Parents with Rolling Thunder, Canton, Ohio
One thing that was noticable was that there was a lot of yellow on their side.
One thing I have to say. They always seem to have the best floats.
I met some Freeper friends from DC and other places, (Hi Mike from Massachusetts) out at Walter Reed on Friday evening, I met a lot of people on Saturday where were interested in Free Republic.
I met up with my sister, ProudMilitaryMrs who came down from South Jersey with the Philly bus, and ran into a lot of good, honest, patriotic Americans who were just interested in protecting what is ours, and were not going to let it be destroyed.
We ran into Michelle Malkin several times, and finally made it over to the Free Republic tent to see a very tired Kristinn wrapping up.
I saw more Marines yesterday than when I was in DaNang in 67. I was proud to be there, at the Gathering of Eagles in 2007.
Wonderful!..Thank-you!!
One of the Fayetteville attendees says it wasn't a fairy ... it was a "Peace Moth."
Just plain nuts ...
Appreciate the ping to your great report & pix. So glad you made it & it sounds like you had a wonderful time. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your jacket. Are those available for anyone in FR?
I was packed & ready & raring to go until one hour prior to trip when my mechanic who was to fix brakes (and did) said overall the van was unsafe/unfit to take a trip such as I planned.
Bummer supreme.. but I cannot tell you how proud I am that you & so many others DID make it to protect the honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in Viet Nam, to support our current troops/war & to support our Republic & our President.
None of those things are perfect but they are to be honored & respected & you did it.
Thank you FRiend!
thank you both for being there, the great pix & the AAR..
Your pix are good. I love the Washington Monument silhouetted. and the WW2 vet was priceless. I know he was thrilled to be serving "once again"
Excellent photos! I love the big guy with the black leather jacket and kilt. He looks like he was having a grand time!
Thanks for posting your photos and reports on the GOE.
I'm sorry I missed you and Apple Blossom yesterday, bmwcyle.
The Irish lad makes me grin from ear to ear. God bless em.
A "Peace Moth"? Sounds like a very close relative of the "Fruit Fly."
OH, that's a good one!
Ping!
My brother was a FREEPER, I do not know what his screen name was, but he used to discuss Free Republic all the time. He was a Captain in the US Army and served in Nam in 69-70. He retired in 82 as a Major. We lost him last May. He would have wanted to be there with everyone yesterday and he would have loved that so many people showed up to stand with today's generation of brave Americans. I have thought about him all day as I have read the accounts of this wonderful counter protest. I could not come in his place this time, but I will stand in his place next time there is a call.
God Bless all who braved the cold and bad weather to make a powerful statement.
Great Photos. It was Patriotic Paradise. Most of the day I stood across from the moon bats with a group of Vietnam Vets from Kentucky. An awesome day!
Thank you for being there.
THanks for the post and ping! Wish I could have come. :( Wish more had been in the press. God bless your and the others efforts.
Great post--thanks for sharing it! I was privileged to be there, too. Are you sure that guy was Irish, though? Irish people don't wear kilts. That's the Scots. Big difference (I'm half-Irish). :-)
He is Irish, but leads a Scot's pipe band, and thought this was a great opportunity to be out in full regalia.
When the wind blew I was cold with jeans on, I can imagine how breezy he was.
In God We Trust.....Semper Fi
Right there with you. I had longjohns on under my jeans and I was still cold. My heart was warm, though--what a great day and what a great showing!
So sorry to hear of your loss, we here at FR and the rest of the military world will miss him too.........
Thanks for joining FR......
Welcome to the Free Republic!
We'll look for you at the "Gathering of Eagles II"!
LOL
I was thinking similar thoughts about that kilt.
If I had gone, I certainly wouldn't have worn a dress or skirt (yeah, I'm a female). Too dang cold. And, hopefully he had "something" on under that baby! LOL
Impressive! Makes me proud. Wished I could have been there.
We wished all the Freepers were there. I don't know where we could have had dinner.
In God We Trust.....Semper Fi
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Photos by bmwcyle, RaceBannon, NautiNurse; North Coast Conservative, SouthernBoyupNorth, dinasour and other FReepers.
The Gathering of Eagles, the squeaking of mice Part 1 (This thread)
The Gathering of Eagles, the squeaking of mice Part 2
Welcome to FR. Thank you for telling us about your brother. We wish you could have been with us; but check back -- I think there will certainly be more of these gatherings in the future!
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