Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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

DSC09337_edited-1
Front: Angelwood, tgslTakoma; debm29palms. Middle: Kristinn, Flib, Mr. Trooprally, ponsdorf. Back: Laura Youngblood.

P9180166
President and Mrs. Bush

DSC09369_edited-1
Vice President Cheney and Angelwood

DSC09375_edited-1
Angelwood, Karen Hughes, Mrs. Trooprally

P9180174
SEcretary of State Rice

P9180195
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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 261-275 next last
To: kristinn

WOW DUDE! Did they know how hard you worked for them?, Cause I sure know.....


41 posted on 09/18/2007 4:47:05 PM PDT by cmsgop (Hillary's Milkshake is better than Your's, She could teach you, but you would rather go blind.......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: kristinn; Recovering Ex-hippie; Taxman; freema

Whoo-Hoo DC Chapter you guys ROCK!! Great story!


42 posted on 09/18/2007 4:47:54 PM PDT by Chieftain (RIP Texas Cowboy and Cheif Negotiator, we miss you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

This is so AWESOME! Congratulations!


43 posted on 09/18/2007 4:48:14 PM PDT by pattty (Duncan Hunter 2008!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

Wow! That had to be really awesome.


44 posted on 09/18/2007 4:48:52 PM PDT by Spiff
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Libertina

LOL - Hey O’Reilly - FREEPERS got invited to meet the PRESIDENT!!!!! (In case you didn’t know it Bill - Freepers are patriotic!)


45 posted on 09/18/2007 4:49:04 PM PDT by Enterprise (Those who "betray us" also "Betray U.S." They're called DEMOCRATS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

Wow! You guys and gals rock! We all would have loved to be there.

Congratulations.


46 posted on 09/18/2007 4:50:09 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jim Robinson; kristinn; tgslTakoma; Angelwood; trooprally; DC Chapter

Just WOW! What a great morning! You all deserve it after the terrific work you do so tirelessly.

And our President recognizes what you are doing - as Leader he is asking you to keep on keeping on.


47 posted on 09/18/2007 4:50:48 PM PDT by maica (America will be a hyperpower that's all hype and no power -- if we do not prevail in Iraq)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

Kristinn et Al.....

I am so proud of you guys. I am very jealous of your great opportunity but know in my heart that the continuous effort made resulted in this great opportuity. I have not sustained that effort.

Good things do happen to super good people.


48 posted on 09/18/2007 4:50:53 PM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . Hillary's color is yellow.....how appropriate)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kristinn; tgslTakoma; trooprally; BufordP
the crowd erupted in to a loud, boisterous chant of "USA! USA! USA!" Yep, the Freeper table started it, LOL!

ROTFL--what else can we expect??? This is awesome folks and I'm so glad all y'all had this incredible opportunity! But I'm a bit sad that "Flat BufordP" doesn't seem to have been able to make it. . . :-(

49 posted on 09/18/2007 4:51:07 PM PDT by JoyjoyfromNJ (Psalm 121)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

oh my goodness, this is so sweet, so precious. I’ve often thought how wonderful it would be if you DC patriots could be, somehow, rewarded for your patriotic dedication to this country. I’m so thrilled to see these pictures, to see your faces. I hope you can feel how I’m savoring this glorious moment.

Thank you for all you do, bless you for being there. I treasure your friendship.


50 posted on 09/18/2007 4:51:39 PM PDT by YaYa123
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: kristinn
You guys rock. What a wonderful and deserved experience.

Having said that I am extremely jealous of all of you. You got to meet President Bush, Laura, and Condi Rice all at once. That is so awesome. It is a good thing that I wasn't there, I would faint from the sheer excitement.

51 posted on 09/18/2007 4:52:21 PM PDT by notpoliticallycorewrecked (California : home of the fruits, nuts and flakes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bahbah

Wow.


52 posted on 09/18/2007 4:55:26 PM PDT by HonestConservative (Snowflake, Levinite, Stevedore, eeevildoer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: SuzanneC

lookie here


53 posted on 09/18/2007 4:55:44 PM PDT by YaYa123
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: tgslTakoma

woohoo! Awesome


54 posted on 09/18/2007 4:56:33 PM PDT by RDTF (Republicans believe every day is July 4th, but Democrats believe every day is April 15th. - Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

That’s so nice kristinn.Great pictures:)


55 posted on 09/18/2007 4:56:33 PM PDT by fatima (Baby alert,Baby Ava arrived 6-29-07 at 3 PM-she is 10 pounds:))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tgslTakoma

I would rather meet General Petraeus than the Gringo de Mexico. Thanks, but no thanks.


56 posted on 09/18/2007 4:56:56 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Oh, Geesh, not THIS crap AGAIN?!?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: tgslTakoma

Oh, already happened. Never mind.


57 posted on 09/18/2007 4:57:57 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Oh, Geesh, not THIS crap AGAIN?!?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: gate2wire
We were told NO smoking inside the WH fence so I didn’t bring any. I thought about it but was wondering how security would view my cigar tubes.

Several FReepers did find a smoking area beyond the port-a-johns, but I had already left my cigars in Takoma’s vehicle.

[Mr] T

58 posted on 09/18/2007 4:58:41 PM PDT by trooprally (Never Give Up - Never Give In - Remember Our Troops)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: JoyjoyfromNJ

FReeper Flib from SC started it.

[Mr] T


59 posted on 09/18/2007 5:02:18 PM PDT by trooprally (Never Give Up - Never Give In - Remember Our Troops)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

WTG, Kristinn, and God bless the DC Chapter! OUTSTANDING job!


60 posted on 09/18/2007 5:02:19 PM PDT by CDB (Michael Yon is the Ernie Pyle of the War on Terror)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 261-275 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson