Posted on 12/10/2007 6:51:02 PM PST by Tom the Redhunter
The Honor Role of attendees:
Tom the Redhunter, Jimmy Valentine's Brother, Satin_Patriot, Nellie, Chief, Cindy-True-Supporter, Plea Deal, OlbaESQ_01, Mr & Mrs Trooprally, VAFlagWaver, VictoryNY, Jessica Taylor, Lurker Bill, Alicia, and George of George and Ethel.
Temps weren't so bad, as it was only in the mid 30s. However, earlier in the day we'd had quite a bit of sleet and freezing rain. Late afternoon the precipitation stopped and it warmed up a bit. My guess, though, is that a number of FReepers made the quite understandable decision earlier in the day not to attend because of the weather. This is probably why our numbers were a bit smaller than usual. As it was things turned out fine.
Winter weather in the D.C. area isn't so much cold as it is conducive to icy conditions. When we get precipiation it hovers around freeziing, so we get this melt - freeze - melt - freeze cycle. Mornings and evenings can be quite tricky. As you can imagine, it also plays havoc with traffic conditions.
Early in the FReep a soldier stopped by who's brother, another soldier, was recovering in Walter Reed from injuries suffered in Iraq. He's seen us out there and stopped by to say "thank you" and bring us some brownies. We of course told him how much we appreciated his and his brother's efforts. These situations are always a bit awkward, when they make such an effort to thank us. After all, they're the ones traveling to a distant land, living under harsh conditions, and risking life and limb. Over the years I've spoken with many of them about this, and in the end we've agreed that we both appreciate, support, and need each other. I am not suggesting any symmetry between risking life and limb and standing on a street corner holding a sign, rather just that they do assure us that our activities life their morale, and anyone who has read their history knows how important morale is to an army.
VAFlagWaver and JVB
The energy level went up when VictoryNY and Alicia showed up. They grabbed American flags and waved them enthusiastically to show their support. Combined with Jessica, the trio started their chants which were echoed by JVB and myself
Here's VictoryNY
Thank our Brave Soldiers! Thaaaannnnkkk You!God Bless our Brave Soldiers! Aaaaaamen!
God Bless our Military Families! Goooooood Bless!
Go Soldiers! Gooooooo Soldiers!
God Bless America! Goooooood Bless!
Here is the author of tonights AAR, with Mrs Trooprally at right.
Later in the evening a soldier coming back from the store stopped by the corner where Mr Trooprally and I were standing to tell us "thank you". Originally stationed at Ft. Campbell, he'd been wounded in Iraq. "I've only been walking for a week" he told us. He told us that at Ft. Campbell there'd been "anti-war" protesters outside the gates, so when he first saw us he feared the same here. Then he noticed our American flags and knew that we were on his side. For those familiar with the history of this FReep, you will know that at one time Code Pink was in fact outside the main entrance, but have since been chased off.
The Bus
Sometime during the evening word came down that the bus was very late and would not get back until considerably later than usual. As such, a decision was made to pack up at about 9:30.
However, Satin_Patriot and Nellie, decided to stick it out. Feeling a bit shamed and not having to get back home early, Cindy-true-Supporter and myself decided that we would stay with them.
Wouldn't you know it but no less than 10 or 15 minutes later the bus came by?!?!
Kudos to Satin_Patriot and Nellie, who made the decision to stay!
Here's Satin_Patriot
And here's Nellie! Both full of enthusiam for the troops
Come join us every Friday night between the hours of 6:30pm to approx 9:30pm.
Directions to our Walter Reed freep location from the Takoma metro station
* You can find all of Mrs. Trooprally's photos for this Freep on her Photobucket site.
* You can find all of Plea Deal's photos for this Freep on her Photobucket site.
* Thank you to BufordP for maintaining the BIG LIST of all Walter Reed FReeps.
* Thank you always to Kristinn for all the work that he does. Kristinn is president of the DC chapter and our chief organizer. Thank you to Mr & Mrs Trooprally and everyone else who transports and stores our MOAB and our many signs and banners.
* Tom the Redhunter blogs at The Redhunter
* Plea Deal blogs at Sempter Gratis
Do I win a toaster?
; )
Dude!
Actually, your AAR made my eyes hurt and then, they started to leak. That bit about needing each other....
Dude!
Dude!
Ping DC Chapter!
Ping!
Dropping by to say, “Thank you”. It’s not easy to get out there every week, especially in cold weather. Your dedication is admirable.
Has anyone given any thought to picketing Hilary! national campaign headquarters?
They are smack dab in my neighborhood, a stone’s throw from the Ballston Metro (Orange Line) in the top three floors of the former INS grey block of a building on Fairfax Drive.
They took down even the modest Hilary! sign in the foyer window after TownHall’s Mary Katherine Ham (”Hamnation”) paid them an ambush visit last week.
The building’s been otherwise unoccupied for the over three years since INS ceased to be. They are the only current temporary renters.
Failing that, Ron Paul’s HQ is right over the drycleaners next to American Legion post #139 on Washington Boulevard, a ten-minute walk away.
This was pinged to DC Chapter list before I could add your name.
From California, thank you for representing those of us who stand in solidarity with you and our troops.
Pictures are especially clear this report...Mrs T ?
VNY, that smile and the chants are worth a million $.
I know the bus riders were glad to see you waiting for them, I always get excited by their happy faces and cheerful waves back to us.
OK ? Dude! BufordP, what got that started?
I guess all us other weenies were fooled when a smaller bus came by full of wounded soldiers and the big bus didn’t soon follow.
And Tom, thanks for another great thread.
[Mr] T
DooD!
Great Job as usual you guys !! Seeing all the pics of everybody wearing cold weather gear, reminds me of last March!
Wounded warriors and their families thanking the DC Chapter for being there for a couple of hours one night a week. Hard to grasp that thought. One soldier stopped at the WRAMC exit to say he thought people were pretty dedicated to be out there on a cool evening. I told him the temperature was nothing and that thanks to him and his fellow troops no one was shooting at us.
One correction, all of VictoryNY chants with “God Bless” chants receive the Amen reply. For “Go Troops” I prefer “Kill terrorists.”
Seventeen people on a freezing night is still great! Seventeen hardy patriots! Extra kudos for those of you who braved it!
We had five here in Studio City without the ice. Oh, well, we do what we can. At least there are five, which is up from two or three. It was anomoly.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Any moonbats? or are they just sunshine traitors.
Christmas tree inside Walter Reed
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Thank you for the correction! Now that I think about it you’re absolutely right. Well, we all enjoy your enthusiasm.
Take care!
OOps, apologies for the bad link.
Thank you for taking pics! The more the better. good shot of the Christmas tree.
[Mr] T
FReepmail me to be added to / deleted from this once-weekly ping list.
Great pics,here’s a bump:)
Wonderful AAR, as always, and I particularly like the part about the troops stopping by and thanking YOU. I don’t know what we did to be so blessed by our brave and honorable military, but sure hope we keep it up. And FReep 138 - woohoo! I wish all of the heros at WR could be with their loved ones at Christmas, but you help by showing them we care (and we do, even if we’re 3000 miles away in CA.). Many thanks, and God bless all of you.
Thanks for the ping and the great show of support for our soldiers. You guys are making a difference.
And THAAAAAANK YOU for supporting our Troops. You do a great job!!
I can’t say it any better..AMEN from Texas
BTTT
Buuump!
LOL, yea, that’s right, like penguins, like you said.
[Mr] T
I heard there is a plan to redeploy the penguins to your neighborhood!
Save the penguins! Don’t forget the polar bears!
i’m so sad i wont be able to make it to any freeps until i get back from christmas break...my next freep wont be until January 18th! :(
i’m going to miss you guys so much! Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!
Love always,
Jessica Taylor
You do what you can. You’ll have a great FReep in January! Just the way to kick off the New Year! Where do you rally? I’m in California.
Merry Christmas and a very Happy, Healthy, Prosperous New Year!
Deborah Leigh aka oneamericanvoice
I rally at Walter Reed because i go to Catholic University which is in DC only about 10 minutes away from WRAMC
How is the freeping in Cali?
<3 Jessica
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