Posted on 02/03/2009 6:18:35 PM PST by Tom the Redhunter
We weren't their long before being reminded of what it's all about. One of the Walter Reed buses that have been converted so they can carry wounded troops flown in from the field to Andrews Air Force Base, and from there transported to Walter Reed came by
Seeing one of them always quiets you for a bit as you wonder about who is coming in and what they've been through.
Not to long after we got going, we had a special visit. Mr. Trooprally tells the tale:
Trooprally was on the southwest corner when he heard "CONCRETEBOB". Looking around he saw a car full of young kids, stopped at the light with windows down, across the street. Yelling back, Trooprally said "He's not here, I'm Trooprally, who are you". The response, "A troop supporter". The light changed, they honked as they turned the corner where Lurker Bill stood, heading towards the entrance to the parking lot where we all park. But they continued down the raod. Five minutes later several kids showed up on the MOAB's corner, excitedly holding signs. A few minutes later a group of kids came up Elder Street. The College Republicans were officially here.
As always they lent needed energy to our gathering. Our usual cheerleader, VictoryNY could not make it this evening. The students cheered and waved signs which elicited many honks from motorists.
The "MOAB" Trooprally refers to is the Mini-MOAB, it being too windy to deploy the main one. Having done this for almost 4 years we're prepared for every weather situation.
Leading the George Washington University College Republicans was Brand Kroeger, Chairman of the College Republican National Committee.
Here are Brand and Trooprally
Better, when the troop bus came they saw double the amount of people they would have otherwise.
Thank you to FReepers PleaDeal, and kburi who the Monday after the FReep heard Mr. Kroeger on Chris Plante's radio show, and let me know of an important story.
The GWU chapter of the Young America's Foundation put up 1,100 small white crosses as part of a pro-life display. The crosses were vandalized, and an investigation pointed to members of the George Washington College Democrats. Worse,
Student Republicans later found drawings and writing in black ink on some of the crosses. One depicted a stick figure of a crucified Jesus. Another, hung upside down, had a condom stretched over it. One had the name of a College Democrats leader.
From the website of the GW Republicans
Brief Synopsis: Early this week crosses used in a pro-Life display on campus and stored in the College Republicans office, were taken by a member of the College Democrats and desecrated in a highly disrespectful manner and left in our office.If we can't trust the Democrats with small white crosses we certainly can't trust them with our country.
The GW Democrats, for their part, have issued a somewhat confusing statement. I can't tell from it whether they're admitting that one of their members did it or not
Vandalism in the CD-CR office was first brought to the attention of leaders of the executive board by leaders of the College Republicans. CD leaders immediately began an investigation and found that no members had visited the office we share with the CRs in the two days since the purported day of the incident. Additionally, one member stepped forward and claimed responsibility for the situation and issued an apology to the CD board for their thoughtless actions. The member was promptly expelled from the organization.
If "no members had visited the office(storage facility)" then what member "stepped forward" to claim responsibility?
To it's credit, the GW Hatchet, and independent student newspaper, also reported on the incident (h/t Jimmy Valentine's Brother)
And Another Thing
Ah yes, you're wondering about the title. PleaDeal and myself were standing on the corner by the "Welcome to Walter Reed" sign when a Rastafarian-looking fellow came strolling by. He stopped in front of us,. turned to Pleadeal, and in a gruff manner said something to the effect of
"I'm from Palestine!"
He immediately turned away and continued walking down the street. It all happened so fast and was frankly so weird neither of us thought to get a picture of him. We turned and looked at each other and said "What in the world did he say and what did he mean?"
We still don't have any idea.
Please also FReepmail them or any of us if you would like to join us at Walter Reed and would like additional information about parking, directions, what to bring, etc.
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 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 to all FReepers who transport and store our many signs and banners every week.
* Tom the Redhunter blogs at The Redhunter
* Plea Deal blogs at Semper Gratis
DC Chapter Ping
Embassy of Palestine in Jamaica
Uh. Huh.
Another great AAR from someone who was there.
And you beat me posting the Olney AAR by 8 minutes
[Mr] T
Another bitterly cold night warmed by the GW Republicans, some of whom arrived with little cold weather gear.
Fortunately, Trooprally has a cold weather gear inventory of gloves and hats. This inventory was in use by those who needed it.
Did the Rastafarian guy who said he was from Palestine have a Texas accent?
There is a town in Ohio called Palestine....
I go to college in Columbus, and a kid in one of my classes said he went to a concert in Palestine. Being from Maryland I know nothing about Ohio geography, and I gave him a weird look, wondering why he flew all the way to the West Bank for a concert. He quickly preceded to tell me it was the name of an Ohio town. I felt stupid....
While I had hats and gloves, Lurker Bill had a supply of hand warmers, which quickly disappeared. Doctor Raoul has donated the box of hand warmers he got at the Chapter Christmas Party to the Chapter. Lurker bill will get replacements this Friday.
[Mr] T
Right, but this was a black dude who spoke with a Caribbean accent. He said it to us in a pretty mean way, so I’m sure the reference was not to a town in Ohio. I should have put this in the AAR.
I was just asking because Palestine, TX, is much bigger than Palestine, IL, or Palestine, AR. Maybe the guy was lying about where he’s from.
If we could have shut Al Gore up a ferw years ago, the weather would be warm enough for me to join you guys. As it stands, I’ll be back on the corner sometime around March 31.
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