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9/11? We are going flying!
The US Flag Balloon ^ | 9/9/02 | me

Posted on 09/09/2002 9:02:09 PM PDT by abner

9/11? We are going flying.

The US Flag Balloon will be flying on September 11th 2002. We will be flying from Kerr Park in Downingtown, Pa in the early evening weather permitting. I invite all Chester County, Pa FReepers to come out and join us. Any other FReepers are also welcome to join in.

We had wanted to be at one of the sites that the terrorists hit, but I think that what we have decided to do is probably for the best.

We have had one year to mourn the dead. We are flying the US Flag Balloon on 9/11 in defiance of the terrorists.

I still choke up when I see footage from the attacks. I probably always will. I read stories about the event, or from survivors. I've collected every photo I could off of the net, so I can have my own archive of that horrific day before political correctness erases it completely.

We will be flying the flag on September 11th for many reasons. Only one of those reasons is to memorialize. We will be flying on 9/11 to show the terrorists that they have not won anything. We will be flying to let them know that we Americans are about to kick some Islamist rear. We will be flying the flag to show the world that they attacked the wrong country and that there are consequences.

In our travels this summer with the balloon, I got to see the opinion of real Americans. If you listen to the media, you would think that we have grown tired of the war on terror, and of the flag. That the surge in patriotism is dead, and that we have all gone back to sleep.

The media is wrong.

Every place that we had the flag, crowds gathered. When we were in NJ, there were 80 balloons. Most of the crowd was in front of our balloon. The cheers when we took off were indescribable. So many people came to me afterwards to tell me that they were crying and cheering at the same time. People go out of their way to talk to us about the balloon, our matching vehicles and they thank us for just doing this project. Then,(insert evil laugh here) we hand them a Constitution and tell them that because of the document in their hand, we are able to do this project... and it is the reason that they can do what they do.


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Announcements; Constitution/Conservatism; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: defiance; mourning; resolve
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To: abner
LOL! It would be awesome to wake up with that outside my window! Shall I send you my address? I live on a cul-de-sac, too ....... *grins*

I'll have to check our schedule with hubby tomorrow (he's gone to bed with a virus) but I sure hope we can get there. Do you know if the others will be there the whole weekend or just one day?

21 posted on 09/09/2002 9:35:54 PM PDT by kayak
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To: abner
Freepers united wish you smooth sailing o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Leni

22 posted on 09/09/2002 9:37:05 PM PDT by MinuteGal
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To: abner
What a great balloon! That is unique for a hot air balloon! Good for you bump!
23 posted on 09/09/2002 9:38:45 PM PDT by ladyinred
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To: abner
BTTT Dear Abner, your flag balloon is a patriotic wonder! I never cease to be amazed by the incredible FReepers her3 and their projects. If you ever get to the Pacific Norhtwest, please let me know - the Puget Sound FReepers will be out in force for you! :)
Balloon BUMP

24 posted on 09/09/2002 9:38:46 PM PDT by Libertina
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To: kayak
Dixie and Taxman will be doing the weekend. We will be staying at the historic Vance Hotel. Taxman is becoming a bit of a groupie.. LOL! We love him. He came out to the first press flight, and hung out with us in NJ. He is great crew!
25 posted on 09/09/2002 9:40:22 PM PDT by abner
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To: MinuteGal
Thanks Leni.
26 posted on 09/09/2002 9:41:19 PM PDT by abner
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To: ladyinred
That is unique for a hot air balloon!

Actually, it is the largest free flying flag(of any country) in the world. I expect we will be in the Guiness Book next year.

There were two other flying flag hot air balloons, both were smaller and both are now retired.

One was the Canadian flag, and the other was the Belgian flag.

27 posted on 09/09/2002 9:43:23 PM PDT by abner
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To: Libertina
If you ever get to the Pacific Norhtwest, please let me know

Will do. I really want to get out west with it sometime. So far, the farthest we have been is Ohio.

28 posted on 09/09/2002 9:45:20 PM PDT by abner
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To: kristinn; abner
thanks for the ping - just saw it on the way to bed.

think we've decided on shanksville for wednesday.
will post pics/writeup wed. night or thursday.

'sides, if i'm around that balloon, i want a ride !


29 posted on 09/09/2002 9:49:24 PM PDT by tomkat
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To: abner
If you ever come out West you could join us on a Friday nite Freep the peaceniks in Fresno. That would give the people of Fresno something to talk about. It would definitely get you and your message on the local news.

You could do a lift off next to Woodward park where we had our last picnic. I'm sure that Jim Robinson would be honored to have a ride.

30 posted on 09/09/2002 9:52:19 PM PDT by notpoliticallycorewrecked
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To: tomkat
'sides, if i'm around that balloon, i want a ride !

When we don't have sponsors, I give FReepers first shot at rides...

Wednesday we don't have sponsors. We are just flying.

Stay safe in Shanksville.

31 posted on 09/09/2002 9:56:13 PM PDT by abner
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To: notpoliticallycorewrecked
If you ever come out West you could join us on a Friday nite Freep the peaceniks in Fresno.

Weather and space permitting, we could probably arrange something. We need a minimum of 200 feet x 200 feet just to set up.

32 posted on 09/09/2002 9:58:00 PM PDT by abner
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To: abner
They have hot air balloon events in Fresno and Clovis from time to time. My husband assisted with the launching of one as a assignment for our BSA troop assisting with a community event. As the pilot was ready to launch, he requested that my hubby climb aboard. He wasn't expecting to be invited to come along, but only took a second to recover and jump aboard for the flight.

It is facinating to watch you unfold and prepare those huge balloons for flight. The field that I was thinking of has ample room for the launching of one balloon. But there are numerous areas available of undeveloped land in north Fresno for you to chose from if that one doesn't measure up.

33 posted on 09/10/2002 1:43:36 AM PDT by notpoliticallycorewrecked
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To: abner; kdf1; AMERIKA; Lancey Howard; MudPuppy; SMEDLEYBUTLER; opbuzz; Snow Bunny; gitmogrunt; ...
If you guys havent seen this balloon, I highly reccomend it!! It is truely awsome!!
34 posted on 09/10/2002 2:57:45 AM PDT by RaceBannon
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To: RaceBannon; abner
FANTASTIC !!!!!

I love this !

Thank you for the ping to this and the thread about it. Wishes and prayers for a great day dear friends.

35 posted on 09/10/2002 3:37:11 AM PDT by Snow Bunny
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To: abner; hchutch; AuntB; nunya bidness; GrandmaC; Washington_minuteman; buffyt; Grampa Dave; ...


36 posted on 09/10/2002 3:44:09 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
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To: abner; Snow Bunny


37 posted on 09/10/2002 4:23:29 AM PDT by RaceBannon
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To: abner
hope you make it near me someday ... good luck, have fun!
38 posted on 09/10/2002 4:49:59 AM PDT by fnord
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To: abner
Sounds like fun. Please post directions for those within driving distance of the NC event.

The Flag Balloon looks fantastic in the pictures; I'm sure, up close, it's AWESOME.
39 posted on 09/10/2002 6:25:25 AM PDT by Angelwood
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To: JohnHuang2
Thanks for the heads up!
40 posted on 09/10/2002 6:39:09 AM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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