Posted on 04/04/2002 11:51:20 AM PST by AuntB
A Tribute to my friend Jeff Head, Free Republic’s Eagle Award-FREEPER OF THE YEAR
It had only been a few minutes earlier that I hugged blackie, Barb, GrandmaC, redrock and his precious family and headed north out of the narrow canyon, glancing in the rear view mirror at the tiny community of Jarbidge, Nevada. The sun was low in the west, bouncing glistening sparks off the tips of junipers and the winding creek that the narrow dirt road followed. It had been a long three days, my car, gear and my body was covered with a quarter inch of Nevada Dust. and I was distressed that I could not stay for the long anticipated events of the next day, July 4, 2000.
Redrock and the others had already cleared passage through the mountain of dirt and rock that the US Forest Service had dumped to block the S. Canyon Road, the only other road out of the isolated community besides the one I found myself navigating. A “staging ground” and campsite had been set up just over the border of Idaho and I could not resist stopping to meet any other Free Republic members who may have been there.
Remove from your imagination any notion of an organized “camp ground”. This was a big field donated by a local rancher for the gathering. I threw my vehicle into 4 wheel drive and started across the field, which was mostly ruts and foot tall grass. The first group informed me they thought some freepers were…”over that way”. I prayed that I didn’t run over an “endangered” field rat.
I encountered a group deep in conversation, a likely place for a bunch of freepers. After asking if any one there was with Free Republic, a charming man extended his hand, introducing himself as “cc2k”. Leaning against a bumper, with his back to me was a cowboy hat clad man who turned and said, “Who are you?” When he spoke, and I saw his face, I knew it was Jeff Head. Sometimes you meet a soul that you have known forever and you recognize him when you meet him. Then I was back on the road headed west for home for the 800 mile journey.
Jeff and the others finished clearing the South Canyon Road, moved the Liberty Rock, cleaned the outhouses on Independence day. I listened to the live radio reports and knew that all was well. Jarbidge was in good hands.
I never expected to see Jeff Head and my other new friends again. Once was privilege enough. And our work was done. Or so it seemed at the time. In April of 200l, the federal government cut irrigation water off to 1400 farmers in the Klamath Basin. Now, the battle was to be fought in my back yard and once again Free Republic’s incredible resources would be used. The Bucket Brigade was a successful milestone with nearly 20,000 attending in that small community. Many were from FreeRepublic.....MadameAxe, Robert Drobot, forester, Marsh2, Washington_Minuteman, Conservative and many more answered the call.
The residents of the basin were doing all they knew to do to restore some sanity to this process, but finally in desperation, some of them decided to “let the water flow” on July 13. We had a rally that day and I had already arrived home when late that night I got a phone call. It was Jeff Head. He was on his way to the head gates. The farmers were no longer alone.
I arrived in Klamath Falls about 6:00 a.m. the next morning after federal agents had surprised the dozen there trying to protect the water and were now standing armed guard to keep the farmers from obtaining their water. Though tired from the 14 hour drive all night long, Jeff greeted me with that wonderful smile, shaded by his weathered cowboy hat.
All the contributions Jeff made to the community of the Klamath Basin and others cannot be listed here. Until I met some of the fine, brave Americans like Jeff Head, who truly care about their fellow man, and the creatures of the earth as well. I would not have believed such good people existed. The last time Jeff and I met was the big rally at the Klamath County Fairgrounds in August. It had been an exhausting summer for us all. This time he brought his son Jared, who was a delight. These children don’t have to be concerned with not having a good role model and are proud of this Western gentleman they call “Dad”. I situated myself at the front of the building with signs to locate the other freepers soon to arrive. And arrive they did…. in numbers.....nunya bidness, amom, Bump in the night, clamper1797, 68-69TonkinGuilfYatchClub and more. Someone asked me if Jeff was there and I told them, he’s down on the bottom level with some other people. “Look for a cowboy hat with a braided leather hat band.....oh,nevermind, you’ll know him when you see him!.” And they did.
Sometimes, when we are in trouble, good people show up to help. Next time you find yourself in one of those situations, look around. My friend Jeff will be up front…HELPING. I can’t begin to explain it, but you’ll know him when you see him.
As soon as I am done with my current series of novels I am going to write a book about the entire Klamath Falls experience.
What a few loyal, God-fearing AMerican farmers and ranchers were able to accomplish there, with the help of activism stirred on by Freerepublic, is a story everyone should hear.
The source material is already on the net based on my numerous eye witness accounts that were posted here on FR and elsewhere. You can see them (if you haven't already) at the following site. It's a story well worth the time.
THE STAND AT KLAMATH FALLS
How Rural western farmers and ranchers took on entrenched
environmentalism and the Federal Government...and won!
If you Doubt my Humble Judgement, read Their Stories---Jeff is "In Their Class!!"
'Nuff Said!!
Doc
My favorite words concerning our Republic come from John Adams:
"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other."- John Adams, Oct. 11, 1798They are just as true today...particularly todfay when we see the very essences of these principles being trampled in so many places.
Volume V of the Series will be out in 3-4 months.
I pray that enough people in America will be moral enough to keep the Constitution's checks and balances in place.
Missing a special freeper.
What a beautiful post. Miss all these names. I was in DC with Jeff and met with him on a few other occasions. He was definitely a leader and competent American. Hate to say it, but he almost glowed.
Oh I miss them all too!
Seems I have outlived all my friends and family. It’s a strange feeling never seeing anyone familiar.
All I want to do is go back home, but looks like that’s never going to happen. Housing goes to illegal aliens before old citizens who lost everything in a wildfire set by anarchists.
I’m proud to have called Jeff a friend.
I hope his passing was peaceful surrounded by his loved ones.
L
Wow. Some names from the past... Been here long...
I hope so too, Lurker. He has a great family. I’m sure they were with him all the way.
bumpus Maximus
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