Sure.
((TAP!))
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.
((TAP!))
The Man Who Set the Water Free Written by Alex Schireman (age 13)
I read it in the papers I saw it on T.V.
The story ‘bout the man Who set the water free
It wasn’t Bunker Hill wasn’t Custer’s last stand
It wasn’t Gettysburg It was only one man
It happened ‘cross the mountains In Klamath County
I’m Proud of the man Who set the water free
My Grandpa was a farmer There’s some farmer left in me
‘cause I’m proud of the man Who set the water free
It wasn’t rocket science Didn’t take a Hercules
He saw the lake was full And he set the water free
It wasn’t Waco, Texas Not another Ruby Ridge
No guns or FBI It wasn’t that big
Nobody got killed Not even sucker fish
He overrode the computers And put water in the ditch
He wasn’t the Lone Ranger He wasn’t Robin Hood
He didn’t wait for lawyers To tell him that he could
I don’t know where he is I may never know his name
But I’ll raise my glass And toast him just the same
He’d never be convicted By a jury of his peers
They’d want to shake his hand And give him three cheers
When I have grandkids I’ll bounce ‘em on my knee
And tell ‘em of the man Who set the water free
Now God gave us choices God gave us brains
I don’t blame God ‘cause we didn’t get the rain
God made sucker fish They’re part of his plan
But God made farmers And gave ‘em two hands
Hands to work the ground Hands to sow the seeds
Hands to open up the gates And let the water go free
When the Judgement Day comes I hope there’s an override....
On those pearly gates to Heaven And that man floats right inside....
He didn’t build an ark Didn’t part the Red Sea
But I’m proud of the man Who set the water free
I read it in the papers I saw it on T.V.
The story ‘bout the man Who set the water free
It wasn’t Valley Forge Wasn’t Custer’s Last stand
Not the Alamo in Texas But I’m proud of that man
It happened on the lake In Klamath County.....
I’m proud of the man Who set the water free
My Grandpa was a farmer There’s some farmer left in me----
‘cause I’m proud of the man Who set the water free!
Regarding the price for the CD, we think that $10 seems more in line with rural communities' economics. ($8.00 for the CD, $2.00 for shipping and handling) Requests should be mailed to Alex Schireman, 5490 Rogue Valley Highway, Central Point, OR 97502. Once we've recouped our costs, we are committed to donating half the profits to a reputable charitable organization associated with providing relief to the Klamath Basin farmers and their families.
God bless you all !!!
Congratulations and well deserved!
(( hug ))
The non swabbies will be confused about this remark! Stay dry!
I will say this. I will never forget those evenings at Jarbidge and at Klamath. Particularly the 1st one at Klamath.
I knew in my soul that the federal officers would be back with a vengence after the two were run off ... indeed their suburbans were driving by and watching us all night. Despite the long drive, I stayed up all night trying to convince those good people to wake more people up and get them there before morning and prepare as best I could for what was coming. We didn't know how it would turn out, and it certainly could have been grim. I thank God in Heaven that it has turned out thus far as it did.
It wasn't the good Lord's will I suppose to have more people there to face those officers when they came, and it worked out for the best anyway. When those 50+ officers with their weapons took those headgates back, it aroused the people even more and led to the events we are experiencing now.
Meeting all of those people, including yourself and your husband (not to mention washington_Minuteman, nunya bidness, B4Ranch, Phil V. 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub, farmfriend, Rocky, Bill, Jim, Barron, Barbara, and so many others who answered the call, too numerous to name).
Piping that water around the feds the next day, taking to some of the officers at the fence, having the donkey and the goats invade the federal "compound", standing guard duty at the pump up by the lake at night, the Klamath Calvary ride, seeing Barron go over the fence followed by so many more, helping with the relief convoy and the stop one of them made in Boise, the big Rally in August, posting live reports to FR over the cell phone, having SO many folks on FR who could not be there rise to the occassion and spread the word all over this nation ... no, it was an experience that almost had to be lived to truly appreciate the experience.
Just the same, I am glad I was given the words to record it all in an effort to passs it on at the site:
The Stand at Klamath Falls - The Full Account
Including all of those pictures taken by my son, Jared, who has been my faithful saddle partner throughout The March for Liberty, The 50 Million Round march, Jarbidge and Klamath.
By the way, I updated the site with my feelings regarding the events of last Friday, march 29th, when they opened the headgates. I included the report from the Elko Free Daily Press.
So, thank you for the kind words AuntB you dear woman. Thank you more for being there yourself at Jarbidge and Klamath along with so many others who are truly the ones deserving of recognition. You are the tru inspriations and I am humbled and proud at the same time to know you and yours. I just came over from Emmett to help some friends.
You tell that cantancerous old hubby of yours howdy for me.
Well, though I really try and just do what I know is right, and try and avoid any lime light ... I've also never been accused of being found short for words. Now, I've gone on way too long here.
God bless and stay well.
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