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Posted on 10/06/2001 1:01:25 AM PDT by Jim Robinson

Amy, Chris and I rolled onto the scene at approx 5:30 p.m. on a beautiful Central California evening. The weather and temperature at the corner of Shaw and Blackstone in Fresno was perfect for FReeping.

Luckily, our foe, about a dozen green shirted anti-American peaceniks, selected the far corner, leaving our old favorite Sore Loserman haunting grounds from last December to us.

We switched on our boombox and began blasting out Stars and Stripes Forever, the Marine Corps Hymn, Anchors Aweigh, the Caissons Go Rolling Along, the Airforce Song and just about every military march known to mankind. God help me, I do love FReeping to the old battle songs.

We grabbed up our signs and flags and began the counter FReep. About a half-hour later our numbers were reinforced when semaJ joined the FReep, followed shortly by GoodieD and friend and then a couple of citizens who happened by.

With flags snapping sharply in the breeze and signs lofted high we soon began hearing hundreds of horns honking in approval and civilians passing by chanting "USA, USA!"

At one point, I heard a strange sound approaching, and suddenly around the corner appeared a remote controlled M1? Abrams battle tank. The tank rumbled up to my position at the curb, cranked its turret around to the oncoming traffic and opened fire. What in the world? Turns out the tank was being operated by an old friend of Amy's and mine who decided to join the FReep.

Next, a young man who just happened to be passing by and could not resist the patriotic urge, grabbed a cardboard box and ripped it apart. He spread it out on the ground, borrowed a magic marker, and within minutes had his "Support our Troops" sign made and joined the FReep.

Later, a young family, mom, dad and boy of about 12 stopped by, grabbed signs and began FReeping like old pros.

The last two to join the FReep was a young lady of about 20 who was on the way to catch a bus, but could not pass up the opportunity to support her country, and finally a veteran (class of '75) who had passed by earlier decided to come back and join us for a while.

Our FReep started with just three people, but before it was over we had more protesters on our side than the peaceniks who planned the event had on theirs. Eventually, they began breaking away, and finally all the peaceniks retired from battle. We FReeped on unopposed for another hour or so and then returned home victoriously.

semaJ, Amy, Jim, GoodieD, Mark (operating the tank). I did not get the names of the two gentlemen in the back. That's my son, Chris, peering out from behind his sign over GoodieD. I have no idea who the guy in front with the lights in his eyes is. The foe across the street.

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