Free Republic

It seems like yesterday that the DC Chapter started its Friday night rally to support the wounded warriors and their families and to counter first Code Pink, and then anti-troop protesters. Over the past 5 ¾ years, many members and visitors have stood together every Friday night, which has resulted in 300 consecutive Friday nights at Walter Reed’s front gates. Tonight was a great night to celebrate 300 weeks! The first thing we saw was a huge semi- trailer parked down the block, effectively blocking the moonbat presence. Don’t know why we didn’t think of that sooner. Lurker Bill had...

The Troops are back from holiday leave! A cold evening made warm by the return of the wounded warriors and their families, a number of whom came out to visit with us. Shortly after 6:30pm, as Trooprally was putting up the red “We Support Our Brave Troops” banner in front of Walter Reed, a soldier leaving WR, pulled over and thanked Trooprally for being here. “We Honor Our Brave Troops” red banner Two other wounded warriors came to talk and asked who the people (moonbats) down the block were. After discussing who the moonbats were and described the signs...

HAPPY NEW YEAR From the DC Chapter of Free Republic! Mild weather greeted us on this the last night of the year. We had a good turnout and even though many soldiers were on leave for the holiday, traffic on Georgia Avenue was heavy. At times the honks and waves from passing cars were almost continuous. Trooprally made “Happy New Year to Our Troops” signs and we hung a Happy New Year banner for all to see. Many soldiers, relatives and others walking in or out of the front gates stopped to say hello or pass Happy New Year...

Santa joined the DC Chapter of Free Republic in wishing the troops a Merry Christmas tonight on Christmas Eve. As many soldiers were on leave for the holidays, it was a very quiet night. Traffic was down, but many passing cars on their way from an early service or to a later service acknowledged our presence with a honk or waves.TrueBlackMan stopped by for awhile and plans to return soon. A passing SUV stopped and the children wanted to know why Santa was in front of Walter Reed and not delivering presents. Santa (aka Lurker Bill) gave them some candy...

After last winter’s record snowfall, we regard Thursday’s dusting as a practice snow just to get us in shape. It would insult a ruler to even measure it. Mrs. Trooprally was under the weather which meant Trooprally was the photo taker tonight. Not a bad effort, but he’d rather be on the corner holding the flag. Margaret – the Administrative Volunteer at Aleethia Foundation which is responsible for the Friday Night dinners for the Wounded Warriors sent Mr. and Mrs. Trooprally an email earlier Friday. It reads in part: “ Looks like another cold night....We've been busy getting hoodie sweatshirts,...

…….. the front of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, officially beginning the Christmas season. Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree Tonight, the American Flag flown on a recent mission in a Navy EA-6B Prowler flying out of Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan joined flag row in front of Walter Reed. It was sent to the DC Chapter of Free Republic by Electronic Attack Squadron 209. (See Walter Reed After Action Report, Week 292, November 12, 2010) This American Flag Flew Over Afghanistan This evening was fairly quiet but we had a good response from cars, trucks and buses passing by. In...

…….. was very lively indeed, at the Front Gate. Following is a summary of the evening as reported by Mrs Trooprally. The best thing about being at Walter Reed is knowing that the Troops like us being there. Tonight a few soldiers came out and thanked us. Then they talked with VictoryNY, whose enthusiasm is like a magnet. TammyCat and VictoryNY did their hoops and hollers and maintained a high energy level which kept the evening very lively. Tonight was pretty cold and Bill’s generator went on the fritz. So NO HEAT !!!! Mrs T used hand warmers so...

Staff Sgt. Juan Rivadeneira's funeral was held today in Hollywood FL. He was killed by a suicide bomber in Kandahar. Today I had the honor to stand with the Patriot Guard http://www.patriotguard.org/ . They provided flags and instruction in how to best honor our fallen soldiers. The ceremony was very sad but uplifting in an odd way. One of their Harley riding members had traveled hundreds of miles to honor the soldier. I think he did not quite understand the power of FL sun beating on his head for all of those miles. He passed out and hit his head...

…..arrived, finding many wounded warriors off post for a long weekend. There was no Friday night dinner and therefore, no bus. The DC Chapter of Free Republic maintained its presence for the 293rd consecutive Friday night. Mrs Trooprally reported the minutes for this After Action Report: " After Thanksgiving, when everyone was stuffed with turkey, eight of us managed to get off the sofas and brave the elements. We were in good spirits and had great conversation. But, it was darn cold. 3D-Joy missed the cold so much that she came for a visit from Florida. Lurker Bill set...

…..George Washington University joined the DC Chapter of Free Republic, for its 292nd consecutive Friday night rally, supporting the troops and their families. Twenty one students including the student paper photographer (from Bermuda), held signs, chanted USA, USA…., and sang a few patriotic songs. George Washington University Students Arrive in Force! They brought a high level of energy and enthusiasm to the front gates of Walter Reed. But most importantly, they showed by their presence and comments that they support the wounded warriors. They came from states such as California, Maine, Ohio, Florida, Arkansas plus upstate NY, Manhattan and...

…..Many Wounded Warriors had left for the weekend and there was no bus. Margaret of the Aleethia Foundation brought us two surprises. The first was a recognition certificate and American flag sent by Electronic Attack Squadron 209 to the DC Chapter of Free Republic. The certificate and American flag were flown on a recent mission on a Navy EA-6B Prowler flying out of Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Both were received on behalf of the DC Chapter of Free Republic by Mr and Mrs Trooprally, and CindyTrueSupporter. (see photos) Members of the DC Chapter of Free Republic Holding the Certificate...

People ask why we counter Westboro “Baptist” Church, why not just let them be the proverbial “If a tree falls in a forest and no hears it, did it fall”? BELOW is why we counter them. FReepers, students, patriots and Veteran Harley riders (about 50) defended our Fallen Heroes this Veterans Day at Arlington Cemetery. We came by the dozens and overwhelmed Fred Phelps’ one-branch family tree called Westboro “Baptist” Church. They started the morning with about a dozen miscreants. Two hours later when they left, only 3 had stayed around. A special thanks to those who took their shift...

FRONT GATE NOTES Bundled up against the chill, Mrs Trooprally sent her weekly report from the Front Gate of Walter Reed. The DC Chapter of Free Republic’s 290th consecutive Friday night at Walter Reed was a good one! We started slow, then were kept busy by a steady flow of soldiers, more than we’ve seen in awhile. Traffic on Georgia Ave stayed heavy all evening. The bus came early and the driver started honking as soon as he saw us and kept it up until they were in the front gate. Inside the bus the soldiers and their families...

FRONT GATE NOTES Mrs Trooprally sent the following report from the front lines at Walter Reed. An active night with a lot of people passing and talking with us. One wounded warrior and his Dad came out to talk and thank us for being there. They hadn’t seen us before. Lurkers Joey and Rick joined us and we were glad to see them. It had been awhile. It was the third cold Friday night in a row (the week days have been pleasantly mild), but election talk kept us warm and in a good mood. Tonight, Georgia Ave was...

FRONT GATE NOTES (from Ms Trooprally’s notes) Driving to Walter Reed tonight gave us the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful fall colors. It was a cold night, but fortunately no wind. A quiet night which gave the DC Chapter of Free Republic plenty of time to do what we like to do best: Support our Troops and their Families, until the DAV bus returned the wounded warriors from dinner. Next week is Halloween and we expect some costumes and candy. (Hint to 3D-Joy). Walter Reed Anti - War Protester News A repeat of last week! 1 moonbat until 8:30pm....

FRONT GATE NOTES (from Ms Trooprally’s notes) Out of nowhere, the great cold wind blew in from Western Maryland this Friday night, almost blowing our flags over. Some of us were unprepared and hadn’t brought cold weather gear. It was a hot coffee night and Ms Trooprally had it ready. GunsAreOK was partially prepared wearing short sleeves and gloves. We don’t think that his uniform will go much further this fall! All in all, the quick change in the weather caught us by surprise. Winter is coming. TrueBlackMan continued filming his Documentary by filming several more soldiers The bus...

FRONT GATE NOTES (from Ms Trooprally’s notes) This night’s Support the Troops and their families started a little slow but picked up quickly with a helicopter landing close to the front gate. Followed in short order by the arrival of BufordP and TrueBlackMan. BufordP has been a constant presence but had to take some time off and we welcome him back! TrueBlackMan is a legendary figure who confronts the left in the DC area at many counter protests and we are always pleased when he stands with us. We had two visitors, FReeper Agreatper, from Pennsylvania, and Tammy Cat,...

Sorry I'm late with posting all these. Been so mad busy. I was in DC for both marches, 9/11 and 12. The 9/11 pics are here

The DC Chapter started gathering at 3:30, unloading flags, banners, signs and a sound system. We expected Westboro Baptist Church to arrive at 4:30 but they arrived at 4. We responded by setting up quicker. DC Chapter members were Lurker Bill, Cindy_True_Supporter, GunsAreOK, RongKirby, [Mrs] Trooprally and myself. We were joined by a mother and her two kids who were walking by, 5 other patriots who heard about our rally, 3 Marine wives from Quantico, a guy in a wheel chair, and 6 Vietnam Vets on their Harleys. They did not claim to be part of Rolling Thunder or Patriot...

FRONT GATE NOTES Tomorrow, the SEIU, AFL-CIO and NAACP will hold a rally at the Lincoln Memorial. The participants include the socialist workers party, the communist party of the U S, anarchists, casa, la raza, code pink and union members. Unions were to provide free transportation, a free lunch and some even received $60 to go. (contrast this group of losers with the hundreds of thousands of real Americans who travelled at their own expense to 9/12 Tea Party and Restoring Honor.) None of that rabble showed up at Walter Reed. ( Contrast that with the dozens of patriots...