Free Republic

Shortly after 6 am Saturday morning, and less than 9 hours after our last Friday night at Walter Reed, the first members of the DC Chapter of Free Republic began to arrive at the gates where the ambulances would depart Walter Reed. Between Silver Spring, MD and Bethesda, Montgomery County, MD police cars were already at every intersection to ensure a non-stop passage for each ambulance to the newly named Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda. By 6:30 am, the banners and signs were ready for the first of 18 ambulances. A food court, courtesy of the Trooprally’s...

We knew it was coming and planned for it. For six years and four months of consecutive Friday evenings, the DC Chapter of Free Republic, other groups and individuals successfully challenged Code Pink and their union pawns in front of Walter Reed. After several months, they were forced from the Walter Reed front gates to a location 50 yards down Georgia Ave. Since June 2005, many Americans have gathered on Friday nights to continue to keep the anti-military forces away and to show support to the wounded warriors and their families. Tonight, then, was different from all others. Walter...

A good evening to be at Walter Reed’s front gates. There were no ambulances tonight , nor were there dinner buses. But there were soldiers coming and going through the front gates all night. Cars passing gave us many honks with passengers waving. Not to be left out, three people on bicycles rode by ringing their bells! The weather looked threatening, dark clouds loomed and distant lightning was putting on an impressive show. Ponchos and raingear were donned. The DC Chapter was ready. Five minutes of rain and it was over. Nobody complained. Pizza, soda, and brownies (by Jessica)...

It’s 6:30 pm on Friday evening at Walter Reed. Flag Row is being set up and the banners are on three corners. The first FReepers are taking to the corners with signs and flags. As the first flag is posted , passing cars start honking and don’t stop until we have left for the evening. Tonight, as usual, we talked with wounded warriors, family members and staff who were walking into or out of Walter Reed. And the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) bus stopped for a rare third time allowing some of us to directly thank the wounded warriors...

Finally, a warm somewhat breezy Friday evening at the front gates of Walter Reed. A solid group of fourteen Freepers holding signs and flags in front of the banners received honks and waves from passing cars. You wouldn’t know that Walter Reed is closing three weeks from now. Three buses and several cars carried the wounded warriors and family to dinner and an evening of entertainment in near-by Maryland. Returning after 9pm, they were cheered into Walter Reed by our stalwart group. The Aleethia Foundation has done a wonderful job over the past seven years coordinating these Friday evening...

On a hot July Friday evening, temperature at 100 degrees, you might expect everyone has left for the beach. Not at the Walter Reed front gate! Tonight, over 41 Freepers, lurkers and visitors arrived to support the wounded warriors and their families on one of the few remaining Friday nights before the final transfer to Bethesda and Ft Belvoir. A number of Freepers returned to join us. They came from Florida, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Georgia. SeektheTruth brought a sign all the way from Florida thanking the DC Chapter of Free Republic for its 328 consecutive...

All day long the weather gurus had been predicting severe thunder storms for Friday afternoon and into the evening. At times, rainfall might be 2 inches per hour, they said. At three pm, it started and would you believe by 6pm, the sun came out and we had a great evening. A lot of traffic again tonight with cars honking and passengers waving. Soldiers and staff were coming and going all night long. Three small buses carried the wounded warriors and their families back to Walter Reed shortly after 9pm. Thirteen of us greeted those three buses with flags, signs...

The long July 4th weekend at Walter Reed and in Washington, DC usually means a low volume of traffic in and out of WRAMC and up and down Georgia Ave. Not tonight. Two big ambulances arrived early with wounded soldiers reminding us why we are at the front gates. Bill Salutes Arriving Ambulance Early In The Evening, As It Turns Into Walter Reed We were all busy talking with wounded warriors who came out to be with us, and we were dealing with a significant volume of drivers honking and waving. Tonight, a DC motorcycle officer spent almost the entire...

On Friday, July 29, 2011, the Wounded Warrior Dinner Bus is scheduled to make its last run at Walter Reed. After this date, dinner buses will operate from Bethesda National Medical Center. The Aleethia Foundation has been running these Friday night dinner buses for seven years and will continue to do so. As we get closer to Walter Reed’s closing date, we will keep all of you informed of changes. July / August Calendar July 1st No Dinner Bus (This is the 4th of July weekend) July 8, July 15, July 22, and July 29 Dinner Buses will operate....

Twenty FReepers and visitors handled the four corners tonight. Finally, it was a perfect weather-wise evening. The energy on the four corners and from the passing cars made the 323rd consecutive Friday night to support the wounded warriors, a night to remember. VictoryNY and TammyCat really turn up the tempo. It’s hard to believe that there are only four more Friday evenings that dinner buses from Walter Reed will take the troops to Friday night dinners. July 22 is the last Friday night scheduled. After that, the Aleethia Foundation will coordinate these dinners from Bethesda Medical Center. The DC Chapter...

The DC Chapter of Free Republic held its 322st consecutive Friday night rally to support the wounded warriors and their families at Walter Reed. A little cloudy with light showers. No ponchos were needed. The evening started early with two big ambulances roaring down Georgia Ave into Walter Reed just as we were setting up. Eleven FReepers and visitors handled the four corners tonight. It was a busy evening with soldiers passing and talking with us. Two wounded warriors who stopped by early on were Grant and Marvin. Grant is in the Navy and Marvin is in the Army. Both...

ALEETHIA FOUNDATION WON! Hal Koster and Margaret Thomas of the Aleethia Foundation just sent this grand announcement: Dear Friends of Aleethia, We just got the official word that the Aleethia Foundation is "Day 38 Winner" and will receive the Toyota Sienna Mobility Van within the next 150 days! The troops rule and they deserve this special recognition by so many wonderful people that stepped up and voted. Thank you so much for voting and for all your efforts in spreading the word to vote ... but, more importantly, thank you for supporting the service members! Hal Koster - Executive Director...

Use this Facebook link to cast your vote between 6am and midnight EST, Today, June 15: Facebook Cars For Good The DC Chapter of Free Republic asks that you vote for the Aleethia Foundation on Wednesday, June 15. Your vote will help Aleethia to be awarded a new Toyota vehicle which will provide wheelchair accessible transportation for service members. It is a helpful, cost- effective way for Aleethia to further assist newly wounded, injured and ill service members. The Aleethia Foundation is proud to announce that it has been selected as a finalist in the “TOYOTA 100 CARS FOR...

The DC Chapter of Free Republic asks that you vote for the Aleethia Foundation on Wednesday, June 15. Your vote will help Aleethia to be awarded a new Toyota vehicle which will provide wheelchair accessible transportation for service members. It is a helpful, cost- effective way for Aleethia to further assist newly wounded, injured and ill service members. The Aleethia Foundation is proud to announce that it has been selected as a finalist in the “TOYOTA 100 CARS FOR GOOD” program. Now Aleethia needs your help for one day -- WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2011! See Aleethia's summer 2011 newsletter...

The DC Chapter of Free Republic held its 321st consecutive Friday night to support the wounded warriors and their families at Walter Reed. The heat and humidity made for a sweltering night. However, 16 FReepers and visitors were more than up to waving, holding flags and signs, and vocally supporting our troops. A noisy and assertive crowd tonight. Possibly because our time at Walter Reed is getting short. The last Friday night Aleethia Foundation dinner bus from Walter Reed is tentatively scheduled to be July 22. So we have a lot to do in a short time. Visitor Ali was...

Tonight’s summary is based on comments by Mrs Trooprally. Tonight, VictoryNY and TammyCat led the cheers and waves with high enthusiasm. Lurker Bill got vocal and soon all four corners were impacting passing cars. All night long, cars were loudly honking and passengers waved or shouted their support back. We are beginning to notice more and more soldiers in uniform driving or walking off the post. Almost all return our waves or yell their support. TacoMomma and Danang68 came from Virginia and spent the evening with us. Our last night at Walter Reed is tentatively July 22. (This will be...

Although there is no bus tonight due to the Memorial Day weekend there were more uniformed soldiers leaving on foot than we usually see. Most of the evening passing cars gave us loud honks and waves. Our flags and signs were in good hands. Meanwhile TammyCat and VictoryNY loudly express Support for our Troops. We were joined by Diane, mother of a wounded warrior, Allen. She is proudly holding the 82nd Airborne DN flag. We hope to see her again and wish Allen the best in his recovery. We had a good group this evening and filled the four...

For the fourth straight year, the DC Chapter of Free Republic showed its appreciation of the military by recognizing the Recruiters at the Silver Spring( Maryland) Armed Forces Recruiting Station. This Recruiting Station is a mile up Georgia Ave from the front gates of Walter Reed. Mr and Mrs Trooprally, CindyTrueSupporter, RonGKirby and Kburi, presented Certificates of Appreciation to the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Army recruiters. In addition, each service received a Manny and Olga’s gift card for pizzas, plus a M & O special pizza, sodas and cookies for their lunch break. The Army, Marines and the...

After almost three months, the MOAB (Mother Of All Banners) returned to the front gates of Walter Reed! Rain and high winds had kept the MOAB down. But not today. Sunny and mid 70’s, perfect weather to be in front of Walter Reed showing support to our wounded warriors and their families. Military Appreciation Month continues through Memorial Day. Today was a busy day as M/M Trooprally,CindyTrueSupporter, RonGKirby and Kburi were at the Silver Spring Armed Forces Recruiting Station to thank military recruiters for their service Recruiters from the US Army and the US Marines received a Certificate of...

A very good Friday evening with lots of activity on the corners and from the passing cars. Americans continuously show their support through waves and honks. 14 of us took over the corners and actually had Trooprally searching for a spot to smoke a cigar. Although it was overcast, we had mild weather for the 317th consecutive Friday night at Walter Reed. One small bus tonight. It was filled with waving soldiers and family members. As the bus turned into Walter Reed, it was met with waving flags and chants of USA, USA. It is always good to see their...