Free Republic

FRONT GATE NOTES Banners, signs and flags played a prominent role in sparking honks, waves and comments all night. Although the forecast called for possible thunderstorms, we got only a few drops. One military wife driving into Walter Reed pulled over to talk and to thank us for being here. Her husband had lost a leg and we thanked her and her husband for their sacrifice. Other Notes – Worth NotingCarla and John from New Jersey visited all evening for the third time in a year. Some of us will see them along Constitution Ave during Rolling Thunder. Their...

FRONT GATE NOTES This week’s after action report is provided by Mr Trooprally. Warmer temps, a triple blessing. After a cold and snowing winter, warmer temps help to put last winter in the past. Secondly, drivers have their windows down and pleasant conversation can be had when they stop for the red traffic light. But most importantly, warmer weather brings out our wounded warriors and their families to the front gates of Walter Reed. The soldiers pass by with a smile and we get to shake their hands in Thanks For Their Service. And their thanks to us for...

FRONT GATE NOTES A warm day with a cold front passing through at the beginning of the DC Chapter’s 265th consecutive Friday night, brought the threat of extreme weather. Fortunately, it only partially materialized with hail and a cloud burst at the beginning. Many drivers contributed to the show of support with waves and honks. The DAV bus returned from dinner before we left for home. Other Notes – Worth NotingCindy True Supporter bought a wounded warrior mother, Liz from Pomona, CA, to stand with us for awhile. Her son has been at Walter Reed for awhile and is...

As our president continues to degrade American military capabilities, the troop supporters of Free Republic continue to show up every Friday evening at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in northwest Washington DC. We have done this since early 2005 and will continue our efforts for as long as people show up. Our objectives are twofold: 1) Show support for the troops by displaying the American flag and those of military units, as well as patriotic flags 2) Keep the hate-America crowd of Code Pinkos away from the main entrance of the hospital. As with last week, the weather this Friday...

b> Silver Spring, Md Armed Forces Recruiting Station Today was a great day and one we looked forward to. For the third year, the DC Chapter of Free Republic showed its appreciation of the military by recognizing the Recruiters at the Silver Spring, Md Armed Forces Recruiting Station. This station is just up Georgia Ave from the front gates of Walter Reed. AppreciationMr and Mrs Trooprally, and Kburi, presented Certificates of Appreciation to the US Marines, the US Army and the Navy recruiters. In addition, each service received a Manny and Olga’s gift card for pizzas, sodas and cookies for...

Liz Edinger will never forget that telephone call, the one dreaded by any worried parent of a uniformed son or daughter in harm's way in Afghanistan or Iraq. "Nick called and asked if I was sitting down," she said. "I sat down, and he said, 'Mom, my left foot is missing.' " "This is six hours after it happened," added Scott Edinger, her husband and Nick's father. "He said, 'I stepped on a land mine but don't worry, I'm going to be fine.' " Army Cpl. Nick Edinger, 22, lost his left foot to an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan...

There are times when FReeping is an absolute pleasure; early evening when the sun isn't so bright and burning, temps are in the upper 60s, no rain, and you've just had a good dinner. The commies are being kept a good distance off from the entrance to Walter Reed, and you're surrounded by your Freeper buddies. Best of all, the troop bus comes early, an unexpected pleasure, which means that you get to pack up and get home at a reasonable hour. Then there are the other times. Freezing cold, a bit of rain, and damn it you forgot to...

FRONT GATE NOTES Tonight was quiet and warm. Honks and waves throughout the evening. Trooprally did his usual good job alerting a few drivers to turn on their lights. The busses were late because the dinner was quite a distance away in Arlington, Virginia. Other Notes – Worth NotingOur evening highlight was a truck leaving Walter Reed, with a soldier leaning out the window whooping and hollering and thanking us for being there. (And this is one reason why we are at the Front Gates). ToleranceSucksRocks led the way into an early summer with Bermuda shorts. The rest of...

FRONT GATE NOTES Tonight was warm with high winds and occasional showers as a cold front began pushing through the area. The DC Chapter had an energetic crew and was joined by visitors who had made Walter Reed a destination after attending the DC Tea Party. VictoryNY kept the cheers going and passing cars responded with honks and waves. The big bus returning from dinner with wounded warriors and their families, had just turned into Walter Reed, when a large ambulance roared down Georgia Ave and turned into Walter Reed, right behind the returning bus. These ambulances carry wounded...

b> FRONT GATE NOTES On April 9, 2010, the DC Chapter of Free Republic recorded Five (5) years and 260 consecutive Friday nights at the Front Gate of Walter Reed supporting and honoring our wounded warriors and their families. Five years ago, the DC Chapter countered Code Pink’ s hateful and vile anti-war and anti-military protest at the front gates of Walter Reed. It was a confrontative period until the DC Chapter obtained a DC Permit to hold all four corners at the front gate. Since then we have manned all four corners with flag waving, sign holding supporters of...

The U.S. Army says a surgeon who has publicly refused to follow any further orders until he sees documentation that Barack Obama is eligible to be president is being "reassigned" at Walter Reed Army Hospital after he refused to deploy to Afghanistan as scheduled. While there have been reports Lt. Col. Terry Lakin is facing an imminent court-martial, Army spokesman Chuck Dasey told WND today that Lakin is only "under investigation" at this point. "Lakin reported to the commander, Medical Center Brigade, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, on Monday, 12 April, after failing to report for duty at Fort Campbell,...

An Army flight surgeon apparently is sticking to his vow not to deploy until he is satisfied that President Barack Obama is a "natural born" citizen. Lt. Col. Terrence Lakin did not report for duty at Fort Campbell, Ky. as ordered today, and a spokesman for the post said it's not likely he will. Lakin's failure to report essentially dares the Army to bring charges against him for being an unauthorized absence. Margaret Hemenway, a spokeswoman for a group called the Patriotic American Foundation, which is supporting the 18-year officer, said the Army should not expect Lakin to report unless...

Week 259, April 2, 2010 - Good Friday at Walter Reed FRONT GATE NOTES We had a fairly quiet Good Friday night. There was no bus for wounded warriors and their families and it was a long weekend with many troops taking leave. With no snow, sleet, rain, wind or cold to brace against, we had a chance to enjoy some good camaraderie and receive many honks of support from passing drivers. Our MOAB (Mother Of All Banners) sends a strong message to the troops, their visiting families and all who drive past the front gate. On April 9, 2010,...

After a warm and sunny #257 it was back to some chilly weather! The thing about this time of year is that although it actually wasn't that cold, we were just spoiled by the 70 degree temps of earlier that week. That and the breeze, which always makes it seem colder. Unfortunately the wind was such that we couldn't deploy the MOAB, but on the other hand the flags look a lot nicer in a good breeze. As per our usual routine, we started to gather at around 6:30, and we continue until the dinner bus comes back, which can...

<p>If you come to Washington DC this time of year you need to be prepared for anything from 35 degrees or colder and rainy or sleet, to 70 degrees or more, warm and sunny. From now through May you can get either of these, and this from one day to another.</p>

Week 253, February 19, 2010 - After surviving the Great Blizzard of 2010, the DC Chapter continued supporting the wounded warriors and their families for the 253rd consecutive Friday evening. FRONT GATE NOTES Snow continued to melt, but a brisk wind made for a very chilly evening. Traffic on Georgia Ave was moderate and the drivers honked as they passed. Two buses returned from taking the wounded warriors and their families to dinner. The forecast is calling for 2 to 3 inches of more white stuff Thursday, a sign that winter is subsiding. WRAMC Anti - War Protester News Four...

WEEK 234 - Oct. 09, Dusk Coming Earlier Each Friday List of 7 Patriots at Walter Reed this ‘warm’ night: Lurker Bill, BufordP, Cindy_True_Supporter, Fraxinus, Jimmy Valentines Brother, [Mrs] T and myself. Pics by [Mrs] T BELOW LEFT: BufordP before even the banner s and flags put up. Short sleeve weather but dusk is quickly encroaching on us. BELOW RIGHT: Me heading to the northwest corner after putting up some banners. DARK ALREADY!!! The Walter Reed bus is not the regular dinner bus. During the night this bus usually goes in ‘n out of WR shuttling soldiers and their...

Brigadier General (R) Anthony J. Tata wrote a great piece today for Big Government in which he, among other things, recalled Governor Palin's visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center last December: "As a retired flag officer, I often have the privilege of visiting with our wounded and their families and so I commit some time and money, donating so far 100% of the book royalties to the USO Metro DC Hospital Services Fund for our wounded warriors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda National Naval Medical Center. The huge response my review of her book generated, and...

%20Week 252, February 12, 2010 – Two major snowfalls and over 30 inches of snow fell since beginning last Friday. It’s become a “big nuisance” but not big enough to prevent the DC Chapter to stand tall for the 252nd consecutive Friday night at the front gates of Walter Reed. FRONT GATE NOTES Mr and Mrs Trooprally arrived first and Trooprally was able to dig "standing holes" in the white stuff. Although the streets were passable, one of the 3 lanes was still partially covered meaning we could safely stand in a "standing hole" to hold signs or flags. Trooprally...

Amy Bishop, the professor that killed three of University of Alabama-Huntsville biology faculty members and wounded three others after being denied tenure, had very mixed reviews on her teaching abilities, according to the Web site ratemyprofessor.com. While no students doubted her knowledge of the subject matter, a significant number of them accused Bishop of being an incompetent educator, unable to relate the subject matter to her students in a way that they could understand. In addition, several made references to political comments Bishop made, including one who said "she is a socalist but she only talks about it after class."...