My name is Joseph Williams, and my son, Marine Lance Cpl. Michael Jason Williams, died in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Michael believed in the mission and he believed in the goodness and decency of America.
I wanted to explain to you why it is that I decided to join Move America Forward's "THESE COLORS DON'T RUN" national patriotic caravan from March 8th - March 17th and why I hope you will do what you can to support this important effort in conjunction with the "Gathering of Eagles" event in Washington, D.C.
My son and I shared a strong admiration for the United States Armed Forces. I am a Vietnam Vet, having served in the United States Navy from February 1961 - June 1966. I saw a lot of good men fight valiantly for their nation and the cause of freedom over communism, who came home to be spit upon, dishonored and disgraced by the anti-war movement here in America.
I cannot sit back and let this kind of behavior happen again to this generation's heroes.
The men and women of the United States military answer the call for freedom, knowing that they risk their own lives and safety. They are separated from their families and endure often grueling, miserable conditions because they believe in service, honor and duty.
Some of them come home in coffins because they believe it is better for them to risk their lives defending this nation than for innocent American civilians here at home to die.
So now that you know how I feel, imagine the reaction I had when I was told that people like Cindy Sheehan and Jane Fonda were planning a giant anti-war rally near the Vietnam Memorial to mark the 4th Anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Was I to sit back and let filth like Jane Fonda do to our men and women today what she did to my brothers and I a generation ago?
Please, help me do something positive and patriotic to counter the disgraceful actions against our troops undertaken by Jane Fonda and Cindy Sheehan. We owe it to our troops to stand up and defend their honor and salute their patriotism and service.
Join the Move America Forward team and me in our national patriotic caravan. If you can only drive with us part of the way or the entire way to Washington, D.C. that's fine, but I'm hoping that many of you will find a way to join us.
We have a complete list of our route, stops and itinerary available for you to figure out how to join up with us online at: www.MoveAmericaForward.org
P.S. When we get to Washington, D.C. we'll be joining the "Gathering of Eagles" patriotic event being organized by veterans groups and pro-troop organizations (including Move America Forward). One of the things we're going to do is to create a giant "Flag City" of American Flags that we collect at rally stops from all over the country. So please bring a flag (or several flags) to one of the stops we have planned along the way, and we'll display it in D.C. Afterwards all the flags will be sent with a note indicating who donated them to our troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
You can also mail in a flag or a contribution to support the effort to:
Move America Forward
770 L Street
Suite #1400
Sacramento, CA 95814
God Bless you and God Bless America!
Joseph Williams
United States Navy, 1961 - 1966
