I’m a resident of Redlands California which is between Los Angeles & Palm Springs. I love my country and have great respect for those in the armed services who defend our freedom and way of life. I myself have never been in the military but my dad was in the Air Force and served during the Vietnam War. He sometimes tells me about his experiences including the awful way many Vietnam vets were treated when they returned home. Since August of 2006 I have been counter protesting a group of anti-war protesters called Citizens Action For Peace who protest Friday evenings in downtown Redlands. About a couple of months after I began counter protesting the hippies I discovered Free Republic. My favorite threads are the Olney and Walter Reed FReeps which have taught me valuable lessons on how to conduct successful counter protests. Two other people have joined me on Friday nights, a guy named Kelly and a lady from my church named Mary Bell who’s grandson is a soldier serving in Iraq. God bless Free Republic for defending the values that have made this country great, and standing up for our brave fighting men and women in the military.