SwiftVets.com

[dusty]

So far FoxNews is giving some air time to the events in D.C. today. The Eagles are looking good.
God Bless them everyone who made the trip.

Haven't seen a mention on CNN or MSNBC. Why am I not surprised.

Dusty
_________________
Left and Wrong are the opposite of Right!

[Stevie]

It's on Fox now... says evenly matched in number. that we just started to 'gather' a few wks ago and still had about the same #

saying numbers much lower than expected. lower than 10,000. saying bad weather probably stopped lots of people from showing up.


yeah for you all! yeah for us!
_________________
Stevie
Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage
morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should
be arrested, exiled or hanged.

[USMCWayne]

While I was unable to attend, I can certainly say I'm there in spirit.

I haven't heard from my good friend Al (1991932) in a few days, and believe he may have attended at least some of the counter demonstration...between quaffing down a few Guiness' at the Dubliner

The report that the numbers were basically equal is a major accomplishment for the GOE. I believe, despite the relatively short time frame, that there was a groundswell from folks who are sick and tired of persons who bash our country and troops.

I'm also sure weather played a part in the numbers. Those slackers on the "other" side don't like to get their hair wet, while the counter demonstrators don't have a lot of hair to get wet.

[Me#1You#10]

In the 60's and 70's, mainstream America was effectively voiceless. The bully pulpit of available mass media served to both promote and amplify, by an order of magnitude, the communist/socialist/progressive agenda.

As did the SVPT, GoE has demonstrated anew that the new media has totally overcome the ability of the MSM to stifle a no-longer-silent majority. The level of EMPOWERMENT that this new medium provides is breathtaking it its scope.

Congratulations to GoE and Move America Forward on this stellar achievement in grassroots activism. A.N.S.W.E.R. et al no longer own the streets.

[kate]

Freepers hav a live thread going covering the event. Lots of pics posted, and some AARs from those that had attended the GOE. From their reports, the GOE outnumbered the antis quite a bit.

A Gathering of Eagles - These Colors Don't Run, Pro Troop Rally Live Thread with a great opening pic

can scroll around for pics ( thread nearing 900 posts as I write) they have some really great ones - I'll link a few posts here that have multiple pics, most are too large for direct links.




gotta luv some of the signs the Vets had
multiple pics at post 663
more great pics here at post 860 including some Iraq Vets
and more pics at post 906
more at post 947
_________________
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one of..... We The People

[USMCWayne]

Why do protestors insist on wearing bandanas over their faces?

Aren't they proud of what they're doing? Do they believe, rightfully so, that if their parents saw (or knew) what they were doing they'd be ashamed of their son or daughter?

I've yet to see a picture of any counter-protestors hiding their identities.

[namvet70]

Here's a video clip I found in TownHall.com showing Eagles Gathering....

http://www.townhall.com/blog#3481ea7e-a21f-45e8-93b1-d12bfe72ee4f

MikeR

God Bless Them...
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I was in Gulf of Tonkin while Kerry was "negotiating" with the Comms

[kate]

Some of the live reports/ AARs from that FReeper thread

[redneckvet]

I Left NC 5:30 Friday morning and met up with some more eagles that were camping at a KOA outside of Fredricksburg, VA. Got into DC around 2:30pm and went by the "Wall" before checking in at the Iwo Jima.

Due to an emergency, I had to return to NC. Got caught in "gridlock" traffic on I-95 south and spent the next three hours trying to get out of DC. Got home 11:30 Friday night.

Sorry I missed meeting everyone.

Question: Is traffic in DC always this bad?
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"Full Tour Grunt"

[Fort Campbell]

Another "eyewitness" report: We left Friday afternoon at 4:30pm from Middle Tennessee and got there about 6:30am their time in the Mall area. We encountered snow along the way and it was frigid all day in DC! Veterans were everywhere; young vets, old vets ... you just sort of walked aroung looking at the patches of other vets and when you saw something in common, you sought them out and started talking to them, some hugging like long lost brothers, some weeping from memories .... and plenty of red, white, and blue, American flags everywhere! The Eagles had a rallying point next to the VietNam Memorial. My hat is off to the fine folks of the DC police and the park service for keeping order. Fences were set up around the Memorial with police in riot gear standing every 20 yards or so. There was only one way into the Memorial and that was through a check point manned by police who would not allow any bags, packs, flags (with staffs), knives of any sort (including pocket knives). You were then frisked with a detector wand before being allowed to proceed to view the Memorial. Eagles were everywhere around the Memorial and if you weren't wearing "colors" such as unit patches, hats, jackets etc, you were questioned about your patriotism and really given a rough time (not physically). Needless to say, not many "lefties" ventured in close proximity of the Memorial and what few did were under the eyes of many, many people. The ANSWER bunch (lefties) were originally set to rally right next to the eagles with a "DMZ" double fence between us and furthest away from the Memorial. At the last minute they changed their rally point to an area next to the Lincoln Memorial and across the street. The Lincoln Memorial was also in the hands of Eagles and very few lefties ventured into that area. Those that did were greeted with ridicule (it didn't take much just by looking at some of them was ridiculous enough). As the time for the "Lefty March" grew closer, battle lines had been drawn. Police were between the 2 groups with a single road seperating them (I believe it was Constitution Avenue). As I was walking from around the Lincolm Mmeorial closer to the road, there was a choke point where some of the VietNam veterans had setup. If you wore military garb, you passed through. As I was starting to pass through, a couple of big, burley "Rolling Thunder" vets blocked my path and asked if "they" were with me. I looked behind me and a couple of young girls were trying to sneak through with a shortcut to their group. I said no they weren't with me and they replied I could pass but stood in the way of the young ladies and made them walk all the way around (quite a distance) to get to their side. When I say the vets were big ... I'm 6' and about 190 pounds but I was dwarfed compared to them.

The March started and there was alot of hollering back and forth as the people passed. Knowing that they had a line of police who meant business between us and them emboldened them to be much braver than they normally might have been but both sides did do alot of "one finger" waving at each other. I saw one man pushed by a police officer as he was trying to get into the line of the March. He had tears running down his face as it distressed him to the see our nation's flag being carried by the marchers upside down on a staff. You saw maybe a couple of American flags in the march being displayed correctly but not many. The marchers chose to use yellow signs instead. The Eagles were covered in flags. Many of the marchers had bullhorns to amplify their message and were greeted with a chorus of .... um, something to do with a "bull using the bathroom" every time by the Eagles. In truthfullness, both side were very well represented numbers wise. Looking at the Eagles you saw many veterans, those that served and saw battle in a far away land that remembered many Americans turning their back on them as they returned home from duty. On the other side, one mostly saw very young "high-school" age looking kids who are emboldened by "flower children" of the 60's and 70's to protest something they really know little about or the ramifications of what the consequences would be of an early troop withdrawl. I want the troops home as much as anybody, safely and soundly, but to leave a job unfinished and to leave a struggling nation in the grasp of other ruthless countries whose aim is to strengthen the terrorist organization that sponsers them is suicide, not only for the Iraqi people but for our children and grandchildren in the future. My views and how I saw it all. A very memorable trip and one that I wouldn't have missed for the world.

On another note, I met one of the speakers at the Eagles rally, Wendy Argel, whose son Capt Derek Argel was KIA in Iraq. He was with the US Air Force Combat Controllers. Wendy and I hugged and shed a few tears together for our lost family members. As she was leaving, she gave me a "Gold Star" to give to my sister-in-law who still grieves for her grandson. Thank-you Wendy, you are a special lady and it was an honor to meet you.

[kate]

Thank you Fort Campbell for being there! and sharing this with us that were there with you in spirit.

BZ to all !! A new chapter in the history of patriots -- silent no more


this in from the GOE website

[gmez2001]

Fort Campell; Read on Yahoo that the protesters 'WANDERED' into our area but this was not the case from my perspective.I was in the area for a couple of hours and saw three separate groups of protesters, with camera and signs/guitars in hand, enter the hootch area(medals/patches)in a concerted effort to create a scene.

Most of us didn't attend the Pentagon march but from the VN wall and Lincoln Memorial hill it looked to me as though we had them out numbered at least 2 to one. Late in the day we visited the WWII memorial where again we confronted protesters with bull horns--lots of sick people in the world.

Another thing that was apparent from my vantage point, was the amount of children and teenagers in the protester crowd--this would have the effect raising their counts wouldn't it. MOREOVER,did the news media count as veteran supporters individuals gathered around the three soldiers monument and those in line to the Wall?

I'll have to agree,Iv'e never seen so many 200 lb 6 foot plus hostile veterans all in one place either--I was dwarfed. Not a good idea for one of these Che Guivera shirted protesters to be tangling up with our group.




Positive Note:
Friday night some of us(Swift Boat Vets)spent 3 hours in front of Walter Reed Hospital with other vets stationed on ever corner eventually being let in to the rehab center where we met with the USA and spoke with wounded veterans.
I can't tell you how impressed I was with the dedication and fortitude of these people outside of Walter Reed. Flags waving,horns honking and veterans/supporters covered in blankets supporting the Troops--cold,snow,sleet,rain,MORE cold and still MORE COLD they stayed they're watch.

Congrats Mary and the Walter Reed street corner crew!!
_________________
Tin Can Gunline Vietnam
2nd generation Navy

[Fort Campbell]

let me make a correction. I was not there in person but have been working via this computer to get the word out to various groups before the event anfd to post Videos and pics afterwards.

A lot of Videos at Life Like Pundits Videos........................

Lifelikepundits.com

note: URL converted to hyperlink/me#1

A protestor gets lost amongst The Vets in Washington. Look at what a class act our Vets were.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fdtYfbXHGA&NR

[Fort Campbell]

Some good pics.........................


http://thisainthell.us/blog/2007/03/17/gathering-of-eagles-2/

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1802405/posts?page=860#860

[Navy wife]

Here are some pictures from this past weekend! It was quite a moving experience to be among such throngs of patriots. There were thousands there, not hundreds as the New York Times would have you believe.

On Friday night, it was a horrible night to be out in the blowing snow and stinging, icy wind, but we were all there at Walter Reed Hospital. The biggest highlight, for me anyway, was when the Swifties showed up!! I couldn't believe they stayed out in that weather with us until the buses came through the gate. The driver turned on the lights and we were all cheering for the soldiers and their families and they were waving back at us. It made it worthwhile although I thought for sure some people had frostbite! I had no feeling in my toes at all and I was bundled up to the eyeballs. Several Swifties, Terry Boone and Ken Briggs, and Swiftie supporter, George Mezori, came back to the Malogne House with us to greet the soldiers. You all would have been delighted to see the soldier's faces light up when they were introduced to the Swifties and received one of the Swiftboat pins. I was so proud of the Swifties!!

Here are some pictures from Walter Reed that Friday night.

Left to right: Mike Turley, Ken Briggs, Rich O'Mara, and Terry Boone. The two kneeling men were from Massachusetts, names not known. It was absolutely miserable out there. When I asked Terry who took this picture, the reply I received was "Do not remember who took it, I was too cold and shivering to give a damn!"


This is me with my friends, Joan, and Major Pain from the awesome blog, One Marine's View.

Then, here we are on Saturday morning!! I couldn't believe how cold it was! Even with long johns, fleece pants, and another set of fleece pants and three layers under my jacket, it was freezing! Here I am with George Mezori and one of my friends, Leta, who had flown in from Memphis.

Now, here are the Swifties as they gathered by the Three Soldiers statue and unfurled the Swiftboat banner.

Left to right: Dave Wallace, Mike "Boats" Turley, Terry Boone



Here's Terry Boone, Joe LaVoie, and Ken Briggs


I asked Terry Boone to show the back of his jacket so we could see the Swiftboat logo!! Terry, Joe LaVoie, Boats Turley, and Dave Wallace are getting ready to unfurl the banner.




Holding the Swiftboat Squadron One banner are Ken Briggs, Terry Boone, Joe LaVoie, Mike "Boats" Turley, and Dave Wallace


Someone here mentioned the Marine who had tears running down his face because the police wouldn't do anything about the idiots who were flying an upside down flag. Well, here he is--this all happened right in front of me. I was afraid he was going to get arrested, but the police were very kind to him and managed to get him to back away from the lunatic fringe.


And if you all have checked out Michelle Malkin's website today, you may have seen this picture of us with some of our buddies! Gunnutt, from the excellent blog, Semper Gratus, made up these spit shields in protest after Josh Sparling, the wounded soldier in his wheelchair got spat upon by the anti-war people at their January march. Can't tell you how many people came up to take a picture of Gunnutt's shields!