Patriots Unite!
This entry was posted on March 19, 2007 12:11 PM and is filed under Freedom.
For the past week I have really been paying attention to the strong support our troops have been getting throughout America. For our family, it is important for our Armed Forces to stay-the-course in the war on terrorism. I think you'll find that will be the same sentiment with over 90% of families who have had, or who currently have family members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. We don't want our loved ones to have served or given their lives in vain.
Chicago Irish Go Bragh!
I was very happy to witness people at the St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago give the US Army float a standing ovation and resounding cheers. As I watched our local news later on in the weekend, members of the US Army who were on that float were interviewed. Their comments were very touching as they spoke of the chill that came over them as they made their way through the parade route. To them, it seemed like a one hour standing ovation. One female Sgt. commented that the huge greeting made her service in Iraq "appreciated." She felt honored and respected.
That's the way it should be! Hat's off the all you Chicago Irishmen for showing overwhelming support for our great troops!
60 Minutes
Last night I watched a very disturbing interview with a young Marine, who while under battle duress, ordered his troops to wipe out about 20 people he believed to be the enemy. As it turned out, only a hand full of the people that were killed were actually "insurgents;" the others were innocent Iraqi's, ... mostly women and children.
The interview grabbed my heart for two reasons. I personally know Marines, I know that most Marines don't want to harm the innocent. In my humble opinion, "good Marines" out number bad ones by at least 10,000 to 1. As I watched the program, I felt horrible for the Iraqi people, ... we liberate them from one evil and now they perceive that their loved ones have been killed by even a greater evil.
The US Marines will officially court martial the Marine responsible for the crime against the Iraqis later this year. My heart also breaks for the young Marine. Who knows how any of us would have reacted if we had witness the killing of our friend as this Marine had. Who knows what would happen if we had the power to reign retribution against the killers of one of our friends. What would WE do when under the stress of battle with bullets flying by our head and a friend you were just speaking with, lay, cut in half next to you as was the case with this young Marine? Usually the Marines get it right, ... this time innocent Iraqi's were killed along with the insurgents.
CBS did a wonderful job telling this story about this young Marine.
Now, I wish they would average it out and show 10,000 wonderful stories about the other Marines who do great things everyday. I know I'm being ridiculous. OK, ... if not 10,000, how about 100, ... or how about just showing 10 of the thousands of great, heart warming stories from the frontlines. OK, ... how about this, .... show me one. ...... Show me one great story because America needs to see the great things our guys and gals are doing overseas. If you can't find any, write to me and I'll send you to the right places to get all the stories you can handle. I think that's fair, don't you?
Veteran's and Patriots Have Had Enough!
My buddy Jon Brant sent me the below letter from friend Ron Stone. Ron is Vietnam Veteran, who like many Patriotic American's, has had enough of this "60's Retro Protesting." The Vietnam Vet's, especially, have had enough. Many Vietnam Vet's dealt with this kind of anti-American bullshit-sentiment and lack of respect for the American Armed Forces 30-years ago.
Ron writes;
Hi Guys,
I went to DC this past weekend to help guard The Vietnam Memorial Wall. I heard that protester's might try and deface The Vietnam Memorial Wall the same way they defaced the steps of the US Capitol four weeks ago, when they painted them yellow.
This is my "action" report.
You would have all been proud of the Nam Veterans! The protesters first estimated they would have over 100,000, strong, but when they caught wind that veterans were planning on showing up, those numbers dropped to 30,000. The actual number of protesters were only about 15,000, with at least 20,000 veterans and counter-protesters present!
The Washington Post estimates that 15,000 protesters were, with about 10,000 - 12,000 counter-protesters in attendance, but those number were based only on the counter-protesters that lined Constitution Avenue. When the "march" started there were at least 1,000 more of us at "The Wall" and many more guarding the World War II and Korean War Memorials and large groups guarding Arlington National Cemetery.
We read on the protesters website that they were planning to do damage at Arlington when they learned that "The Wall" would be protected.
The National Park Police did a great job at "The Wall" by setting up metal detectors, just like at the airports. About 70% of the counter-protester were biker veterans from groups like "Rolling Thunder," "Run For The Wall" and "The Patriot Guard." I think I know why the protesters didn't try anything "funny" until they got to The Pentagon and only had to face the police.
On a brighter note, I was told "Thank You" and "Welcome Home" by more wives, children and other non-veteran groups of counter-protesters, then I had been told in the entire 37-years I have been back from Vietnam.
It was a great weekend and I am sure glad I went,
Ron
You can write to Ron at RStone6806@AOL.Com
Ron, thank you for your service to your country this past weekend and while you served us all in Vietnam. Welcome home brother!
SIDEBAR; By the way, ... all CBS showed were "protesters," on their "in depth" coverage of the protest. You would have never known that there were any counter-protesters in DC last weekend. You would have never known that the protesters were out numbered by patriotic Americans.
Seems like slip-shot reporting to me. It seems like CBS, once again, is only showing me one side of a story. It makes me wonder about their report about the young Marine.
For more information about this historic event, visit "The Gathering of Eagles" and see photo's from last weekend. Visit, www.gatheringofeagles.org. I want to thank my friend Lisa for enlightening me again about "The Gathering of Eagles."
Chicago Irish Go Bragh!
I was very happy to witness people at the St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago give the US Army float a standing ovation and resounding cheers. As I watched our local news later on in the weekend, members of the US Army who were on that float were interviewed. Their comments were very touching as they spoke of the chill that came over them as they made their way through the parade route. To them, it seemed like a one hour standing ovation. One female Sgt. commented that the huge greeting made her service in Iraq "appreciated." She felt honored and respected.
That's the way it should be! Hat's off the all you Chicago Irishmen for showing overwhelming support for our great troops!
60 Minutes
Last night I watched a very disturbing interview with a young Marine, who while under battle duress, ordered his troops to wipe out about 20 people he believed to be the enemy. As it turned out, only a hand full of the people that were killed were actually "insurgents;" the others were innocent Iraqi's, ... mostly women and children.
The interview grabbed my heart for two reasons. I personally know Marines, I know that most Marines don't want to harm the innocent. In my humble opinion, "good Marines" out number bad ones by at least 10,000 to 1. As I watched the program, I felt horrible for the Iraqi people, ... we liberate them from one evil and now they perceive that their loved ones have been killed by even a greater evil.
The US Marines will officially court martial the Marine responsible for the crime against the Iraqis later this year. My heart also breaks for the young Marine. Who knows how any of us would have reacted if we had witness the killing of our friend as this Marine had. Who knows what would happen if we had the power to reign retribution against the killers of one of our friends. What would WE do when under the stress of battle with bullets flying by our head and a friend you were just speaking with, lay, cut in half next to you as was the case with this young Marine? Usually the Marines get it right, ... this time innocent Iraqi's were killed along with the insurgents.
CBS did a wonderful job telling this story about this young Marine.
Now, I wish they would average it out and show 10,000 wonderful stories about the other Marines who do great things everyday. I know I'm being ridiculous. OK, ... if not 10,000, how about 100, ... or how about just showing 10 of the thousands of great, heart warming stories from the frontlines. OK, ... how about this, .... show me one. ...... Show me one great story because America needs to see the great things our guys and gals are doing overseas. If you can't find any, write to me and I'll send you to the right places to get all the stories you can handle. I think that's fair, don't you?
Veteran's and Patriots Have Had Enough!
My buddy Jon Brant sent me the below letter from friend Ron Stone. Ron is Vietnam Veteran, who like many Patriotic American's, has had enough of this "60's Retro Protesting." The Vietnam Vet's, especially, have had enough. Many Vietnam Vet's dealt with this kind of anti-American bullshit-sentiment and lack of respect for the American Armed Forces 30-years ago.
Ron writes;
Hi Guys,
I went to DC this past weekend to help guard The Vietnam Memorial Wall. I heard that protester's might try and deface The Vietnam Memorial Wall the same way they defaced the steps of the US Capitol four weeks ago, when they painted them yellow.
This is my "action" report.
You would have all been proud of the Nam Veterans! The protesters first estimated they would have over 100,000, strong, but when they caught wind that veterans were planning on showing up, those numbers dropped to 30,000. The actual number of protesters were only about 15,000, with at least 20,000 veterans and counter-protesters present!
The Washington Post estimates that 15,000 protesters were, with about 10,000 - 12,000 counter-protesters in attendance, but those number were based only on the counter-protesters that lined Constitution Avenue. When the "march" started there were at least 1,000 more of us at "The Wall" and many more guarding the World War II and Korean War Memorials and large groups guarding Arlington National Cemetery.
We read on the protesters website that they were planning to do damage at Arlington when they learned that "The Wall" would be protected.
The National Park Police did a great job at "The Wall" by setting up metal detectors, just like at the airports. About 70% of the counter-protester were biker veterans from groups like "Rolling Thunder," "Run For The Wall" and "The Patriot Guard." I think I know why the protesters didn't try anything "funny" until they got to The Pentagon and only had to face the police.
On a brighter note, I was told "Thank You" and "Welcome Home" by more wives, children and other non-veteran groups of counter-protesters, then I had been told in the entire 37-years I have been back from Vietnam.
It was a great weekend and I am sure glad I went,
Ron
You can write to Ron at RStone6806@AOL.Com
Ron, thank you for your service to your country this past weekend and while you served us all in Vietnam. Welcome home brother!
SIDEBAR; By the way, ... all CBS showed were "protesters," on their "in depth" coverage of the protest. You would have never known that there were any counter-protesters in DC last weekend. You would have never known that the protesters were out numbered by patriotic Americans.
Seems like slip-shot reporting to me. It seems like CBS, once again, is only showing me one side of a story. It makes me wonder about their report about the young Marine.
For more information about this historic event, visit "The Gathering of Eagles" and see photo's from last weekend. Visit, www.gatheringofeagles.org. I want to thank my friend Lisa for enlightening me again about "The Gathering of Eagles."
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March 19, 2007 5:45 PM
Lisa wrote:
When I think of CBS, I do not necessarily think of the word "fair", but that's just my opinion.
Nice to hear a report out of D.C. from Ron, who was actually there. You would hardly know there was a counter protest from the media coverage-most of it was all about anti-war protesters. I wanted to hear about the Gathering of Eagles and what happened with the veterans who travelled to D.C to protect the Vietname Memorial Wall. As Ron mentions, there were plans to damage it. There's some information and a photo gallery on their site. www.gatheringofeagles.org
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