I’m confused by all the commentary about the protestors.  I thought gathering of eagles was simply there to protect a national monument. 

Isn’t such commentary counter productive, as it might cause a conflict that could result in damage to the monument you are there to protect?

Or is it that the so-called “mission” is a pretense to go and insult people you disagree with.  I didn’t notice ANY discussion about the condition of the monument after the protest, why weren’t the Eagles concerned with that IN THE SLIGHTEST?

And for Pam:

I notice you refer to the protestors as cowards.  Please explain in what way opposition to the war is cowardly.  Specifically please clear up my confusion about how cowardice usually involves fear for one’s personal safety, which doesn’t seem to factor into their opposition.

Paul...how quick you are to comment on these posts! If you listen carefully, I say “cowards wearing masks.” I refer to those wearing scarves over their faces as they come to “protest.” Do they really think they’ll get their sorry butts thrown in jail for exercising their right to free speech? The only reason anyone would get arrested would be if they began acting violently, and I didn’t see any of that today. So relax and enjoy! We sure enjoyed exercising OUR right to free speech!

Our mission was to protect the Wall from desecration.  We did that.

We also wanted to send a message to the hippies that we can protest in FAVOR of our troops, victory in the war and for love of country.

Paul, I can tell by your comments that you would fit very well with the other moonbats that were there today. This is the first of many of the real silet majority speaking up. Offical count was 3000 Eagles to 2000 moonbats.

If you have to ask why they are cowards or traitor’s you obiviously don’t get what America really thinks about the left.

“Official Count?”

That is great if it is true, but who made it official?

I’ve always wondered how people get a count of crowds. Anyone got links for someone too lazy to do the research?

And, while I’m commenting I should get back to the topic of the post. Good work everyone! I live nowhere near D.C., and I wouldn’t be able to talk to the camera on the Sabbath, but if I was within walking distance I would have come.

First, I want to say THANK YOU...from a very proud mother of two military men, (USMC and Army National Guard), aunt of two (Army), daughter of a Korean Vet, grand-daugher of a WW I vet (see the pattern??)

Although I was unable to physically be with you today, my thoughts and prayers were.  Watching the videos brought tears of pride to my eyes.

God Bless you all…

My name is Marnie Mowles. I am the proud wife of a USMC 100% Total &
Permanent disabled combat Viet nam Veteran. He served two tours in
Nam with the 1/9, also known as ,"The Walking Dead.”

I would like to thank the Military men and women that have served
and that are serving for my freedom and all you have done and are
still doing for our country. I am forever grateful and you will
never be forgotten by me. I consider you all my HEROES !!!

I always make it a point to thank a Veteran and tell them how
grateful I am for my freedom . Thanks to you all I am able to type
this letter.

I consider it an honor to tell people I am married to a USMC
Vietnam Veteran. We have a 20 year age difference and he has been
my rock for 12 years.

I would like to thank each and everyone of you that have served and
are still serving in the Military for my freedom and all you’ve
done and are still doing for our country.

I know you all have sacrificed so much for me and our country .
Words will never be able to tell you all how grateful I am.

I know I have taken a lot for granted but I started thinking just
how lucky I am to have my freedom thanks to you all.

Please know that you will never be forgotten by me.

I told my husband if he should die before me I am going to dedicate
my life to our Military men and women.

I want to be able to give each and everyone of you a hug and bring
happiness to your lives.

Since I am not able to hug each and everyone of you , please
accept a cyber hug from me and know you are my HEROES !!!

In all sincerity , I can honestly say , “I love you.”

God Bless each and everyone of you.

Forever Grateful,
Marnie Mowles

I was so glad to see the turn out today. I am a daughter of a retired Serviceman. My dad served 2 years in the army and 20 years in the Air Force. My family has fought and protected this country in every conflict going back to the revolutionary war.

I currently have 2 nephews in the military. One in the Navy and one in the Army. I am sick of the cut and run crowd being protrayed as the majority. They DO NOT speak for me.

I could not be there in person today but I was there in spirit. Thank you all who did go and braved the cold and mud and showed them we are out there.

Aaron,

You and Pam did a fine job of covering this event.  We’re all proud of you guys.

Thank you.  Comments to from people like Joni, Marnie and Kyle make it all worth it.  The event was breathtaking and I want as many people who can experience it as possible.

It was such a blessed day.  Many people complained about the cold (including me!) but the wind was sent by God to blow down the signs of hippies and unfurl the flags of patriots! (ooh, that’s corny but good; gotta move that up into the body of the post!).

Thank you all, especially to those in the service and the family of those who have served.

WOW! Where to begin? Great post. All the work that went into this was well worth it.

I watched the MSN video covering the event: http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=653DE9BE-2771-4606-BA03-9A18E210747D&t=c28&f=0664&p=Source_MSNBC&fg;=&GT1=9145

They said it was still a “healthy” gathering of anti-war protesters, but they had to admit that the attendance “fell far short.”

Then they went on to say how the majority of Americans are against the war.

So this post was a HUGE relief! Great job you two!!

Pam, you’re adorable.

Of course MSN did, Kitty...couldn’t show the pro-Americans; that would go against protocol. And thanks…

So, you’re split.  Some think I’m and moonbats are cowards, others won’t say.

Please explalin the logic though of how someone’s political beliefs determine if they are a coward.  I fail to see the relationship.

I still don’t see how the Eagles went there to protect the monument from desecretion.  Look at all the litter that was left.

looks like you went there to harass protestors, and tried to look noble by wrapping yourselfs in the artifacts of dead soldiers.

The Gathering of Eagles was Great!  I was there with my son.  We (the veterans, the normal people) outnumbered the left-wing freaks.  It’s funny how the moonbats don’t mention the Palestinian flags I saw waving in their ranks, or the Che Guevara placards I saw waving, or the “Radical Queers Against the War” signs.  On OUR side, what you noticed most was the American Flags!  For all of those who missed the so-called “counter-protest,” it was windy and it was cold, but we WON!  Go tell the Spartans.

See, bob, I thought the Eagle’s weren’t a protest, but simply there to watch over monuments.  What is the truth?

I’d like to respond to Paul.

“So, you’re split.  Some think I’m and moonbats are cowards, others won’t say.”

Cowards? I’ll say it.  I can only speak for myself, I refuse to put my words into any else’s mouth.  What else would you call people who hide behind the freedoms that our Military, both past and present, have taken a vow to defend?  Don’t like the name calling?  How would like to be called “murderers, rapists, uneducated”, (the list could go on forever).  My sons, my nephews, my father, my grandfather...NONE OF THESE ARE/WERE any of these names that come so freely from this mouthes of these people.  They took an oath to do a job, one that not many out there are willing to do.  They do (and did) it with pride, and respect.

On Michelle Malkin’s site, she states that the National Park Service estimated the number of Veterans/supporters as 30,000, not 3,000. Big difference there, so can you verify this figure?

The difference in the numbers are because the gathering of eagles were all over the place, the Lincoln memorial, the sidewalks leading to the anti-war idiots ( I say that with all kindness of course), The Vietnam Memorial and the Memorial Bridge and they were stacked in each and every one of those places.  I for one could not have given a good count if questioned.  I will say it was loud and proud and humbling to be in the midst of true American Heroes.  My husbands hoodie said it best “Some peoples heroes wear capes mine wear combat boots”.  My shirt got alot of attention and pictures, hattip to the Savage Nation “liberalism is a mental disorder” after seeing the hippies and others on the dark side I would state emphatically that is true!!  Great day, silent majority no more baby.

How do people opposing the war “hide behing the freedomes that our millitary defend” any less than those for the war?

What of those in the military who oppose the war?  Are they cowards too?

In my opinion, yes coward is a proper name for those that can stand back and condemn, without actually being there themselves.  I would never say anything against anyone who has served, or is serving.  (If that sounds biased, then so be it).  But it angers me to see parents teaching hatred, instead of resepct.  It hurts to the core, to see young people, who have no clue what past military memebers have gone through, and what present ones experience every day, to insure the rights they have continue to be.  I was raised under the flag.  I was taught to respect it, and to love the country it represents.  My parents encouraged me to make my own decisions in life, to follow my heart, and to have my own beliefs.  I believe in God, I believe in my country, and it’s leaders, and I believe in our Military.

Paul, you ask “How do people opposing the war “hide behing the freedomes that our millitary defend” any less than those for the war?

Few in that crowd of cowards ever volunteered to serve in any capacity in uniform.  They have rights only by virtue of birth and the sacrifice of others.  They make totally insane statements and insult our troops.  They defend the enemy and when tasked with explanation they act all offended and demand their rights.

They can not defend thier position So they hide behind statements like “dont try to deny my rights to free speech. Don’t call me unpatriotic”.

“What of those in the military who oppose the war?  Are they cowards too”?

the VERY Few in that crowd (0.001%) do not understand what this war is about. They protest Bush, Not Islamofasicm. So the short answer is Yes. The long answer is, they are either extremely stupid or cowards. Your choice.

Just one more point....go back, and look at some of the pictures very carefully.  I did.  I saw many with their faces hiden behind masks, and behind bandanas.  The vets and military families, stood proudly, nothing hiding them. 
Unless you can give me a plausible reason other than hiding, for these covers...then, coward comes to mind.

Paul, in my opinion you’re a moonbat who probably believes that those of us who support our Soldiers, Airmen/women, Marines & Sailors should be not seen nor heard.  Yes, the GOE was originally intended to protect the monuments from the moonbats. However, we also have freedom of speech (thanks to the likes of me, my husband & all those who have and do serve) and we’re sick and tired of people like you and your ilk being the only ones who can talk.  As others have mentioned, the moonbats hid their faces (probably in shame) those of us out there freezing our butts off did not. However, you could care less I am sure.  BTW there are about 10% who do oppose the WOT in the military.  IMHO these individuals are just unhappy in their jobs.  I sure as hell didn’t want to go to Kosovo and why are we still there Paul, but I went. So, sleep well moonbat Paul---your butt is safe.

Kudos to the brave Eagles and their glorious patriotic display. You make me proud to be an American.

I was forced to run the gamut of unwashed protestors as I made my way to the sacred wall yesterday and I still can’t wash the stink off my jacket.

jheka

OUTSTANDING !

thank you, thank you, thank you…

well done…

I am a Vietnam veteran who served in 66-67. I wish I could have gone to Washington, but I could not. I did watch the rally on C-Span. To my disappointment all they showed were the anti-war demonstrators. The speeches were more anti-American than they were anti-war. They all had their own agenda; A Hispanic speaker was for illegal immigration. A man from Haiti, and many others said, down with American Imperialism and up with Socialism, A Muslim of course wanted us to get out of Iraq.

It was a Democrat, John Kennedy who got us started in Vietnam, and another Democrat, Lyndon Johnson who escalated the war. Our politicians listened to the Hippies then, and when we pulled out and abandoned the Vietnamese almost three million people died in the killing fields of Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. Will the same thing happen if we pull out of Iraq?

I still remember what John F. Kennedy said at his Inaugural Address January 20, 1961

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and success of liberty.”

What happened to the Democratic Party? What happened to America?

Jerry

Uh, Ron, the number of military who oppose the war is probably closer to 10-20% than the figure you gave, and many people who oppose the war don’t do so because they oppose Bush (see Brent Scocroft, his father’s closest political ally).

I just don’t understand why a person who stand back and criticizes the war is any different than someone who stands back and cheers the war on.

And to Terri: you certainly are quick to draw negative opinions about people.  You must not be a Christian.

And what about all the Republicans who opposed Clinton’s military actions?  Were they moonbats too?

Oh, and by the war, to prove you wrong Terri, I support an increase in troops in Iraq, not a withdrawal.

Am I still a cowardly moonbat now?

“...just don’t understand why a person who stand back and criticizes the war is any different than someone who stands back and cheers the war on.”

Let me see if I can help you understand.  Let’s say you have a son.  This son of yours, decides to take ballet instead of following in the family tradition of maybe professional sports.  (ok, my examples are far fetched, but bare with me).  Now you, being the manly man you are (remember, this is just an example) really hates the fact that your son chose ballet over football.  You hate the ballet. You feel that it is useless, and has no purpose.  You make a point of telling your son, that although you love him, you hate what he does, and what he is.  You tell him this repeatedly.  You do everything you can to get the ballet out of your town, since you feel its ueslessness will only hurt the things you feel useful.
Regardless if you believe so or not, this will hurt your son’s success.  Our children need our approval to be successful.  I’m not saying that you have to agree with, but they need your support, and they need to see it, and feel it.
Our Military, is the sons and daughters of this great country.  They need to not only hear that they are supported personally, but that their actions are supported also.  They need to see the Flag waving high and proud.  They need to see Americans united as one, instead of dividing into so many different pieces, it seems as it will never be whole again.  A Military member, who is away from home, thrives on things from home.  Anything they can read in any old newspaper, regardless if it comes from their home town or not.  It all comes down to morale.  If you truly support the Military, then you will support what they are doing.  You will not march and dennounce what they have been ordered to do.  You will not call them murderers, or baby killers. (Save those names for the evil ones that deserve it...aka Susan Smith comes to mind).

Bottom line, when you condemn what the military is doing, you undermind everything they stand for. They feel it as a personal attack on them.  They begin to question, and maybe second guess themselves, and their ability to carry out orders, to protect those who can not protect themselves, to survive.

God Bless our Military, for their sacrifices go way beyond just leaving home.  And bless their families, for they live in a hell all their own.

It is important for the Moral of the troops, out there in harms way, to know that the people they have vowed to give their lives and liberties for are behind them.  How do you think it impacts them when the MSM constantly reports that the “American people are largely against the war”?  How does it feel to know that you may be called on to sacrifice your life for someone who doesn’t give a damn if you do so or not. If you really support the troops you support the mission they are on.  Those people who call for an immediate withdraw or a deadline for the end of US involvement in Iraq do not care about the troops, nor do they know anything of honor, commitment, duty or courage.  They hide behind their “freedom of speech” to condemn the current administration.  They are filled with hate and more.  I know I was there in Arlington circle with 60 other people to confront these traitors.  Yes traitors, giving aid and comfort to the enemy, giving hope to the enemy, is sedition.  It is treason.  And yet they yelled, screamed, cussed, swore, spit, and hurdled profanity after profanity at us for exercising OUR RIGHT to speak our minds.  It seems that the left is only for freedom of speech when it doesn’t contradict theirs.  I did my time in the military, 14 years, unlike a great number of the liberal left.  I will also take exception to the “Litter” comment from Paul.  That trash was the remnants of the A.N.S.W.E.R. propaganda machine.  It was the anti-war protesters who left their filth and garbage behind.  Don’t believe me I GOT PICTURES TO PROVE IT!  I won’t directly assault a person for their point of view.  That is what makes America the envy of the rest of the world.  But I demand respect for those who have served and died for this country.  That also includes the monuments erected in their memory.  There were many people there to protect those monuments against possible threats.  That is all they were there for to begin with, but after the anti-war protesters started pushing their luck many decided that they would no longer remain silent.  I went down with the sole intent to confront these anti-American, socialist worshiping, left wing nut jobs head on.  They were exactly like I thought they would be, not interested in any point of view other than the one they espouse and shouting down any criticism no matter how politely it was presented.

Judging by the angle of the shots, I was standing about ten feet to your right during the Pledge, anthem and opening prayer.

Good show.

Welcome Home Brother.

Paul is a troll, please don’t feed him. He is probably young and thus not fully cooked. Only the childish will vomit napalm without any intention of actual debate, only to put you on the defensive. It’s a ruse. Please, ignore him.

The GOE was magnificent to see in your pictures and videos, you have done the American People the service our Media is supposed to do, but won’t.

I cannot rely on anyone’s numbers with any total certainty. What I can do though is examine the amount of air space around a socialist hippie type and around a patriot pro-American type. I watched the C-SPAN live coverage of the crowd in front of the stage for the ANSWER cowards and noticed quite a lot of air space around the group assembled. I looked at the same around the crowd of leather jackets with American flags. I saw considerably less air space between the patriots than I did the yellow sign druggies. And that is how I know there were far more Patriots there than traitors. It was glorious to see.

I know the whining traitors were shocked. And it is only because they knew—knew—that they’re butts WOULD be kicked that they restrained themselves from ruining the memorials. If they had defaced the memorials, it would have been all over the MSM by now, it would have been reported everywhere. I have yet to see such a report. That and the fact that the Capitol police showed up in force as well, loaded for bear and clearly were given better orders this time around.

Thank you Aaron and Pam for going and standing in for those of us who very much wanted to be there but could not be. God bless you.

(Remember, when you see Paul’s name, scroll past him, don’t even look.)

I should have been there. I lost my first husband in Southeast Asia--Laos MIA.  But thanks to those who went in my stead to say that in a war to gain/preserve freedom, no life is wasted. The naive will always be naive, isn’t it sad? They see the stats on deaths and cry, “Stop!” They have no vision, no sense of what it will say to the radical Islamists if we leave; they will be emboldened...and our grandchildren will have to fight if we don’t finish it NOW...in IRAQ! Susan

Paul: Our country is at war. That’s the difference between a worthless moonbat communist and a patriot. Most of the traitors I saw marching to the pentagon looked like the children of the hippies of the sixties, hippies who haphazardly did drugs while pregnant, because they didn’t know what drugs could do to an unborn child. Now, after Saturday, we all know!

We support our troops, we honor our veterans and we stand behind our country. What do you and your crew stand for? NOTHING!

Muldrake: what crew is that?  I support and increase in troops.

alexa:  troll?  sometimes.  not now.  I have engaged point by point the arguments brought up here in response to mine. 

Is that what you call avoiding debate? 

You and others are the ones calling names (moonbat, communist, unwashed, dirty, troll, etc.).  That is evidence of trollishness.

joni and southernboy:  I doubt the troops care about how we think. 

They are our brothers and sisters, not sons and daughters, and able to think for themselves. 

Frankly, I think they’d be more concerned if the reasons we sent them to risk there lives weren’t fully and continually discussed, debated, and dissected.

Were the soldiers of Germany during WWII better off because debate in that country was verbotten?  Did there political leaders refusal to listen to alternative voices do any good?  Or is that one of the main factors leading to Germany losing that war?

(And please don’t say I’m comparing Bush to Hitler.  I’m not.  I’m showing you what happens when leaders aren’t free to be criticized by citizens.  That is emphatically NOT THE CASE IN TODAY’S UNITED STATES.)

and finally, southernboy, I know the protestors (who I don’t agree with, or respect, for protesting at a war memorial, of all places) left the litter.

My point is that the Eagles mission statement says they will protect the grounds and memorial from desecration.  I think litter is desecration.

If you say you are the noble one who is selfless and going to protect the memorial, then YOU SHOULD DO IT.  Otherwise, don’t claim to be a selfless protector of war memorial sites.  You’re not.

Is that a lot to ask?

Nothing was defaced THIS time, was it? I think the Eagles may have had something to do with it. Nobody said you weren’t, as the flowerchildren loved to say, “Free to be you and me”, but you have not engaged anything. YOu haven’t brought up any ‘points’. You rant like the autorantic moonbat that you are. OMY, I called you a name again. Contact your lawyer.

Why don’t you go back to your nice warm bed in your dorm room and sleep safe knowing someone else is fighting for your right to mouth off.

Susan,

I wear a bracelet every day for a captain Ronald L. Babcock from Arizona who went missing in Laos on 27 February 1971.

I know nothing about this man except he was a hero.  I hope to meet his family some day but until then, I think of him every day.

After reading the post made by alexa kim, I realized I had allowed myself to get way off track, and the initial reason for my loging on this morning, was to say I’m sorry for allowing myself to get off track, and go past more than just saying thanks to the ones who were able to go to DC on the behalf of those who were not.  That was until I read this…

“joni and southernboy:  I doubt the troops care about how we think.
They are our brothers and sisters, not sons and daughters, and able to think for themselves.”

I have refrained from name calling, I have tried to be considerate of your opinions, but, I now have to ask this..."Are you completely brain dead? Has hugging all those trees completely cut off the oxygen that assists in coherent thoughts??” You can not be serious in stating that you “...doubt the troops care about how we think?” Just what planet are you living on?
And yes, they are our sons and daughters, along with being our fathers, our mothers, our brothers, our sisters, our friends, and our fellow Americans.  That should be enough, along with human compassion for you and others like you, to take some of the precious time you spend, degrading what our Military is doing, and use it in a more productive manner. 

Again, I want to express my deepest thanks to all who took the time to go, and support our Military. My heartfelt thanks goes out to all the Vets, for their many sacrifices, and to the families of each, for their sacrifices are just as many.
May God continue to bless you.

Aaron, my husband was LtCdr Creed, USN..., MIA in Laos since 71 as well.

That you and others have worn bracelets for our missing family members continues to give us support and a sense that our loved ones will not be forgotten. We will do the same for those who have given their lives in honor in Iraq.

To any who do not believe the soldiers and their families are not affected when the war they are fighting is opposed at home, let me assure you--they are. It was only months after my first husband was MIA--March 71--that the anti-war activists, led in great part by John Kerry, ratcheted up the call for a pull out of Viet Nam...for some time they’d been calling our warriors criminals and baby killers, among other things. It was like a second blow to me to face his loss...AND face the hateful and hostile things the anti-war activists were saying. But America’s will was spent because of those very protestors; we abandoned South Viet Nam. Despite having lost my husband, I encouraged the two children we had together to believe in the honor of military service...because there are too many Americans who’re naive and will never understand there are times in our history when we must defend our country and even those who do not seem to deserve it, because to keep the deserving safe and free, the undeserving are also protected. My son and daughter have both served; my son returned safely from Iraq last spring, but had he not, my longterm view would not have changed; if people like him aren’t willing to fight this war now, his children--my grandchildren--will have to.  God Bless the deserving and the undeserving.

Wish I could have attended the Gathering of Eagles. Was there a gathering of eagles in Portland? If there wasn’t, there needs one in the future.

Aaron, that’s wonderful. I too still have the bracelet I got back in 74: CPT Dennis Wilkinson, 5-10-72. You’re the only other person I’ve known for sure who still has one too.

I know there are many others but because of the open mistreatment of our Viet Nam vets, I stopped wearing it. Not because I was ashamed of them, that was never the case. But because it would prompt people to speak their vile thoughts out loud, whereas if they didn’t see a “reminder” they wouldn’t start in. And because I became allergic to it, after I had worn away the nickel coat on the skin side. I even tried painting the inside with clear nail polish to protect my skin. Sadly, it didn’t work so well. So I kept it on my dresser instead pretty much ever since. I hope someday to actually visit The Wall.