Saturday, 30 June 2007
 

When good Eagles go bad.

The best way I know of to introduce the subject of this post is to have you go read The Gray Dog's post here and Rurik's response here. (Do that before you read the rest of this post.)

Personally, I became disenchanted with the loss of focus at the GOE blog and forum weeks ago and just quietly faded away, to use The Gray Dog's phrase. Having done that, I was unaware of some of the more recent happenings there until he alerted me to them. The distinct impression I get, from his posts and emails and from other sources I won't go into, is that after 3/17 the original senior management left GOE in what they thought were good hands and didn't stay involved in day-to-day management of the organization to the extent that maybe they should have. Since then there's been a lot of "mission creep," at least in the blog and forum, to the point where I no longer consider it worth the bother to go there and try to dig out the little bit of information still there pertaining to GOE's original purpose. That being the case, I've followed The Gray Dog's lead in removing the prominent GOE button from the sidebars at Bill's Bites and at Old War Dogs. I feel like leaving them there under the circumstances would be misleading.

I understand the left wing crowd is organizing another anti-war protest for September 15. I don't know whether the people currently running GOE on a day to day basis will try to put together a counter protest similar to the one in March or if they'll be too busy with more important things. If the grown-ups manage to regain control of the organization long enough to organize a counter-protest I'll be more than happy to help publicize it.

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 30, 2007 at 05:05 PM in Gathering of Eagles | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Wednesday, 30 May 2007
 

2007.05.30 Patriotism in America Roundup

See previous: 2007.05.27/28 Patriotism in America Roundup

Below the fold:

• Palmetto Silver, "The Silence and the Thunder"

Just go read it:

• Kit Jarell: "In the Company of the Brave"

*** *** *** Fold (but please don't spindle or mutilate) *** *** ***

The Silence and the Thunder
Palmetto Silver

It was blistering hot and muggy. Moisture oozed from every pore in my face and the face of everyone else in that crowd. We stood on the steps facing the Tomb. It holds the bones of men who gave their lives in service to their country and whose names are known only to God. Their identities will never be known to man. We who sat were young, old, of various heritage and many languages. Some came from far away, some from the city just over the bridge. Our differences were there for all to see and yet one compelling component bound us together as one. The silence. It rolled over everyone who approached the steps and took their place in the crowd. It carried to restless children who though hot and tired were compelled by the solemnity to watch in utter quietness. Babies in strollers only let out a brief, muted wail as though even they in their infancy knew that they were in the presence of greatness. The silence deepened as the guards began their honored ritual of change. The click of their heels sounded like gunshot in the backdrop of silence. The crowd moved not, spoke not, it seemed almost breathed not. The silence was one of awe-filled respect. There laid men who had shared their lifeblood and had given their all. We in the crowd seemed to know of our mere mortality in the face of such greatness. They deserved our silence, as words could not define their sacrifice, their courage, their commitment. Talking would have been noise, denigrating and demeaning. The tombs said it all. In utter silence, we watched as the guards completed their march. Respect could ask no less.

It was still beastly as I stood on the bridge and in the distance saw the bright lights of the cavalry. They came preceded by those who have sworn to enforce the law. They came with a rumble, with a roar, with a thundering reminder that we owe those men and women who go off to service our thanks, our commitment and our remembrance of them always. They came in wave upon wave, bikes with leather-clad drivers who carried the flame of those who have fallen and those for whom there has been no accounting. They came with a rumble, a thunder, a roar to remind us that freedom is never free, that duty often means death, and that we as a nation have our liberties today because of those who have sacrificed their own. They rode with honor, with pride, with purpose. They rode with a mission. And in the thunder I heard the respect and honor that the pipes cried to communicate." Let us never forget", they roared. "Let us honor those who have served" they called to a seemingly indifferent nation. "Let us respect our flag, our country, our heritage and our people". Rolling Thunder, rumbling to shake the conscience of a people that seems so easily to forget those who have given their blood and on whose backs this country has been built.

Then I saw them up close and personal. These men had been there. They saw the jungles; they heard the bombs, they served their country. They still have the memories and weep as they walk the Wall. They know the stories of those names forever etched in stone….who they were and how they died. As I watched on that sweltering day, I saw clearly heroes among us. Beneath the gray of the hair and aging of the flesh, I saw the steel, the resolve, the mettle of real men. I saw the strength of character that had caused them to give their personal liberty for their country. I saw a certain confidence, maybe yes, even a swagger in their walk. They know who they are; they know what they are. They know what they did not do and what they did do. They know their own and they are proud. I saw handshakes, hugs, and nods. There was an unspoken communication that those of us on the outside cannot share….only those who are part of that brotherhood can understand. They are the vets and they are proud. In addition, perhaps what in my mind came to be the most amazing paradox was that though their own fellow citizens, their own society mocked, scorned and spit upon many of them, they are still the vanguard of the colors. They honor the flag and they know the meaning of liberty. Wounds are still there but they move beyond to the enduring legacy they know they have left. Theirs is a legacy of character, of strength, of sacrifice. In their gathering, they prove the great fiber of the country. We have become the nation that we are because of men who gave and asked nothing in return. We are a nation with protected freedoms because of the Unknown Soldier, the wounded soldier, the POW, the one still unaccounted for and who perhaps will remain ever in obscurity, and the vet who lives and works and moves incognito among us.

In the silence, let us ponder and with thunder, let us remember.

God bless America.

Contributed by Bill Faith on May 30, 2007 at 12:16 AM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Monday, 28 May 2007
 

2007.05.27/28 Patriotism in America Roundup
(Updated and bumped)

Below the fold, newest items at the top:

• Bush, bikers mark Memorial Day weekend
• Gathering of Eagles/Rolling Thunder rally for the troops
• Court: West Point Can Deny Access To Smelly Anti-War Hippies
• Eagles, doves clash at Academy protest
  • AAR: An Eagle Eye View of West Point
  • Battle of Bullhorns: "Eagles" & Moonbats Clash at West Point!
  • Gathering of Eagles West Point

*** Updated and bumped. Original timestamp 2007.05.27.15:18

Just go read it:

• Where Eagles Dare

*** *** *** Fold (but please don't spindle or mutilate) *** *** ***

Bush, bikers mark Memorial Day weekend 

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush likes a serene White House most Sundays. Every now and then, though, he is ready for rumble.

Leaders of Rolling Thunder, the motorcycling group that raises awareness about missing veterans, roared up the mansion's driveway Sunday. Bush, just back from a weekend at Camp David, stood alone outside the South Portico to meet them.

No Memorial Day weekend in the capital is complete without the ritualistic rumble of Rolling Thunder. For 20 years, the nonprofit group has led a "Ride for Freedom" along the National Mall, a full-throttle demonstration in support of soldiers held captive or missing in action.) [The CNN post contains a link to a great video at this point. You'll have to go there to watch it.]

"How you doing, Artie? Welcome back," Bush said to Artie Muller, the founder and executive director of the group.

Muller led 13 visitors on eight motorcycles. The guests included Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and White House chief of staff Josh Bolten, whose Harley-Davidson was decked out with patriotic bunting.

Bush shook hands and hugged visitors, looked at the gleaming bikes and then invited his visitors into the Oval Office.

Rolling Thunder seeks a full accounting of veterans who are prisoners of war or are missing in action. It also advocates for fair treatment of veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and has been critical of Bush's Veteran Affairs Department on that front.

Afterward, Muller said he presented a series of concerns to Bush. ...

Gathering of Eagles/Rolling Thunder rally for the troops 
Jonn Lilyea

Every Memorial Day weekend on Sunday, Rolling Thunder, an organization of mostly Viet Nam veterans, comes to DC for their motorcycle ride from the Pentagon to the Vietnam Memorial. It’s an hours-long parade of thousands of participants from across the country to insure that America doesn’t forget the men and women who died for this country in that unpopular war.

This year it’s a little different - today they partnered with the newly-formed Gathering of Eagles, which has it’s roots in the internet. When Vietnam veterans felt that the Wall was threatened by anti-protesters back in March of this year, they hastily assembled an internet gathering point and made plans to protect that monument from being defaced. On March 17th, they gathered around the three Vietnam memorials and the Korean War Memorial and lined the protest to the Pentagon. Crowd estimates were about 20,000 pro-troops participants to about 4,000 anti-war protesters.

I reported on that event and brought you pictures and videos, so I felt it my duty to you and the rest of the nation to bring the same to ya’all this time, too. It doesn’t look like the traditional media is going to cover the event - I didn’t see any journalists there for the three-and-a-half hours I roamed the area. No trucks, no shoulder-carried cameras. Nothing on C-SPAN’s schedule. I remember when they used to cover Rolling Thunder’s event, Brian Lamb himself interviewing participants, but none of that anymore.

Traditionally, Rolling Thunder gathers to remember the Vietnam veterans, but this year, the day before their customary ride, they partnered with Gathering of Eagles to show their support for the next generation of warriors. There probably weren’t 20,000 this time, but the were a few thousand there, as you can see from the following pictures. ...

Court: West Point Can Deny Access To Smelly Anti-War Hippies
By Rob

The correct ruling, in my estimation:

West Point — A federal appeals court today upheld a decision giving the U.S. Military Academy authority to ban political protesters on Graduation Day.

Goshen civil rights attorney Michael Sussman and the Democratic Alliance of Orange County had asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to overturn a federal judge’s decision barring them from campus.

Their request would have required West Point Garrison Commander Col. Brian Crawford to open the gates to roughly 1,000 anti-war demonstrators tomorrow.

But in a decision issued today, the appeals court reaffirmed the Academy’s long-stated position that it is a non-public forum exempt from some forms of free-speech.

The left’s reaction will be “B-b-b-but, free speech!,” but this isn’t a free speech issue. ...

Eagles, doves clash at Academy protest
By John Doherty, (H/T: Michelle Malkin)

Highland Falls — After hours of waiting, the first glimpse of slow-moving police cars down the road, lights flashing, let Tim Woods, 56, know it was time to get ready.

"Now remember, honey," he said to his 10-year-old daughter, Rebecca, "yell real loud."

Woods, a retired Army Special Forces soldier, was one of about three dozen protesters gathered on the main strip here yesterday, flags in hand.

As hundreds of anti-war activists gathered down the street to mark Vice President Dick Cheney's commencement address at West Point with a protest march, Woods and others aimed to protest them.

"Daddy," his daughter asked as the crowd of banner-holding anti-war demonstraters drew closer, "what are they going to do?"

"Make asses out of themselves," Woods answered. ...

Don't miss these related posts:

• Gathering of Eagles West Point
• Battle of Bullhorns: "Eagles" & Moonbats Clash at West Point!
• AAR: An Eagle Eye View of West Point

Contributed by Bill Faith on May 28, 2007 at 09:49 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Saturday, 05 May 2007
 

Over There

Kit Jarrell writes:

I am performing this song at GOE II on May 26th, and this is the second in my series of videos for GOE. I will be making the song available for download as well. Please feel free to share this video as much as you like. I hope it encourages people to attend the event, and to become active in their communities. ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYt8Em-omj0

I've embedded Kit's video to make it convenient to watch but do click that link right under it when you're done and check out some of the other videos on the "Related" list; there are several good ones there.

Bonus: Don't miss "Welcome Home" at Viper's Vietnam Veterans Page.

Contributed by Bill Faith on May 5, 2007 at 01:27 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday, 15 April 2007
 

Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Gathering of Eagles

The following article was written by Henry J. Cook III, Senior Vice Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. It was intended for use in their organizational publication. In light of certain parties claiming that they had convinced MOPH to drop their support, Mr. Cook asked that it be posted on the GOE blog as a reaffirmation of MOPH’s support for the Gathering of Eagles. Thank you William "1stCav" Page for bringing it to my attention.

The Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Gathering of Eagles
Henry J. Cook, III

More than one year ago the international A.N.S.W.E.R. coalition began planning two major anti-war rallies in Washington, D.C. The first was held in January of 2007. From their rally point the various anti-war, anti-American groups marched on our nation’s Capitol. Upon arrival at the Capitol they proceeded to spray paint their slogans and anti-American sentiments on the Capitol steps. Apparently the Capitol police felt it was better to allow them to do their mischief and clean it up later than confront them physically to stop their actions. Some of the groups went to the U. S. Navy memorial and desecrated the Lonely Sailor memorial.

Who were these people ? A.N.S.W.E.R. , purely an arm of the communist party of the United States , joined by Code Pink, the National Council of Arab Americans, the Muslim American Society, the 9-11 Truth Movement (They claim 9-11 was a hoax.) a number of Palestinian and Lebanese support groups, pro-Castro and Che Gueverra groups, the Viet Nam Veterans against the war, at least one Anarchist group and a number of hippie-throwbacks, all receiving encouragement by Hanoi Jane Fonda, Ramsey Clark, Sean Penn, Ed Asner with Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) and the newest anti-war poster child, Cindy Sheehan.

After their performance in January, A.N.S.W.E R. let it be know that their next rally and parade was to begin with a rally at the Viet Nam Wall on March 17, 2007 and would end at the Pentagon.  ...

Read the whole thing.

Contributed by Bill Faith on April 15, 2007 at 08:30 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, Moonbat Madness, The American Warrior, The Lunatic Left, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Tuesday, 27 March 2007
 

A Young Man To Watch

72nd TCS reports:

Col. Harry Riley, co-director of Gathering of Eagles.org, alerted his mailing list to a report on the Gathering of March 17 in Washington, DC, written by a truly extraordinary youngster. His name is Justin Till, and he is an 18-year-old high school senior from Texas. I believe his work deserves to be disseminated widely, and intend to quote extensively from it in the sequel. He writes beautifully, displaying a keenness of observation that puts to shame the reports by “professionals” that we read in major newspapers such as The New York Times and the Washington Post. Early promise does not always pan out, but this youth is truly outstanding. Here he is, and please remember: You Read It Here First.

An Unrecognized Majority: ...

[Read the whole thing.]

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 27, 2007 at 05:07 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Poem: A Gathering of Eagles
Contributed by Bill Faith

Marsha Burks Megehee left this as a comment on Awesome Gathering of Eagles video but it deserves better than to languish there unread:

Dear Old War Dogs,
I wanted to share my special poem with you -
"A Gathering of Eagles."

It's my way of saying "WELL DONE!" Thank you all for protecting our national treasures, and speaking up for the millions of us who could not be with you.

God Bless You All!
& God Bless the USA!

Continue reading "Poem: A Gathering of Eagles"

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 27, 2007 at 04:20 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, Marsha Burks Megehee, Poetry, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday, 25 March 2007
 

Awesome Gathering of Eagles video

Boomer emails:

** The Land of the free **

http://www.nautinurse.com/GOE_17-March-2007.html

Sound on, F-11 for full screen!

Read the whole Old War Dogs Gathering of Eagles collection in one place here, and don't forget about the Gathering of Eagles blog here.

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 25, 2007 at 12:28 AM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Friday, 23 March 2007
 

Despite my distrust of the media....
Contributed by antimedia

....there are a few that get it right.

......it turns out that the best reason to hit the pavement on Saturday was over in Washington, D.C. ...

As a frequent protest crasher, I'm sorry I missed this sea change in the tired old script of Iraq demonstrations. It was even more uplifting to read messages left afterward on the Eagles' blog by participants.

"Forty years lost in the wilderness," wrote one. "Forty years in exile. Behind us now. Yesterday we took our country back. It's in the air. I can feel it. ... We have to care enough to save it. I have hope again."

The quote is from my good friend, Bill Faith. ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 23, 2007 at 12:41 AM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, Patriot Guard Riders, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Thursday, 22 March 2007
 

  Reflections on the Gathering of Eagles (Epilogue) 
March 21st, 2007 by CJ

I wanted to first bring something out I'm not sure many people caught. First, listen again to THIS audio of Brian Becker, member of International A.N.S.W.E.R.'s steering committee and a front group for the Communist Workers World Party (WWP). Pay attention to what he says in the middle of the clip.

"Let Bush and the Pentagon and their puppets (I'm a puppet) know that the people of this country are sick and tired of this [expletive deleted] war. LET'S BRING THE WAR HOME!!"

This is something I want everyone to understand. He doesn't say "let's bring the troops home." They don't support the troops. If they did, we wouldn't be seeing this in Portland:

[image]

He said this while he was trying to get everyone to move up to make their numbers look more bloated. They aren't interested in any victory. They want the terrorists here in this country. If he had his way, he'd pay for a state visit for Bin Laden. Those five little words say more than any speech ever could. Yet, even though every news outlet known to man was licking their shoes, this wasn't mentioned anywhere. ...

***

See also: Smash - The Infiltrator

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 22, 2007 at 01:00 AM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, Moonbat Madness, The American Warrior, The Lunatic Left, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Wednesday, 21 March 2007
 

Bruce Kesler interviews Larry Bailey

Interview: What’s Next For Gathering Of Eagles?
Bruce Kesler

I just got off the phone with Larry Bailey, the prime organizer behind the successful turnout of the Gathering Of Eagles in Washington, D.C. last Saturday. Below are some of the questions I asked, to share with you. As you’ll see, Larry Bailey is both modest and determined, as are most veterans. There’s wide diversity among veterans on many issues, but there’s an irreducible core belief among the overwhelming majority against Cut-and-Run. It’s just not in our makeup.

During the 2004 campaign, none of the polling organizations surveyed veterans or Vietnam veterans. Wonder why? They didn’t want to hear the answer. Nonetheless, we made ourselves heard. We, without doubt, won the election. We will again. The MSM largely ignored or treated the GOE as an aside last Saturday. Nonetheless, we will be heard. We’re in every congressional district, we’re motivated, we’re speaking out, and will be involved with 2008, opposed to Cut-and-Run.

We’re slow to mobilize, but potent when we do, as the Vietnam Veterans Revolt of 2004 demonstrated. There’s much brewing among veterans to build on our efforts and connections forged during 2004 and with the Gathering Of Eagles, which will be forthcoming. For now, go to the Gathering Of Eagles website, and register to receive email updates.

Your military background?
27-year SEAL officer; tours in Vietnam, Dominican Republic. Stationed in Panama 2 years, Bolivia 2 years, Scotland 2 years. Commanded Navy SEAL school in Coronado, CA, for 3 years.

During Vietnam, were you aware of the protests?
ABSOLUTELY. Even "Stars and Stripes" highlighted anti-war activities.

How did they personally affect you, others with you, your mission? ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 21, 2007 at 01:46 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Tuesday, 20 March 2007
 

01.01.04 AE

1st year, 1st month, 4th day, Age of the Eagle. The tide has turned. I'm proud to be an American again.
(This post will remain at the top of the site all day. Original timestamp 2007.03.20.00:14)

A Gathering of Eagles
Contributed by Russ Vaughn

The commies came, the commies saw,
The commies skulked away, ...
(Read the whole thing here.)

Click the image to see the entire Old War Dogs Gathering of Eagles series on one page.

Continue reading "01.01.04 AE"

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 20, 2007 at 11:59 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

A Gathering of Eagles
Contributed by Russ Vaughn

The commies came, the commies saw,
The commies skulked away,
A Gathering of Eagles
Just spoiled their Big Red Day.
The ANSWER Coalition,
Led by Head Red Brian Becker,
Declined to find out if these birds,
Might have a bigger pecker. ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 20, 2007 at 09:30 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, Moonbat Madness, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Accidental Protest 
The Gray Dog

“The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft a-gley.”   
“To a Mouse,” by Robert Burns

Yes, the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.  The bumbling Becker Brothers, bodacious bemoaning and bellowing of bellicose bromides of betrayal, beseeching bedlam and bilious behavior by bountiful billions of boneheaded, boorish, bothersome and boastful Black Bloc braggarts was bested by barricades bonded by brazen bands of brothers borne of boldness and backbone, belying the bogus belief that America the beautiful, bountiful bastion of bravery was dead.

EAGLES 1
ANSWER 0

The Communist front organization, International ANSWER, has spent many months, countless dollars and wasted political capital promoting what became a most momentous flop called “March on the Pentagon.”  And for this day, and this day alone, the Gray Dog gloats.  Today, it is ANSWER that proved to be “pathetic.” ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 20, 2007 at 09:22 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Monday, 19 March 2007
 

The Day We Took Our Country Back -- Part 2

This Is The Dawning Of The Age Of The Eagle. Aquarius can kiss my ass.

(This post will remain at the top of the site all day. Original timestamp 2007.03.19.00:27)

Click the image to see the entire Old War Dogs Gathering of Eagles series on one page.

"Let us make it clear, we've all come here
To defend our long-dead brothers;
And understand you ain't layin' a hand
On our Wall you leftie mothers."
(Click here to listen to the .mp3) 

The Age Of The Eagle
By Kit Jarrell of Euphoric Reality

In every life there are moments that define us. They tell us in no uncertain terms who we are, what we believe in our souls, and what we are willing to die for.

For those of us who have worn the uniform of our great nation, these moments have stirred in our hearts before–often misunderstood by those who could never understand what it means to pledge your very life to protect another.

But even more rare is the moment that lets us define ourselves, that lets us show the world who we are, what we believe in our souls…and what we are still willing to die for.

March 17, 2007 will be remembered as one of those moments. ...

Do read the whole thing, won't you?

Continue reading "The Day We Took Our Country Back -- Part 2"

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 19, 2007 at 11:59 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday, 18 March 2007
 

The Day We Took Our Country Back

This post will remain at the top of the site for the remainder of the day. Please scroll down for possible newer content. Actual timestamp 2007.03.18.01:49. Please consider this post an extension of my Eagles Up! post. Click the image to see the entire Old War Dogs Gathering of Eagles series.

"Let us make it clear, we've all come here
To defend our long-dead brothers;
And understand you ain't layin' a hand
On our Wall you leftie mothers."
(Click here to listen to the .mp3) 

Forty years lost in the wilderness. Forty years in exile. Behind us now. Yesterday we took our country back. It's in the air. I can feel it. Can you?

Continue reading "The Day We Took Our Country Back"

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 18, 2007 at 11:59 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Saturday, 17 March 2007
 

EAGLES UP!

This post will remain at the top of the site for the remainder of the day. Please scroll down for possible newer content. Actual timestamp 2007.03.17.00:02.

"Let us make it clear, we've all come here
To defend our long-dead brothers;
And understand you ain't layin' a hand
On our Wall you leftie mothers."
(Listen to the mp3 here.) 

I may not do a lot of posting on this site today. I'll be doing my best to keep up with the Gathering Of Eagles on Old War Dogs and won't be taking time to try to keep two parallel posts up to date. I know of at least three people who'll be at The Wall with my phone number programmed into their cell phones and they know I'll be anxious to know how things are going, so here's hoping.

EAGLES UP!

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 17, 2007 at 11:59 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, Moonbat Madness, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Friday, 16 March 2007
 

Time to raise some Hell!

I'm swiping a whole post off Michelle's site for a good cause. Maybe no one will get too upset.

Re: Gathering of Eagles
By Smash   

An alert reader has informed me that C-SPAN plans to cover tomorrow's defeatist ANSWER rally, but not the pro-victory Gathering of Eagles event.

How does C-SPAN determine its schedule? The C-SPAN networks are committed to televising the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate when they are in session. In addition, C-SPAN covers congressional hearings, White House press briefings, speeches, and other important public affairs events.

If you disagree with this decision, let them know.

See also: Doubleplusungood!

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 16, 2007 at 02:00 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, The American Warrior, The Lunatic Left, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Will you be there?

Saw this at Wild Thing's place and decided it was too pretty not to pass on.

Be there, people. Be there! EAGLES UP!

[Original timestamp 2007.03.16.02:42]

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 16, 2007 at 02:42 AM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

"You Ain't Gonna Touch This Wall" -- The MP3

You read it here, listen to it here, or to the slightly tamer "radio version" here. Buy a copy at The Gathering of Eagles Store.

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 16, 2007 at 01:35 AM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, Music, Russ Vaughn, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Wednesday, 14 March 2007
 

Gathering Storm

March At The Wall
Vietnam Vets & The New Protestors
By Thomas P. Evans. (Helmet tip: Smash)

March 13, 2007 -- MENTION Jane Fonda to any 10 Vietnam veterans, and at least seven of them will have some sort of conniption right on the spot. Spread the rumor that Hanoi Jane will be leading the anti-war protest march from the Vietnam Memorial Wall to the Pentagon on Saturday, and a battalion of 60-year-old Vietnam veterans is ready to do battle again.

Rumors are flying over the Internet.

The Vietnam Wall is sacred ground, how dare they stage their march in front of it? Didn't anti-war protestors recently spray-paint graffiti on the Capitol steps? We'll form a human wall in front of the Wall to protect it.

Cops should body-search every protestor, looking for spray-paint cans and chisels. Have the bail bondsmen ready.

We might be white-heads and chrome domes with bellies bigger than B-52 thousand pound bombs, but we know how to deal with people who protest policies set forth by our duly elected government officials.

And who's going to guard the Korean War and World War II Memorials? Our brothers from those wars are too old to do it. We have to organize like this is a military operation.

And on and on, the e-mails go.

St. Patrick's Day marks the fourth anniversary of the start of the Iraq War, and the 40th anniversary of the massive Vietnam era anti-war march on the Pentagon. Where were we on March 17, 1967?  ...

We tend to remember only dates that were significant to us - the battles, the first impressions, the funny moments. All the other dates blend together. So it's hard to say exactly where we were or what my platoon was doing on March 17, 1967. Perhaps we were out on patrol in a rice paddy or a jungle - "beating the bush," as we called it. Perhaps we were on one of the firebases near the DMZ, a respite from the constant patrols - cleaning gear, getting a hot meal or a haircut or writing a letter home.

Not many Vietnam veterans were around for that march on the Pentagon 40 years ago. We were in a different world, a world few anti-war protesters could even imagine. Maybe because we missed all that four decades ago, we want to be there this time. ...

EAGLES UP!

Click here to see the entire Old War Dogs Gathering Of Eagles series in one place.

***

Re: Gathering Storm
By Greyhawk  

Smash, that quote from the Vietnam vets preparing to make a stand reminds me of Philip Caputo's account of an Iwo Jima veteran's "visit" to Northwestern University in the wake of the Kent State shootings:

The scene could have been lifted from a Delacroix painting of the French revolution. A young man stood atop a barricade of furniture and cars and saw-horses, his long hair tousled by the Lake Michigan wind, one hand grasping a pole flying a red flag and an upside-down American flag (a distress signal) as he exhorted some twenty-five hundred students massed behind him to "Strike! Strike!"

Suddenly, he was interrupted by a burly, black-haired, middle-age man dressed in a workingman's khaki trousers and a flannel shirt. Mounting the barricade, he tried to wrest the flag pole from the student. "That's my flag!" he yelled. "I fought for it. You have no right to it." ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 14, 2007 at 11:32 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, Hanoi Jane, Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est, Moonbat Madness, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Where my heart will spend Saturday

Sorta slick what you can find on this new internet thingy these days. Sometimes I just can't resist playing with it a little. This is where I'll be Saturday, if only in spirit:

Looking from a little higher up:

I'd love to be there if I thought there was any way this tired old body could handle it. Will you be there for me?

EAGLES UP!

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 14, 2007 at 04:51 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Tuesday, 13 March 2007
 

GATHERING OF EAGLES RALLY - PERMIT UPDATE

GATHERING OF EAGLES RALLY - PERMIT UPDATE
(Hat tip: Michelle)

The National Park Service has issued a permit for the Gathering of Eagles demonstration and rally on March 17 in Washington, D.C. as illustrated on the Eagle web site “Maps” link under “Sections”.

BOTTOM LINE: AS UNACCEPTABLE AS THE PERMIT GRANTED IS, WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROTECT THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL WALL

We view the permit decision unacceptable and will be taking immediate steps to appeal what we believe is an unworkable decision. If the National Park Service is unfavorable to our appeal, our legal arm will pursue immediate court action to acquire an equitable, realistic solution.

The good news is the Park Service is granting the Eagles large amounts of territory adjacent to the Vietnam Memorial as well as along the march route of the antiwar protesters. We are being given the use of the western side of Constitution Gardens, which is contiguous to the Vietnam Memorial, thus giving us controlling ground. That permit is for an estimated 10,000 people. If things stand as they are, we will use that as a staging area for our people to cycle along the pathways, visiting statues and the Vietnam Memorial which comprise the Memorial area. (The maps are included below for convenience and are also available under “Sections” on the Eagle web site - click on the “Maps” tab and look at maps 1 and 2 for illustrations of areas permitted for each group)

Bad news is the Park Service decided to grant the other half of Constitution Gardens to the so-called antiwar group ANSWER, with a no man’s land in between. This is unacceptable and will be challenged in our appeal. ...

Read the entire Old War Dogs Gathering Of Eagles series here.

On a closely related note:

Meet Ben
By Smash

Hi, I'm Ben, a 25-year-old white guy from rural Virginia. I used to be a directory assistance operator, but now I work at the Wal Mart in Waynesboro. I still live with my parents.

Sometimes, I like to go it the big city and play in the streets. My favorite game is to dress up in black, and run around town with my friends. We block traffic, yell at shoppers, and call the cops "pigs." They don't seem to like it very much, but they're powerless to stop us, because we're protected by the First Amendment! [image]

Oh, did I mention that I'm a Black Bloc Anarchist? [image]

Hey, let's go charge up the Capitol steps! The pigs can't stop us! It's our Capitol, too! [image]

Aw, shucks. Looks like we can't go any further. Hey, does anyone have spray paint?

"All Cops are Pigs!" That's brilliant! But don't worry, it'll wash right off... Let’s get out of here! [image]

Hey, now what should we do? I know, ...

BE THERE PEOPLE!

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 13, 2007 at 02:09 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, Moonbat Madness, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday, 11 March 2007
 

Name Calling, Freedom of Speech...
Contributed by J D Pendry

We’ve heard our military described as Nazis, gulag proprietors, Pol Pot killers, torturers, cold-blooded murders, terrorists and uneducated reluctant warriors who would choose to be elsewhere given a choice. All of it coming from the mouths of Congress. The same Congress that now pretends to care that those Soldiers in outpatient status at Walter Reed Army Medical Center are living in a dilapidated barracks. How does a mind move from calling Soldiers Nazis and cold-blooded murderers to caring about how the Nazis and cold-blooded murderers are treated?

Read the rest.

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 11, 2007 at 04:39 PM in Caring about our troops, Dem Dumbness, Gathering of Eagles, Moonbat Madness, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Saturday, 10 March 2007
 

American Vietnam Vets Ending 40 Years in the Wilderness

R J Del Vecchio emails:

Great summary on the war and the upcoming mass reunion of Vietvets at The Wall next week.  I'm getting more and more up for this.

Del

http://www.ronaldwinterbooks.com/blog/2007/02/american-vietnam-vets-ending-40-years.htm

American Vietnam Vets Ending 40 Years in the Wilderness
Ron Winter

It has been 40 years, on average, since most Americans served in Vietnam, and for most American Vietnam veterans the last 40 years have constituted our own version of wandering in the wilderness.

Starting with the fighting in Korea, the so-called "Forgotten War," escalating to a fever pitch during Vietnam, and continuing right up through those currently fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, America's veterans have been relegated by many in our country to something far less than second-class citizen status.

Vietnam vets especially have been dealing with a country that never knew or understood the magnitude of our victories there. Our politicians cut our legs out from under us and our allies from South Vietnam, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand repeatedly, until ultimately the communists were able to take advantage of the political and military vacuum created by our Congress and overthrow the democratic south in 1975.

American and allied troops had left that country years before, after twice driving the communists to the edge of surrender, and twice seeing them bailed out by American politicians.

As a result, the communists gleefully signed a weak and unenforceable "Peace" agreement in 1973 that was negotiated by Henry Kissinger and approved by the US Congress. That travesty and the slaughter of some 4 million Southeast Asians by the communists in the years that followed have been falsely labeled a military defeat ever since by the media and the very politicians who caused it.

Those same politicians and the media also falsely claim the American military was not up to the level of previous generations, even though we were the best educated, best led and most effective ever and never lost a single major engagement.

As a result, many Vietnam vets labored for years in an atmosphere of distrust, misunderstanding and outright hostility from the very country we fought to preserve.

But that could all change on March 17, at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. ...

We have wandered in the wilderness for far too long. It is time to come home. And home, the land of milk and honey, will be represented on March 17 by a tiny piece of land in our nation's Capitol where a black granite wall and two statues bear witness to the honor and sacrifice of more than 58,000 of our brothers and sisters.

We should stand shoulder to shoulder around those memorials to preserve the honor and dignity of our brothers and sisters, just as they stood shoulder to shoulder with us, 40 years ago.

[Original timestamp 2007.03.10.13.36]

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 10, 2007 at 01:36 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, Moonbat Madness, The American Warrior, The Lunatic Left, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Will you be there?

Bloggers And Webmasters

To all of the bloggers and websites that are listed in our [GOE's] sidebar as Participating Websites, we need your help and support now. Please post the following information on your blogs and websites. It is imperative that we get this word out as quickly as possible.

There are two petitions now up online. One for people to sign only if they WILL be at the Gathering of Eagles on March 17th:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/GOE31707/petition.html

The second petition is for those who will be with us in spirit:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/GOE317/petition.html

This will be very helpful in giving us some idea of how many Eagles will be in attendance on the 17th and how many will be supporting us from home.

If you plan to be there, sign in. Those who just can’t attend but stand with us in spirit are asked to sign the second petition. ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 10, 2007 at 02:01 AM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink |