Tuesday, September 18, 2007
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Moral Authority: A Day With the Vets for Freedom
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Posted by:
Mary Katharine Ham at
7:30 PM
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In an event planned this summer to coincide with the Petraeus Report, Vets for Freedom brought about 250 pro-war vets to the Hill to meet with representatives and senators and talk about the importance of finishing the mission. Here's a group with Sen. Saxby Chambliss, one of whom had three Purple Hearts pinned to his chest and several of whom were Vietnam vets who don't want to make what they call the "same mistake" in Iraq by leaving precipitously. Pete Hegseth, Vets for Freedom director, called the turnout "more than expected," and the crowd absolutely overwhelmed the counter-protest from mouthy anti-war folks nearby.
A day in the sun. Members of Families United (red shirts) and Vets for Freedom (in khaki) wait for the press conference/rally to begin. Families United welcomes military families, Gold and Blue Star families, and all families of veterans looking to support victory in Iraq and the war on terror.
Families United estimated that they had more than 200 folks on hand. You probably won't see the crowd on the evening news, but here they are. Every one of them has sacrificed something. For some it's years in service, for others it's a limb, for others still it's a son, daughter, or husband, and they want to stick it out for victory, to bring the troops home with honor, they said.
Sadly, as one vet put it, "I'm glad Code Pink came out to protest us because it means we'll get more coverage." Well put, true, and a serious indictment of the media. I had hoped Code Pink would at least keep it quiet in the face of this wall of moral authority and they troops they <3 so very much. Nope. When Hegseth talked about those who gave "the final sacrifice on the altar of freedom," the yahoos yelled, "Well, don't sacrifice!" and "How can you ask someone to be the last one to die for a lie?" Keepin' it classy.
McCain got the most enthusiastic reception of anyone except perhaps Joe Lieberman, who really brought the house down. Still, folks were jumping out of their chairs to see McCain and grab pictures with him.
I don't want to misrepresent this man, so I'll be clear that I don't know if he was emotional or just pollen-stricken, but I loved the American flag and the autographed hat. I believe he got an autograph from either Lieberman or McCain before they left.
This guy was arrested while trying to storm the stage, yelling "traitor" at one point, which I thought was a particularly inappropriate battle cry at this particular demonstration. A Blue Star Mom stood her ground in his way, and nothing got too ugly before the police stepped in and escorted him away, though it did get physical with him and the Blue Star Mom, according to witnesses. Another Gold Star mom told me of her experience in 2005, just months after losing her son, when an anti-war protester yelled at her, "How can you live with yourself? You let your son go to war and die in vain!" P.R. masters these guys are.
A veteran speaks to a protester who was actually willing to listen calmly.
This Vietnam Vet grabbed me to chase down Lieberman for this picture. Lieberman got the most raucous welcome and cheers during his speech, which was a doozy. "Just because you're for someone else's freedom of speech doesn't mean you take a vow of silence when they say something stupid or despicable," Lieberman said, in reference to the MoveOn ad. MoveOn, of course, came in for the biggest boos of the day.
The girl on the left is, like, so pissed her mom won't get her contacts. The Code Pinkers, who did not seem to have a permit to protest in their spot, had to be told repeatedly by police to be quiet or they'd be arrested, since they weren't allowed to interfere with the event. Still, shouts rang out: "Bring your buddies home! What's wrong with you?"
A Families United member enjoys the show and the sunshine.
The Stephensons: Semper Fi! A Marine, a Marine wife, and the 7-- count 'em, 7!-- cutest kids you've ever seen.
The crowd.
It was a pleasure to spend time with these folks today, and I'll have video later this week. I talked to one Gold Star Wife who was willing to lay the smack down on Code Pink if need be. I talked to Gold Star Parents who assured me that their son, a 20-year-old Marine was not duped into his military service, as the anti-war Left likes to suggest of our servicemen and women. He wanted to "become a Marine," they said, and before he died, he called from Iraq to tell them he was "making a difference."
I met a National Guardsman with a wife and 6 kids who was recalled into service to fight in Iraq and deployed for 22 months. When I asked him why he still supports the mission, he told me, "I'm a patriot, and I understand the need when our security calls for soldiers."
It was a great day, and these guys spread a message that doesn't often get heard on the Hill.
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Thanks, dear....nice job. |
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I wonder what the Vietnam veteran with his arm around Lieberman would think if he knew that "good old Joe" used college deferments to avoid being drafted? He's like Cheney. He had "other priorities". |
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I wouldn't have known and definately wouldn't have seen the pics if you weren't there.
The Lieberman slander continues I see. In the mid-'60s Lieberman traveled south to help promote civil rights for blacks.
As for deferments??? Yes, an education and family deferment. In 1970(deep into the Vietnam War) Lieberman was elected to the Connecticut state Senate. Obviously Ryan above has done little to no research on the life of Joe Lieberman. No surprises here.
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vets are the best because they know what happens in war
Hypocrite Hillary(DC Experience Matters?JFK & Bill HAD LIL
This Video Is Showing That Hillary is a hypocrite for saying obama has no experience
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBy3AKn_2Fk |
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SGRivette,
He used two deferments.
I know quite a bit about Lieberman and yes, I knew that he was elected to the state house. It still doesn't change the fact he used deferments to avoid the draft. Do you suppose one reason he used those deferments to avoid military service was so he could run for office?
I've read elsewhere that he was a Vietnam war protestor as well.
As for going South to promote "civil rights" the 1964 "civil rights" act he supported was some of the worst legislation in US history. A lot of bad things have come out of it like affirmative action.
Yep, the stupidest man on the radio, Sean Hannity is correct. Lieberman belongs in the neoconized Republican party. He'll fit right in with the other big government "conservatives" like Fred Barnes and Bill Kristol.
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Many Americans are very visual people and often too lazy or too busy to get all the facts on many issues. Someone needs to put together a slide show or video showing all the typical people who attend a Vets for Freedom rally and all the typical people who attend Code Pink and other so-called peace marches. I'm convinced the images alone would move most "middle" Americans a few steps to the right. |
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But by the looks of these photos, I am simply not fat enough. What's up with that? |
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....and your mom probably wouldn't let you out of the basement anyway. |
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Actually its YOUR mom that can't let go of me! :o) |
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Every pic that shows a VET..has got a story behind it. I know because I was there and I know every vet who's face you see on this link. So I will not let you belittle any of these vets. NOT NOW - NOT NEVER.
Thank MKH for being there and getting this out to everyone.
http://www.vetsforfreedom.org
All the United Families were just so gracious and so super. Each of them have a story that will rip your heart out. Take time and listen to their story. |
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For being who you are and for doing what you've in the past and the future.
From another vet. God Speed and GOD BLESS AMERICA! |
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Thanks for the pictures and text. I knew there were vets at the "anti-war" protests and other counter groups, but I never saw any of them anywhere.
Thank heavens for the net and sites like TH or we'd be stuck with the Katie Couric-NYTimes news that I grew up with. |
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Thanks, and from one vet to all vets thank you.
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__Thanks MKH, for the photos of patriotic Americans, and for the photos of pinklings enjoying the freedoms we gave them. |
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7 kids isn't too many... why I know a man who's #13 in his family out of 14 kids!
Now THAT is a big family. Of course, for y'all out in Washington D.C., 7 kids is probably unheard of. |
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Apparently some of the "Eagles" gathered on 9/15 took the time to assault Gold Star father Carlos Arredondo as he pulled a memorial to his eldest son, Lcpl. Alexander S. Arredondo, USMC, who was killed on 08/25/04.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/carlos
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Yesterday was a good day as the Senate voted to defeat the ill-conceived Webb Amendment that would have severly limited deployments to Iraq and hamstrung commanders. Webb's amendment has been described as a recycled version of Rep Murtha's "slow bleed". These lame attempts to legislate troop strength amount to meddling by the Congress. As a veteran, I join many others in opposing them.
The Senate also voted 72-25 to pass a resolution supporting Gen. Petraeus and tha U.S. Armed Forces and condemning moveon.org.
I'd like to think that our efforts in lobbying Congress had something to do with these votes. |
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Nice article !! those kids were adorable but my 7 are cuter !!
John Adams
The foundation of national morality must be laid in private families. . . . How is it possible that Children can have any just Sense of the sacred Obligations of Morality or Religion if, from their earliest Infancy, they learn their Mothers live in habitual Infidelity to their fathers, and their fathers in as constant Infidelity to their Mothers?
James Wilson
It is the duty of parents to maintain their children decently, and according to their circumstances; to protect them according to the dictates of prudence; and to educate them according to the suggestions of a judicious and zealous regard for their usefulness, their respectability and happiness.
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she tells it like it is - not bad for a woman eh? |
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I too was there with Families United and Vets for Freedom September 16-18th, 2007. I spent some days with members of Families United in D.C. I heard many stories and saw many courageous mean and women whose loved ones had willingly and knowingly made the ultimate sacrifice of dying for their country. What more could someone do? They were proud of their loved ones and do not want them to die in vain. They want the mission completed without a written time table. I was humbled to stand with them and honored to have met them, hugged them, and grieved with them at Arlington Cemetery. Let us do our tiny part by praying for the troops. Let us support the troops AND their mission. We will fight the terrorists on foreign soil or on USA soil. What is your desire? God bless America. |
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