Sunday, hundreds of veterans descended upon Washington D.C. to protest the barricading of open air memorials on the National Mall. Memorials were barricaded by the Obama administration, citing the government shutdown. Yesterday, the barricades were stormed, taken down and then carried by veterans to the White House, where they were left outside the gate on the front lawn.
“@JakeHarris4: Barricading the White House. "A present from your vets." #MillionVetMarch pic.twitter.com/MzKHj1uv4v”
— Jean-Marie (@JeanMarieMaier) October 13, 2013
But according to Ace of Spades' Gabriel Minor, National Park Service rangers were buzzing around in a helicopter yesterday during the veterans' protest of barricaded memorials on the mall.
Respect please . . . While an NPS police helicopter buzzes us. Bastards. pic.twitter.com/blpDsYm4Jc
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) October 13, 2013
Jerks. pic.twitter.com/AjHinRwG3r
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) October 13, 2013
It costs around $15,000 per hour to keep a helicopter in the air. As a reminder, the government is still shutdown and "non-essential" services are still unavailable. Apparently monitoring veterans with a helicopter is an "essential" function.
H/T Twitchy for the photos/