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July 11, 2007
Walter Reed FReep #116 - July 6, 2007 - The Drink that Nearly Hit
Things got off to a lively start this time when just as we were setting up three guys in a car started yelling "F___ the Military!" to Kristinn as he was standing on the corner holding a "Support the Troops" sign.
Kristinn, not putting up with any nonsense, yelled "go back to Cuba!"
Usually this is as far as these episodes go. Once or twice a night some idiot will holler something at us. Sometimes we'll yell back, mostly we just let it go, as people who will insult someone holding a "Support the Troops" sign are not worthy of attention.
This time, though, the men in the car didn't let it go. They were stopped at the light on Georgia avenue when the initial exchange took place, but then turned down a side street and came back up to Georgia Avenue beside where Kristinn was standing. One of them threw a drink at him, but fortunately missed.
Wishing to record the evidence for the police in case the men came back, I went over and did my duty as one of the evening's photographers:
All this may seem rather silly or unimportant. It is not. Having been at many rallies and protests over the past few years, I have seen tempers flare. I haven't seen any outright violence, but towards the end of the United for Peace and Justice protest last January, several men holding stakes like clubs attempted to approach our group from behind before they were stopped by police.
I'm not sure if Kristinn called the police this time, but we have done so in the past. Not that these FReeps are dangerous, the vast majority of citizens that we encounter are supportive. But occasionally you will run into someone who can't control themselves. Generally the best thing to do is defuse the situation yourself so it doesn't escallate. But I digress.
As we were setting up, a soldier who was coming out of Walter Reed stopped his car and rolled down his window to speak with us. He said he'd been wounded in Iraq two years ago, and had been in WR for most of the time since then. He just wanted to make a point of saying Thank You for the support. Kristinn, BillF, and me assured him that the feeling was quite mutual, that we were so very grateful for his service to our country. Mr Trooprally, who held down his corner alone for awhile, said that he had a soldier stop by and say essentially the same thing to him. Speaking of Mr Trooprally, here he is
Here's the Honor Roll of Attendees for this week:
Tom the Redhunter, Kristinn, Plea Deal, Mr & Mrs Trooprally, VAFlagWaver, billF, Lurker Bill, Keith_Olney, Sensei Ern, Fraxinus, Cindy_True_Supporter, 3DJoy, Albion Wilde, PrezUSA222, Megan, Andrea, and Loro.
Energy levels went up a few notches when PrezUSA222 showed up and got out her "Straight Girls Love Men in Uniform" sign. Beside her are VAFlagWaver and Keith_Olney. PrezUSA222 is very strong in her enthusiasm and no doubt motorists are more motivated to wave and honk when they hear her "Thank our Brave Soldiers!" ringing out across the street.
She soon had some competition, however, when Megan, Andrea, and Loro showed up and added their voices. Here are Loro and Andrea, with Lurker Bill in the background.
A few minutes later a few of the troops came by to speak with us.
Meanwhile, on our main corner quite a few Freepers had gathered
Readers may not know it but Sensei Ern is our "motorcycle man" Here he is arriving
He quickly took up position just outside the main entrance
Love that New Sign
To spice things up one of our number made a new sign, which she hung from two trees just beside where Mr Trooprally was holding station. Beside the banner are Plea Deal, Mrs Trooprally, and Cindy_True_Supporter.
While all this was going on a soldier who had served in Iraq came by and spoke with Keith_Olney, Fraxinus, and myself. He'd been a tanker who had been hit with an IED that he said punched a 10" hold in the bottom of his tank. The doctors had made valiant efforts to save his foot, and so far so good, "although I might still lose it", he said. He wanted to go back to Iraq, but said that given his injury that might not be possible. His second choice, he said, was to train new soldiers "and pass on what knowledge I have."
What an amazing bunch these soldiers are. Over the past two years we've met so many, and they never cease to impress me.
Ok, Ok, Here They Are
So what about the Pinkos down the street, you ask? Are they still there?
Barely
Any fewer and they'll disappear. Which would be a good thing!
There was no bus for us to greet tonight, but that's no matter. We're going to do this for as long as necessary. We wait until the Pinkos leave (which is at 9pm sharp), and then break camp.
I'll leave you with this last photo of FReepers showing their patriotism. Here are Albion Wilde, 3DJoy, and Kristinn. Be sure and visit the Photobucket links below to see all photos from the FReep.
If you can't get to D.C. to join us but would like to do something for the wounded, you can find a wealth of ideas by FReepmailing Albion Wilde, Cindy-True-Supporter, VAFlagwaver, or PleaDeal.
Come join us every Friday night between the hours of 6:30pm to approx 9:30pm.
Directions to our Walter Reed freep location from the Takoma metro station
* You can find all of Tom the Redhunter's photos for this FReep and more on myPhotobucket site
You can find all of Mrs Trooprally's photos for this Freep on her Photobucket site.
* Thank you to BufordP for maintaining the BIG LIST of all Walter Reed FReeps.
* Thank you always to Kristinn and tgslTakoma for all the work they do. Kristinn is president of the DC chapter and our chief organizer, and tgslTakoma hauls the MOAB, flags, most of the signs, and our "picnic table" back and forth every week. Thank you to Mr & Mrs Trooprally because they also transport and store many of our signs.
* Tom the Redhunter blogs at The Redhunter
* Plea Deal blogs at Sempter Gratis
Posted by Tom at July 11, 2007 9:00 PM
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