A Paratrooper’s Opinion On The Gathering of Eagles
February 27, 2007
Dear America:
I have seen Vietnam Veterans and their family’s gather at Rolling Thunder by the hundreds of thousands… at Melbourne, Florida for the kickoff of the year’s Vietnam Veteran reunions…at a thousand small towns in between both coasts for a day of festivities and unabashed patriotism … at Kokomo Indiana for the last, all Veteran’s reunion of the year.
I have ridden coast to coast and found literally thousands of Vet groups all working independently of each other, but all working towards a common goal; the betterment of the Veteran’s lot and the betterment of The USA.  There were almost 500,000 bikes at last years Rolling Thunder, and easily and over a hundred thousand vets at many other, separate reunions.
This GATHERING OF EAGLES transcends all those reunions in importance; as we are not only going to protect the Memorials and to honor our dead as we gather; but to boost the morale of our troops engaged in battle with an enemy who has attacked our shores, who has been attacking us since any of us can remember by blowing up our embassies, knocking our planes from the skies, killing our Marines in their sleep, murdering our sailors at chow while their ship sat at anchor.
We are at a point in our history where the danger to our democracy has NEVER been greater or more visible.
Our troops hear the protesters because the left leaning Mass Media WANTS them to hear only that side of America. And they do hear it.
And they are aware of this coming “GATHERING OF EAGLES”. Very aware.
They, our Marines, Army, Air Force and Navy engaging the enemy in both Afghanistan and Iraq will be watching to see … “How many?” How many Americans support them? They will be watching … and they must not be disappointed.
This is one of the most important gatherings in America’s history. Every bit as important as how many of those Revolutionary War Soldiers braved the winter to win this country its Freedom. Every bit as important as those millions of citizens who rationed everything they had; lived without butter, tires, worked 12 hour shifts, gave up their pots and pans so America might have a better chance to win WWII.
This sacrifice of ours is only of time. We will not be huddled freezing around tiny camp fires with rags for shoes, no one has to go without so our troops might have the equipment they need to carry the battle.
We need you! Every one of you!
We need you to spread the word, and to come to Washington, DC. To be there at the Wall on March 17th; not only to make certain the hard core anarchists among the protesters do not deface any memorial, but to send a message to our troops in harm’s way.
A message they will be listening and watching for.
It is up to each of us to look inside ourselves and ask …”Is this worth it?”
The only possible answer you can arrive at is that is not only very much worth it; it is IMPERATIVE that you go.
The sound of a hundred thousand flags being held aloft in dignity and HONOR will be deafening in its wonderful silence … a silence heard all around this world. This Gathering of Eagles will come to be known as the “Woodstock” of Patriotism.
Those of you on the fence as if you can go or not, I say to you now; Please, you must go! There will most likely never be a more important event in our lifetime. We need you to stand together with us on the 17th of March or the Jane Fondas, the CODE PINKS and Stalinist Worker’s Party of this country will claim victory.
And our troops today will feel that day what we felt in the Jungles of Vietnam, even as we fought the biggest battle of the Cold War.
Back to Back
Vernon E Brewer II
A/4th Bat/503d Abn Inf
173d Airborne Brigade(SEP)
Vietnam 68/69
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I Was in the 101st Airborne Vietnam 67-69 I’ll be there and so will my brother 173 Airborne Vietnam 68-69 Airborne all the way. I’m from Michigan,my brother from California. See you there.
AIRBORNE!!!!!!!!!!!
Just a second here. That stuff about media leaning any direction is just propoganda. We got over that way back. Or, you should have, at least. Right now, whether you agree with the policy or the pundits, our fellow servicemen are in harms way. That’s easy enough to remember isn’t it?
We don’t have to agree with me on anything else. Our sons and daughters have put themselves in harms way by volunteering to serve in our defense. They derseve our paltry honors and a lot more. We owe them our freedom to ask questions, to disagree with public policy, and to demand answers to ‘faulty’ intelligence.
Still, however it happened, they’re in harms way. Like our generation, we went to keep the homes and families safe. They did too. Which all the more obliges us to use our maturity, our political savvy, and yes, our silent presence, in their support.
Not trying to debate you Richard. In fact I agree with most of what you say.
But I did debate this issue on our Forum for Upstate New York with some very liberal folks. And won.
Because of this long term study done by the second most Liberal University Staff in the Country.
Media Bias Is Real, Finds UCLA Political Scientist… 12/14/2005
… to the UCLA-University of Missouri study, it ranked eighth most liberal of the …
http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/page.asp?RelNum=6664 - 26k - Cached - More from this site
Media biased to the Left was prover BY the Left. By UCLA.
And yes, the silent honor with flags held high is the best way to signal our troops where we stand.
Sky~Soldier
A/4th/503rd
173d Airborne Brigade(SEP)
Richr44d
Fine, you stand over there with Ramsey Clark, Jane Fonda, the communists, and the anarchists. When you do you stand with those that desecrate federal buildings and I believe merely “support the troops” so they can screw my country. And yes, quite frankly I personally do see a left leaning bias in our so called mainstream media.
Hey, this is what makes this country so great, for now. You can yap that my daughter went to Iraq and got shot at “for a big lie” and I can yap that it’s “for a good reason”. Heck, even the smartest woman in the world voted for this thing. Now the political winds have changed, so has she. I’d expect nothing less from her.
Those mentioned above hate the US military, Richr44d, I cannot have any respect for them.
GO. Semper Fi…
As a vet myself from the unpopular (Viet) war, I have heard unmatched drivel over the years from all types of protestors and the media, BUT that isn’t of any importance to me.
I have thought about going to the Wall for years, but never have due to feelings of my own. When I heard of what is intended (by the same people and their children I served to protect in the military), it forced me to come to grips with my own feelings about the Wall and the cherished honorable names upon it.
Many things will happen for me on March 17th. I will have the closure I have felt I wasn’t able to emotionally pursue because I will be in D.C. at the Wall! Not only will that chapter of my life close, but I will be there to stand a silent vigil. I will be there to PROTECT the names of the men and women who so unselfishly and gallantly gave the ultimate sacrifice for their Country. I will be there as a show of RESPECT and HONOR to the fallen heroes of my generation.
AND I will be there to SHOW SUPPORT FOR OUR TROOPS! By serving, they have joined a very elite and honorable brotherhood.
In closing, I would like to make this point: “Regardless of the reasons, debates, or thoughts, we, the vets of Our Country, have a moral duty to stand up, protect, and safequard today, tomorrow, and the future so that America can always be the “LAND OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!”"
While not having served nor fought, my repsect for those that have so courageously done so is deep. I owe to each a sincere thanks. It will be my honor to stand at this event with those so worthy of repsect, not claiming to be a vet, but as one who wishes to honor those serving and those that have served.
Somebody needs to tell “Answer” to get a new slogan
“Support The Troops” is already taken by those who really mean it!
“Move Out and Draw Fire!”
C Co 1/503rd 173rd Abn Bde VN 68-69
74th INF LRRP VN
N Co 75th Rangers VN
Very well said - Vernon E Brewer II.
In fact, I am going to print your message and hand it out to a few people. God bless you.
If only all our Vets in the DC area would take a half a day off or even a long lunch just to come by the support would be tremendous! I am taking the day and coming down just for the day. THIS IS AN ALL HANDS EVOLUTION !
Standing by in RI
Thanks for all you Veterans! All concerned Americans, veterans or not, need to show up on March 17 at the Wall. If you want the television coverage on CNN,MSNBC,and all the rest who will be streaming video back to Iraq, to show a National Monument dedicated to the sacrifice of American soldiers, defiled and used as a rally point for Ramsey Clark and Jane Fonda and a bunch of masked New York City anarchist’s… well, stay home and pop another cold one. I’ve had enough of these bastards. I plan to get off my sorry ass and I will be there at 0′dark thirty on Saturday morning. We need an OVERWHELMING show off force to stand in their face,silently and powerfully. Our great men and women overseas need to see US standing up for this nation. Let’s show them what we got!
Reading your message rebuilds the fire with-in me that has been dampened by the liberals and the people who so quickly forget what it has cost in lives, sweat and blood from the men and women who serve to keep our country free.
Seabee’s Can-Do 71-74
March 17th must become the turning point. The communists
of ANSWER want America to lose. They hope that out of the chaos of defeat their communist revolution will succeed. Veteran or not, we all must show up and show the world what Americans stand for. Pass the word…see you there.
I just want to thank all the Vietnam Vets who are stepping up to help the current soldiers and veterans who cannot for reasons that we are all too familar. Soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines are busy throughout the world defending the US and its interests and do not have the opportunity to be at the Gathering of Eagles, but we are all there in spirit. You are still a part of us and we are of you, we have likewise been forged on faraway battlefields and paid with our blood. Our congress and senate are on bended knee to the kook special interest groups who could care less about service members and DO NOT SUPPORT US. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY OF THEM IN IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN THANKING US OR EVEN ANY LETTERS. It seems like the congress and senate have forgotten the reason we are at war. Better to be at war away in other lands than to be at war here at home.
Let this be the message, “We are winning this war on the battlefield despite the news reports. LET US FINISH IT, NO ONE CAN STOP US EXCEPT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, DON’T LOSE THIS WAR FOR US!”
Thank You for stepping up to defend our interests and to be our voice. From one soldier to another again Thanks.
Landon
Rangers Lead the Way! Airborne!
I’ll be there from Ashland, Kansas, representing the 3rd. bgd. 82nd. Airborne that served in Nam 68-69. Hope to seee you there.
I want to go to this so bad that old wounds ache in that way that restless limbs beg for use. Alas the trip, from West coast to East coast is too long and too expensive for me at this time. I will donate $ to help someone more able to go. Maybe that will be you. If you can go, GO. If you can’t go, help someone else go.
Perhaps if there is a similiar gathering on the west coast I will be able to go for someone on the east coast. Know in my heart I will be faithfull to the moto.
First There
Anytime
Anywhere
USAF Tactical Air Combat Controller
In college I interviewed a Vietnam Vet, Robert Skidmore, who open his heart to me as part of a class project…I have never forgotten what he went through at the hands of the left and hanoi Jane and I promised myself almost 20 years ago that I would take every opportunity to stand up for our veterans and active duty military.
What a total blessing to be given this opportunity….
This is just a thank you from me to all of those working to make this happen and to give people like me a chance to stand up and be counted
To Michael Allen….
My stepfather was 101st airbourne at the same time (from Chicago) and I told him I will be going there to represent him at the wall…he is a wonderful man…
Screaming Eagles!
Mr. Vernon Brewer II just about said it all, but I have a comment or two. Its been over 40 years now, since I was in the jungles of Vietnam, but the love has just gotten stronger for this great country of ours. You may have to put some things off for a while, or have a garage sale, or borrow some money, but if there was ever a time, to come to the aid of your country, then you’ll find a way to be in DC on March 17, 2007. Stand up and be counted Americans, no excuses. Please put some real meaning in the term “I Support The Troops”. See you there, another Screamin’ Eagle! Gig Harbor, Washington
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to Vietnam Veterans. Because of Vietnam Veterans I knew and respected, I finally joined the US. Army at the beginning of Desert Storm at age 32. It was over before I got there and I went to Germany instead where I stayed long enough to see the Soviet Union collapse.
For a long time Vietnam was the harshest conflict we were in since Korea, taking it’s place with the Battle of the Bulge, Iwo Jima, Gettysburg, Vally Forge and the like. Now our troops face extremely harsh conditions again, also again battling a sneaky, underhanded enemy who takes a psychological as well as physical toll.
Thanks for your service in Vietnam, and thanks for stepping up to the Gathering of Eagles. I will be at a similar event in Tucson, AZ. God bless.
I am not a Vietnam Veteran, but my husband is. He served in Long Bhin from 1968 to 1969 as an engineer. I am also a gold star sister. My only brother, 1LT Hugh Robert McKibbin Jr., was killed-in-action during the Tet Offensive of 1968 in Vietnam. I and my family not only had to bear the pain of my brother’s death, but we had to experience the hate generated by the “hate-America” crowd led by people like Jane Fonda. Now Jane is back at it again. I simply can’t believe that those people really want to help our troops and do what is best for America. Sadly, I think they want us to lose, and I feel the same way about the media and the press; they seem to be reporting all of the negative things that are happening in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they generally ignore all of the good things that we have done there.
I am also convinced that newspapers like the “New York Times’ are responsible for many of the deaths of our brave soldiers fighting in Iraq by what they publish. The Times had the Abu Ghraib incident on the front page of the newspaper for 36 consecutive days, which only inflamed the Islmists. Then, misinformation, such as the story that a Koran was flushed down a toilet, caused a great deal of harm. I am all for freedom of the press, but the printing of classified information explaining some of our intelligence-gathering secrets was simply beyond all comprehension. How can we win a war when forces at home are undermining our efforts? Somehow, we need to change this.
The Wall is a sacred place for me, and I am sure it is for a lot of others too. I hope that many will come there on March 17th because that will show the American people that there are those of us who understand that the values this country holds dear are worth fighting for, and that we support our troops in what they are doing. As for the Vietnam Vets, they were and always will be the greatest.
I think I know a way we can fight the media. It came to me last night as I was cleaning out some ollllld book from college. One of the books was on “EFFECTIVE ADVERTISING.” Advertisers use the premis that every person knows 100 people. Now it is no big secret that the media’s bred and butter is “ADVERTISING.” So based on the premis that the 180,000 people who have visited this site know 100 people each that’s 180,000,000people. So if we all we to write, call, E-mail their adertisers and say something like;myself and my entire family, (in my case all 50 of us) are boyucoting any and all products of your company bacuse od your companies support of left wing news media. I can count the minutes until they start pulling their sponcerships. Then we just might get some FAR reporting. I’m open for comments Brotehr and Sisters.
Eagles Up/ Airborne
Rev Hawk
Scout/Snipe Nam 68-69
Ok, so my math was off, the number is on 18 million, not 180 mil. still I bet it would get some attention quickly. So pass the word around to friends amd family, what the heck it wont hurt to try.
Eagles Up/ Airborne
Rev Hawk
100,000?
my ass
come back on march 18th and tell us how many actually.
dare ya
Hey Glick. We are truly grass roots and I’ll bet you the farm right now we have over 100,000 people on hand the 17th.
We don’t have The “STALINIST WORKERS WORLD PARTY” pushing our agenda as does ANSWER and CODE PINK and so many other groups do.
Are you just one of their “tools” so out of touch with reality you don’t know you are being used by those who just cannot let go of the FACT WE won the COLD WAR?
Yer in for a surprise this time. It will not be just 25 BRAVE Iraqi vets waiting to meet you.
It will be a tsunami of Americans. From all walks of life who are tired of you and your LEFT WING COMMUNIST BS ..IF you are even aware of who is sponsoring your anti USA BS …
You really do not do you? You are being USED boy toy … By the same “WORLD WORKERS PARTY” that is using the likes of Sheehan and the others.
Trust me or do not. LOL Just follow the money; back to where your REAL organization gets their marching orders.
You are just another useful idiot of those trying desperately to reverse the loss of the COLD WAR.
You will lose.
Only in part because the secret is out.
You will lose because you have the audacity to think America would just roll over and die for you again.
just like so many did during Vietnam. Wrong! Oh commie/”useful idiot” breath.
http://www.americanprotest.net/
These guys infiltrated your bosses lare … and your protests …
We know who backs the big ANTI USA machine; “The Stalinist World Worker’s Party” …
That would be the freaking Communist Party in simple English.
Do you? You should.
Because if you don’t know who is using you, you’re worse than a 50 cent street whore.
Sky~Soldier
173d Airborne Brigade
Vietnam 68/69
Better yet, Gillick. Come out and see for yourself. Dare ya!
http://home.earthlink.net/~mostlymusicalts/bravodelaware/
CAN ANY ONE GET THIS MESSSAGE TO MICHELLE OOR MAYBE THE PRESIDENT?
MARCH 17TH IS SAINT PATRICKS DAY. SAINT PATRICK RAN THE SNAKES OUT OF IRELAND. DO YOU SUPPOSE HE’S NOT TO BUSY TO RUN THE SNAKES OUT OF WASHINGTON?
WEAR YOUR UNIFORM BUY ONE IF IT DOESN’T FIT.
THEY MAY STOP US FROM CARRRYING FLAGS BUT THEY WILL NEVER RIP THE FLAG OFF MY UNIFORM. 72 YEAR OLD KOREA EAR VETERAN WHO STAYED AT THE WALL FOR 17 YEARS 24 HOURS A DAY SOMETIMES ONE TO TWO THREE DAYS A WEEK . BRAVO WAS THERE 24/7 FOR OVER TWENTY. WHERE WERE YOU GUYS WHEN WE WERE DOING A SINGLE
Semper Fi Mike Scully,
Ramsey Clark and Hanoi Jane will lay bleeding in the streets on March 17th along with the other gay commie traders who come within a mile of our wall. It is time to teach these people a lesson. This is not their country and they have no rights if they are content on us losing in a time of war. I will be in the front lines or in the crowds of hippies doing what I do best. I will be wearing my Soberana beer shirt for anybody that wants to come and say hi.
John, take a deep breath. This rally isn’t about violence. It’s about preventing desecration and dishonor to the memorials. The fringe punks that have damaged memorials in the past will likely turn pale when they see the crowd of us on the 17th. We’ll stand tall, and I doubt there’ll be any problems at all.
March 17th is sant patricks Day.
He ran the snake sout of Ireland. Mya pray or two he will run the Snakes out of Washington Dc.
It’s said we can’t carry signs flags etc. but they will be allowed . My pleas is to buy and wear a uniform that fits and put USA flag on it and then see if theymake us take tat off too.
DOubles standards of NPS
God bles you all and God bless These United States of America;
Coop -
Stop tryign to kid yourself. What GOE and all of this is about is a sad self-comforting FANTASY of desecration justifying a more deeply sad fntasy of righteous rage.
GOE and company aren’t WORRIED about The Wall being desecrated, they’re DREAMING of it, hoping for it, praying for it … just for an excuse to let out some of that “damn, we should of …” bitterness about the anti-war movement that has been festering in their bowels since we lost the war in Viet Nam (yes, guys … LOST; deal with it).
And how about on occasion when you-all give thought to The Wall, you give some thought to how many more names woudl be on it, how much wider and deeper it would have to be now if there hadn’t been an anti-war movement?
JOHN THOMAS GILLICK,
Please take your soap opera Psychology degree and move along. Everything the GOE is doing here is based on fact.
If you can’t be bothered to look into some facts than do us all a favor and stop making a fool of yourself. It’s painful to observe.
As to COOP’s “John, take a deep breath. This rally isn’t about violence.â€? Of March 4th …
Here’s a small sampling of “isn’t about violence� posts from GOE’s page:
Also, BTW, before anyone starts coming back at me with how this is just a small sample from a large flow of comments - give some thought to how one poster who said he was showing up with a “sharpie� was immediately sezed on as representative of most of or all the anti-war demonstrators who will be in DC the 17th. And some thought to how out of all the blogs and all the discussions, maybe three-to-five overt threats - by anonymous posters all - have been found by the legions of eager GOE blog-supporters hunting for publishable proof of the mythical plot to desecrate the wall.
————————————————-
Glenn Phillips February 28th, 2007 5:25 pm
Give each participant guarding our nations memorials a set of brass knucks and a flack jacket so they can really defend the memorials. No, I know you can’t really do that, I only wish you could. A baseball bat for each might do the trick, too.
———-
Kit Jarrell February 28th, 2007 7:04 pm
… peace resides not in the calls for retreat, but in the sharp edge of a sword …
———-
Kelly February 28th, 2007 7:25 pm
Violence may not be the answer, but it is sometimes necessary.
———-
sonohobo February 28th, 2007 11:41 pm
BTW~ If you were my son and invoked my name here, in this manner, I’d kick your ass up around your ears!
(this to the son of a vet who said “My father was in Vietnam and disagrees with the current war, and has been many things you so venomously stand against.�)
———-
Robert Turner March 1st, 2007 2:34 am
I would support mass arrests and force to stop their so called protest. … As for Sheehan she needs taking out behind the barn and getting a good whuppin’
———-
Ed Stanowicz March 5th, 2007 3:21 pm
Don’t hesitate to kick some ass of those appeasniks.
If anyone of those anti-American scumbags so much as looks funny at The Wall, break their neck!!!
———-
gary neely March 6th, 2007 8:56 am
i look forward to showing you what this old “baby killer� can do. tell us where you are staying so we can do a war dance on your head.
I bet that took a lot of time to write out. If you keep camping out here, you’re not going to have time to prepare for your trip. You know, like getting all your hemp necklaces for the flea market made. Or rolling pennies to go in your sock. (I know half y’all wear Birkenstocks, but you do own socks, right? Or are you buying some for the event?)
You haven’t said an original thing yet, and sadly, as the webmaster I’ve seen every post you’ve made. Why don’t you go do something productive, like, oh I don’t know…enlist? When you’ve done half the things for your nation that these men have, then you can come talk trash about them.
They’ve waited 40 years to regain the honor you and others like you tried to take from them. If you supported the troops at all, you’d at least understand that.
Bugger off.
Wow, you guys sure take things to the extreme. You’re also quite presumptuous. Let me clear the air a little:
I don’t want America destroyed. I’m not a socialist. I’m not even calling for peace. I just think the war is wrong and must be stopped.
If anyone actually tries to spit on the wall, then f#*k ‘em! I don’t think it will happen but if someone does, I hope he gets his ass kicked.
I’m not a brave man, I don’t have the courage to join the armed forces, but I’m grateful that people do have that kind of courage. However, I’m not afraid of a group of people shouting and waving flags over by the wall. If I’m not planning to desecrate a memorial, then what’s to be afraid of?
Of course I understand that Islamic extremists want to kill us and our families. What did that have to do with Iraq four years ago? Or are you one of those fools who think Saddam hit us on 9/11?
We’re an occupying force in the middle of someone else’s civil war. What did you expect when we handed Iraq to the Shiites? Now it’s an Islamic theocracy aligned with Iran. Our tax dollars are going to the Shiite militants so they can exterminate the Sunnis. So naturally the Saudis want to help their Sunni brethren retaliate. They’re giving the insurgents the missiles that are shooting down our helicopters!
Now, in hindsight, don’t you think it would’ve been worth waiting until we had an exit strategy before attacking Iraq? Or was it such a big emergency, as Bush framed the issue, that Hussein was about to hit us with a nuke? See, I’m not even saying we should never have invaded! I just think there was a better way.
I’m no expert, but it sure looks like Iraq will be a disaster whether we stay or go. So what’s the point of staying? Nobody in Iraq is fighting for OUR freedom. We’re just defending badly drawn borders. Even our top generals are saying there’s no military solution.
I think the war is a huge misguided allocation of our precious resources. I care because I love my country and I believe it’s my duty to speak out!
john thomas gillick, your total ignorance shows as you ramble on about we lost the war in Nam.What is this WE SHIT? The American military didn’t lose anything,not 1 major battle (you can confirm that by the millions,not thousands of VC & NVA that were left dead on the battle field).The WE you are talking about are the cowards and sorry asses like you that convenced a weak government to withdraw from Vietnam.When you say WE your talking about the momas boys like you.What most of you ignorant cowards don’t understand is an enemy does not have to be a direct threat to America,but to other Nations we have agreed to defend by Ageement of mutual defence.There is nothing i need revenge for,but I WILL NOT LET YOU OR ANYONE IN MY PRESENSE TO DISGRACE OR DEFILE THE MEMORY OR MONUMENT OF THE ONES THAT GAVE ALL SO YOU SORRY ASS LIBERALS CAN LIVE IN AND ENJOY THE FREEDOM THEY GAVE THIER LIVES FOR.