The Passing of a Hero
June 23, 2007
Hero from Another Era
Credit to: James Bancroft
Charles W. Lindberg died Sunday. Not a common household name. Yet he is a hero from a war past. A Marine, recipient of the Silver Star medal, the last survivor of the Iwo Jima flag raising. Although not of the Marines immortalized by Joe Rosenthal. Mr. Lindberg was one of six who raised the first American flag over Iwo Jima. It is a sad footnote that monthly we are losing hundreds of our heroes from WWII. A generation the likes of which we thought we would never see again. Yet, every time our country has gone to war, we have been proud to say our men and women serving are the best our great nation has. Today is no exception. Read more
Flags and Bracelets for GOE II May 26
May 7, 2007
Mike Evenson, State Coordinator for VA, is bringing the following to GOE II for whoever wants one:
240 American Flags
240 American Flag Bracelets
240 Support Our Troops Bracelets
These will be available at the rally.
Stay tuned for more updates on the 26th–we are working out details as quickly as we can. If you do not have lodging yet, you need to get that taken care of asap. I will be posting more information on that later today.
- Kit
Powered by ScribeFire.
Remember Me
May 5, 2007
Moonbats targeting NYC (Times Square) Recruiters This Evening
May 2, 2007
END THE WAR NOW
CUT-OFF ALL WAR FUNDINGBRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW
http://troopsoutnow.org/dcbanner.jpg
From: Troops Out Now Coalition
To: xxx
Cc: xxx
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 12:46 AM
…
Only the people will stop this criminal war. Tomorrow, antiwar groups across the U.S. have called for demonstrations against Bush’s veto. We urge you to take part in these demonstrations and demand that the troops be brought home now — no phony timetables, no more political theater, no waiting for after the 2008 Presidential elections — now!In New York City:
Times Sq. Wednesday 5:00 pm
World Can’t Wait is calling on everyone to gather in front of Times Square’s military recruiting center–43rd and Broadway–at 5pm WEDNESDAY to demand an immediate end to the Iraq war and impeachment of the Bush Regime for war crimes.
FYI, Times Square is a recruiting station GOE plans to honor on May 19th for exactly this reason. If you haven’t joined our Operation Recruiter Appreciation project yet, please consider doing so now:
http://gatheringofeagles.org/?p=348
VFW’s 2006 “Teacher of the Year”
April 19, 2007
Via email, April 2007:
Back in September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock , did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she took all of the desks out of the classroom.
The kids came into first period, they walked in, there were no desks. They obviously looked around and said, “Ms. Cothren, where’s our desk?”
And she said, “You can’t have a desk until you tell me how you earn them.”
They thought, “Well, maybe it’s our grades.”
“No,” she said.
“Maybe it’s our behavior.”
And she told them, “No, it’s not even your behavior.”
And so they came and went in the first period, still no desks in the classroom. Second period, same thing. Third period was the same. By early afternoon, television news crews had gathered in Ms. Cothren’s class to find out about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of the classroom.
The last period of the day, Martha Cothren gathered her class. They were at this time sitting on the floor around the sides of the room. And she says, “Throughout the day no one has really understood how you earn the desks that sit in this classroom ordinarily.”
She said, “Now I’m going to tell you.” Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it, and as she did 27 U.S. veterans, wearing their uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. And they placed those school desks in rows, and then they stood along the wall. And by the time they had finished placing those desks, those kids, for the first time I think perhaps in their lives, understood how they earned those desks.
Martha said, “You don’t have to earn those desks. These guys did it for you. They put them out there for you, but it’s up to you to sit here responsibly to learn, to be good students and good citizens, because they paid a price for you to have that desk, and don’t ever forget it.
Verified as a true story. More history of this teacher is located here.
H/T: Ironman
Official Statement Regarding Accusations by Jere Beery and Gene Simes
April 10, 2007
Mods: In the spirit of “moving on,” this thread is now locked to further comments. (4/12/07)
Yesterday, Gene Simes and Jere Beery from Operation Firing for Effect invited Larry Bailey, Kristinn Taylor, and myself onto their radio program to answer their allegations that we had mishandled funds and that we were engaging in an initiative to “shake down” disabled vets who we felt were fraudulently obtaining benefits from the VA.
Even though these were idiotic accusations that we felt required no defense, we attempted to answer them in email to put this entire mess away. It was painfully obvious that the real reason these two men have resorted to such immature and dangerous conduct was to force Captain Bailey to step down as the Chairman of Gathering of Eagles; whether it was out of a wish to take over themselves or simply destroy it we didn’t know. However, we had bigger things to attend to–including our actual mission: to support the troops and their ongoing objective in Iraq and Afghanistan. We refused to appear on their show.
Instead of choosing to move on, accept the truth of our intent, and let this ridiculous campaign go, they instead chose to spend their radio show disparaging not only Gathering of Eagles, but specifically and personally its leadership.
When Heidi (RedheadInfidel) and I heard the slander and lies being put out on the radio waves by these men, we were angered, certainly. What was even worse, however, was listening to veterans calling in who sounded disillusioned and saddened at the idea that we “refuse to help” veterans, or worse, that we were somehow actively seeking to hurt them. The hosts encouraged this notion, repeating over and over what a “big story” this was. After some time, Heidi and I attempted repeatedly to call in and set the record straight. Unfortunately, the lines were jammed full. When Heidi did get onto the show, she was repeatedly told she could not answer the accusations, but was only allowed to answer specific questions asked by the hosts. When she told them they were lying, she was hung up on. Twice. They ended their show by–go figure!–calling for Captain Bailey to step down.
I am here now, to lay these rumors and accusations to rest once and for all. It is our hope that this will end what has become a distraction at best, and an insidious, diabolical attempt to sabotage us at worst.
First of all, Jere Beery and Gene Simes claim that we have not donated our “excess funds” to a soldier charity as we promised we would. They insinuate that we somehow fleeced those who donated, and claim that they have the right to know what we did with “all that money.”
They’re right on one count: We have not donated any excess funds. As of right now, we are still receiving invoices for the event on March 17th. There is no way to know at this point whether there will even be excess funds. Rest assured that every single donation went toward the purpose intended, and any future donations will as well. We have no wish to defraud anyone, and the people with access to the funds are keeping a full accounting of every penny spent. For Beery and Simes to make these claims against us is just plain disgusting.
Secondly, they have taken a few lines from an email Captain Bailey sent and twisted its meaning, claiming that we are starting an initiative to expose and prosecute veterans who we think should not be receiving benefits. This is an outright lie, and one that we take severe offense to.
I cannot stress this enough: We have no such plans. I repeat: We have no such plans. We never once have even thought of “going after veterans.” Why would we do that? Captain Bailey told them that GOE would not become involved in anything other than the mission that we have at hand. Period. His comment that the VA was corrupt was something said as a personal explanation in a personal email that had nothing to do with GOE.
We have nothing to do with specific “veteran’s issues,” simply because we are focused on one mission and one mission only. The bottom line is, if it’s not in the mission statement, we’re not involved with it. No politics, no side issues, nothing. We are here to ensure the troops know we have their backs here at home. End of story.
We started out with a stated mission, and we are still there, with the same mission that Col. Riley and Captain Bailey began almost three months ago. As someone who has been with GOE almost since the beginning, I stand behind Captain Bailey proudly and believe in the vision and the path that GOE is forging, not only in the news that the media is trying to hide, but in this nation’s very history. Our mission is the same today as it has ever been. We hope you will continue to stand with us. There is much work to be done.
–Kit Jarrell
To Our Americans Serving In Iraq
April 7, 2007
This ten minute video is one of the best messages to the troops I have ever seen. Many thanks to George Samek for bringing it to our attention (via Ace). And many more thanks to Bob Parks, Navy veteran, for saying everything that needed to be said.
Stay tuned for Bob’s final sentence - it’s the mission of the GOE in a nutshell!
Anger of the Legions
March 29, 2007
“If it should be otherwise, if we should leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware of the anger of the Legions!”
– Marcus Flavinus
So Brave
March 19, 2007
Performed by Blue Star mother Angela Lashley at the Gathering of Eagles
Video courtesy of Age of Hooper
If you would like a copy of this beautiful tribute by a mother to her son in combat, please go to the Soldier’s Angels store. Your purchase of the song will result in an immediate and automatic donation to Soldier’s Angels. It doesn’t get any better than that!
The Age Of The Eagle
March 18, 2007
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.
Yesterday, in the mud and the freezing cold, 30,000 Americans stood proudly and said with one voice, “This is what we will die for.”
Yesterday, a lone veteran planted his message of support for our troops in the heart of the domestic enemy and said with all his heart, “I will not be moved.”
Yesterday, a row of my brothers stood guard over a long granite list of over 58,000 reasons why my own service was peaceful.
Yesterday, we defined ourselves and our nation to the world.
We are not the swansong of a dying ideal. We are a proud remnant; we are the ones who remember all too well that the price of freedom is blood. We have seen our brothers, our fathers, our sons, and our friends come home in a box draped in color. We refuse to allow their sacrifice be in vain, or scorned by the very recipients of that sweet, precious gift.
The age of the coward and the twilight of the silent are over. The age of the eagle has begun.
Advice And Warning From An Experienced Veteran
March 7, 2007
My name is Dan Golden, a Vietnam Veteran and member of the Massachusetts Vigil Society - one of the remnants of the Veterans Vigil Society - which started by Ohio Vets outraged that there was nothing at the Wall honoring our P.O.W.’s and M.I.A.’s, and that there was no American Flag flying there yet. They proposed a 24 hour/365 day a year vigil for our missing servicemembers. They envisioned each state sending a volunteer contingent to the Memorial to do a week’s vigil.
The vigil started on Thanksgiving Day, 1982. We did our first Vigil Memorial Day in 1983 and have not been able to stop. Since 1988 we have been on the grassy knoll east of the Memorial with our large American Flag and our large P.O.W. Flag.
On Veterans Day weekend in 1983, I went to Washington D.C. to help celebrate the first year anniversary of the Wall. Unbeknownst to me, anti-war activists protesting our involvement in Grenada were starting their march at the Memorial on their way to the White House and the Capital Building. As they started their march down Constitution Ave. from the field across from the Wall, we were coming the other way on the inside service road recreating the “Welcome Home” march of a year earlier. We numbered about three hundred, they numbered about three to five thousand.
It was not pretty. It was the first time I was called “baby killer” and such. The media was there and they were baiting us to start something. Although a few skirmishes broke out, for the most part, we took the the high road and acted honorably.
After their protest march was over, however, a lot of them returned to the area and tried to carry their anti-war signs and such through the Memorial. It did not happen. The Police were with us but vastly out numbered - if it were not for ‘Nam Vets they would have disgraced our Memorial. I can still see in my mind’s eye a Special Forces disabled Vet - in jungle fatigues in his wheelchair - chasing protesters away with one of their own signs!
We have to be eternally vigilant! On a quiet Tuesday morning in May of 1989 or 1990 while on our week’s Vigil, Moonies tried to march three hundred strong through the Wall on their way to somewhere. Less than a dozen vigilant Vets stopped them, telling them “over our dead bodies”.
The Massachusetts Vigil Society will be there on the 17th to help protect our Sacred Ground from insult and injury (unfortunately with out our large flags displayed on the hill). And a thought for you Eagles: stand tall; look good; take the high road if possible. We must protect ours without stooping to their gutter level.
Thank you and we will see you there!
Sgt. Daniel P Golden
140th H.E.M. Co.
Long Bihn 1969-1970
“American Soldier”
March 6, 2007
By Toby Keith
Remember
March 6, 2007
From Operation:Mom, a poem:
REMEMBER
I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He’d stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil
How many mothers’ tears?
How many pilots’ planes shot down?
How many died at sea
How many foxholes were soldiers’ graves?
No, freedom isn’t free.
I heard the sound of Taps one night,
When everything was still,
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant “Amen,”
When a flag had draped a coffin.
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn’t free.
From The Children Of Vietnam Veterans
March 4, 2007
A tribute:
To Our Parents
GOE Receives Loud Applause At CPAC
March 2, 2007
I just got a call from Justin at Right on the Right, who is watching the C-SPAN coverage of CPAC today. They were doing a veterans’ panel, and COL Bud Day and Congressman Sam Johnson (R-TX) were participants. They both mentioned and endorsed the Gathering of Eagles to rousing applause from the CPAC attendees.
The word is still getting out!
GOE Ad Banners - Now Available
March 1, 2007
Due to popular demand, I’ve whipped up some GOE ad banners for those of you who would like to show your support for the Gathering of Eagles on your own websites. There are two vertical banners with a 120 px width which should fit most sidebars. There is also a horizontal banner 750 x 120 px.
The ad banners will always be available for download here, and a link is also provided in our sidebar under “Sections”.
To use the GOE ad banners on your website, download the image first - please do not hotlink to this image on our server. When you upload the ad banner to your website, hyperlink to:
http://www.gatheringofeagles.org
Click on the thumbnails below to see the banners in their full size.
120 x 360
120 x 600
750 x 120
If you need different dimensions, please leave the request in comments here. I can’t guarantee that I will customize the ad banner for each and every request, but if there is a common dimension needed, I will certainly adjust the graphic.
A Note From Afghanistan
February 21, 2007
A note to GOE:
I wish I could attend - but I am in Afghanistan still. Let me tell you first hand, these kids are watching this. Even living in wood huts, tents, or in the open, they are still talking.
David in Afghanistan
Tips For This Website
February 10, 2007
To utilize this website better, please post your requests for carpool information under your home state. In the top tab menu and in right sidebar, there is a section called State Info. Leave your comments under your state so that people can quickly and easily find the info and you can begin coordinating with others in your area. I recommend posting only your email address as an initial point of contact. (See Texas for an example.)
Also, if you have tips or advice on where to stay in the area, please send them to us at admin at gatheringofeagles dot org and we will post them under logistics. Include the name of the lodging/restaurant, a phone number or email address, and site address, if available.
There’s lots of chatter going on in the Eagle’s Nest forum, so be sure to register there as well.
