The fierce determination of the eagle shown through in our nation's capitol. They came from near and far, some as far away as Canada to answer the calling to defend our sacred memorials on March 17, 2007 from anti-war protesters who have been known to get out of control in recent marches.
Ordinary Americans supporting the troops, and proud Vets from past and present wars, met up in Washington D.C. under the banner of the Gathering of Eagles. Approximately 30,000 Eagles came together to show that the voice of the silent majority, those who support the troops and their mission, must be heard!
Of course we all knew that the mainstream media had no intention of covering the Eagles event, only anti-war protesters. They called the Eagles the "opposition", "the other side", or "demonstrations" being held near Memorials, but they did not go into specifics about the Eagles.
That is the sort of attitude in the media Blue Star Mom Deborah Johns, and the rest of the Move America Forward family spoke of during their caravan stop in Memphis March 13, 2007. Johns spoke about how disgusted she is with the way the leftist media depicts the war, and that the entire truth is not being told.
Note: The Move America Forward group started their caravan in San Francisco March 8, 2007 and planned to reach D.C. March 17, 2007 to join the Eagles. Their theme, "These Colors Don't Run" traversed with them through several states, stopping along the way to collect flags to display at the memorials and to hand to military families in a show of support. Many people, some families, joined them as they made their way across the country.
It is evident by the fact that the media only chose to cover anti-war protests, that they have a bias. A HUGE showing of 30,000 Eagles didn't even get their attention!
The Gathering of Eagles was to me, an historic event. Even as the Move America Forward caravan passed through the Memphis area, local media was barely present. However, many from radio and quite a few bloggers including Freerepublic.com, BlueCollarRepublican.com, and Alpha Patriot showed and documented the event enthusiastically.
As a reporter for the Mid-South Patriot newspaper, I was honored to see these fine Americans come to Bartlett, a suburb of Memphis, to talk of their brave family members who have served in Iraq.
The Move America Forward organization, other military personnel, patriotic families, and the Rolling Thunder Motorcycle group, stopped at Coletta's Italian Restaurant in Bartlett to mingle and talk. A press conference was held at noon amidst the threat of rain. However, everyone pressed on with the saying of the Pledge of Allegiance and a quick prayer. A heavy downpour began as the prayer commenced, but people stayed intact. Afterwards, the Move America Forward crew urged everyone to file towards the restaurant's overhang to say a few words.
Among the speakers were Blue Star mom Deborah Johns and Gold Star mom Debra Argel-Bastian, who spoke emphatically about the need to support our troops.
The military moms were in sync in saying that, "Our military are counting on us" and that they need funding.
In countering the liberal media's lies, Deborah Lee said that her son, who served as a Navy seal, wants everyone to know of the Iraqi people, "they want us there."
After the speeches, flags were collected from attendees to go with the caravan to D.C. to be flown during the Gathering of Eagles rally, placed at the Vietnam Memorial, and given to military families.
Then everyone headed inside Coletta's for some Italian food. It was a great time meeting and talking with those who had joined along the way and was in full support of the mission to D.C., which was to ultimately uplift the troops and to tell them that their job is not in vain.
Our troops are watching all that is occurring back home, so let's not disappoint them. If we should lend an ear to anyone, it should be the family members of the fallen and our troops serving. In this case, the mothers of the fallen (other than Cindy Sheehan) DESERVE to be heard!
Despite the rain, approximately 70 people showed for the Memphis rally.
The Memphis rally and the D.C. Gathering of Eagles pro-troops rally was peaceful unlike recent protests from the anti-war crowd.
Blog sites like Littlegreenfootballs.com are abuzz with news of an anti-war rally in Portland, OR in which protesters burned an American Flag and an American Soldier in effigy! That's NOT what I'd call supporting the troops ( http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=24853_Leftists_Supporting_the_Troops&only )!
Those who supported and attended the Gathering of Eagles pro-troop rally, the ordinary Americans are the true patriots who stand behind our troops 100%. Others who rant on the anti-war crowd side like to cause trouble, and many of them do not like this country. They do not like our troops.
Anti-war protesters are also very good at vandalizing, defacing, and resorting to violence when they do not get their way... as in another case of a window that was destroyed in the building of an Army Recruiting office in Milwaukee ( http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/6585292.html ).
I don't need to say more. It's enough to make one vomit considering the sacrifices our military men and women have had to endure just so that we have the freedom to assemble and voice our opinions.
But in staying positive, I want to say, proud Americans stood at the Vietnam Memorial and at various Memorials in D.C. with American flags and in silence, stood by their fallen comrades. In that, they sent a loud message, they accomplished their goal!
The Eagles, America's patriotic, will not hesitate to come together and make their petition for the respect of our military if needed. And March 17th will not be the last time!
Important Links:
Pictures from the Move America Forward caravan stop in Memphis, TN (scroll down):
http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/benamon/070322
Photo of a fraction of the Gathering of Eagles Group in D.C.:
http://gatheringofeagles.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/goe-rally.jpg
Gathering of Eagles website:
Move America Forward website:
Rolling Thunder National Organization Headquarters website:
Berlin Residents to protect monuments:
http://www.newbritainherald.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18087941&BRD=1641&PAG=461&dept_id=572377&rfi=6
Other Links:
Sponsors of the Move America Forward rally in Memphis:
Rolling Thunder Chapter V Motorcycle Group:
Coletta's Italian Restaurant:
Mid-South Patriot:
www.freewebs.com/midsouth-patriot
*Felicia (Fee) Benamon is a political columnist who writes for various conservative sites including RenewAmerica.us, Michnews.com, Daley-Times Post, Renaissance Women ( http://www.rwnetwork.net/ ) , Capitolhillcoffeehouse.com, TheConservativeVoice.com, Mensnewsdaily.com, ConservativeCrusader.com, and other news sites like AmericanChronicle.com. She is a columnist and a reporter for the Mid-South Patriot ( www.freewebs.com/midsouth-patriot ) in Memphis, TN. Felicia hails from a military background, and has been politically active since the 2000 elections. She has been on several conservative radio internet talk shows, most recently KFNX News talk radio in Arizona with Clancy Jayne ( www.insidepoliticswithclancyjayne.com ).
You may email Felicia: Feereports@aol.com