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Please Don't Miss and
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Tuesday, 03 October 2006
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A Dog's road trip 'n stuff
Contributed by Zero Ponsdorf [note: Posting this unfinished. I'll be adding more in the extended section as the day progresses.] I don't get out much. It's just a fact that most of my life takes place within about 6 miles of home. I'm simply not a very sociable fellow in real life. I have little patience with idiots and knotheads so I avoid them. I planned as best I could, gathered the few few wisps of tolerance and sanity I have left, and hit the road. Trip itself was uneventful save that it was cold and rainy. Johnstown is a maze of one-way streets and some of those were blocked off for the Pro-Murtha rally, but did make my way to the Downtown Holiday Inn with little trouble. The HI was being used as sort a 'green room' for the big shots so I had to wend my way through limos and guys in suits with ear pieces to the front desk. I was early, but there was a room ready and I unloaded the car and again wended my way through the security folks with a luggage carrier loaded with my funky old bags full of tech gear and underwear honestly expecting to be stopped and searched. I'd left my firearms at home, but was carrying two knives. My internal melodrama was wasted. I made it to the elevator unmolested. Deposited my stuff in the room, grabbed the still camera and an umbrella and headed for the Pro-Murtha rally. After a few minutes walking I arrived a Johnstown's own Central Park. The park is roughly square and maybe a hundred yards on a side. There are a few trees and benches, and the requisite monuments and statues. There's a gazebo at one end and that's where the pro-Murtha thing was. The event was clearly put together in a hurry, with the focus on press coverage rather than communicating with locals. The rain had passed temporarily as 11am rolled around. I wondered around, taking pictures and just watching the crowd. There was a substantial union presence and more than a few folks who could have been vets. Must add that there several homeless looking folks working the crowd as well. 11:30 came and went with no speeches, there was some activity on the gazebo itself, but I couldn't really see. I had a free hotdog and soda and continued wandering around, taking pictures. Finally someone announced Max Clelend and there was also someone who may have a preacher, but the PA kept cutting out and I couldn't see??? One speaker did come through loud and clear (dunno who it was) and proceeded to paint a picture of Murtha as someone only slightly less in stature the Christ. Someone later on had the same impression so it wasn't just my, by then, sour dispostion at work. So... I couldn't get pictures of the principals, I couldn't hear what they were saying much of the time, I gave it up as a lost cause and headed back for the hotel. -------- As I rounded the corner of the hotel building I all but literally bumped into Larry Bailey. He'd just came back as well. I re-introduced myself and he said he was headed to our venue to see how preparations were coming. We hopped into his van and drove a circuitous route to the venue. (did I mention all the one-way streets?) After a picture or two, I realized that the adrenaline was fading and I needed a nap. The work was proceeding well, and the organizers really didn't need me so I walked back to the hotel (faster than driving, BTW) made a short post, fired off a few pix to Bill and crashed. -------- Somewhat refreshed (and feeling guilty) I headed back down around 6 to see if could actually be of any help before the meet and greet. The place was transformed! There were about 25 people there and only minor things to do... so I found the beer tap, wandered around and did some people watching. This was when I discovered my camera was acting flaky. The arena is primarily a hockey place and I'd never been in one so I really did wander around and just look at stuff. A bit after 9 we left. I headed for the hotel bar for a night cap and met up with several of the 'movers and shakers' for more than just a night cap as it turned out. About 12:30am I headed off to the room. Feeling peckish I headed for the snack machine only to discover I needed change. At the front desk I bumped into David Beamer and got to shake his hand. Then back to the room and did a short post, etc. -------- Sunday morning dawned and I headed down to breakfast. There I discoverd there was a trip out to the Flight 93 Memorial and I was invited along. I'd planned a solo trip on my way home monday, but said sure I'd go. I grabbed my camera (never did get breakfast) and we caravaned with motorcycle escort out to the site. I rode with two Freepers (thank you). The place is both awe inspiring and disppointing at the same time. Largely surrounded by a reclaimed strip mine it was cold and windy. Two huge abandoned drag lines were on the nearby horizon. There's a gravel parking lot with a couple of Port-olets on one side the road. Crossing the road there's a small paved area and a gray hut sort of building. Just past the building are the current memorials and then a grassy expanse ending in a tree line. There is no clear indication of where the actual crash site is? Asking around, we were told that the fence with the flag on it, some distance away, surrounded the site. It's a cemetary without a single headstone. 5 years on and there are grand plans, but no memorial. Except... turning away from the crash site there is the small patch of asphalt and the gray building - and thousands of personal 'memorials'. A tall chainlink fence maybe 30 feet long is covered personal things left by individuals and groups, ball caps, badges, each left as a sign of repect for what happend here. When the 'real' memorial is completed it'll seem sterile compared to this very human collection of cloth and wire. We spent about an hour there, but the rally was calling. ------------- Made a pit stop at the hotel, grabbed my camera bag and made for the venue. As I arrived, Ted Sampley or one of the other guys said "We need big guys for Event Marhalls". So I parked my camera bag and donned the Orange T-shirt of Authority. They had two sizes... Medium and large, but I'm 2XL kinda guy. I dunno if the shirt made me look imposing or silly, but there I was. I took the job seriously, there had been threats of disruption, and the next few hours are a blur. Bits of music, snippets of speeches, but mostly walking and watching. We searched bags, checked doors and patrolled the perimeter inside and out. I took a break for a Pepsi and a hot dog, and heard most of what David Beamer and Earl Johnson spoke about. Still hoping for video and/or audio of the speeches. As the event and my energy were ending I took off the orange shirt, thinking that the OWD shirt could get some exposure. Then I saw Larry and several orange shirts headed for the front door, seemingly moving quickly, so tugged my orange shirt back on and followed, thinking there was trouble. But no, they were posing for a picture outside in front of one of the large BootMurtha signs. So.... that was my Boot Murtha Rally. |
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Contributed by Zero Ponsdorf on October 3, 2006 at 03:23 AM in | Comments Posted by: Zero, thank you for everything. I was too lazy to get up when I should have this morning but I'll try to get started posting pictures sometime soon. Posted by: | Oct 3, 2006 11:40:48 AM Posted by: 1st Cav 10/3/06 pm Hannity & Colmes had video excerpts of the pro Murtha Rally and the Boot Murtha Rally. Last part was Boot Murtha and showed what I believe to be the best clips. Things are really heating up. Murtha is no longer safe! - W Posted by: 1st Cav | Oct 3, 2006 9:05:48 PM |