This post will remain at the top of the site for the remainder of the day. Please scroll down for possible newer content. Actual timestamp 2007.03.17.00:02. I know of at least three people who'll be at The Wall with my phone number programmed into their cell phones and they know I'll be anxious to know how things are going, so here's hoping. Click the Eagle to see the entire Old War Dogs Gathering Of Eagles series.

"Let us make it clear, we've all come here
To defend our long-dead brothers;
And understand you ain't layin' a hand
On our Wall you leftie mothers."
(Click here to listen to the .mp3) 

EAGLES UP!

*** 08:10

My feet hit the floor at the absolutely gawdawful (for me; I usually blog till all hours then sleep well into the day) hour of 07:45 CDT. The closest I can come so far to finding any GOE coverage of any sort, or any mention of the moonbat convergence that necessitated GOE, is this at Michelle's, written a couple of hours ago:

The silent guard of America's memorials 
Michelle Malkin

Bryan Preston and I are headed down to the Gathering of Eagles. Hope to see you there, too. I'll blog when my fingers and connection aren't frozen.

*** 09:37

Just got an email from J D Pendry. He says Fox & Friends did a segment on the moonbat convergence and The Gathering Of Eagles. Also says he got a call from one of his old troops who estimates there are about 5,000 vets gathered around the wall and says the moonbats are staying well clear of the area so far.

*** 10:35

FOX, at least, is giving fairly balanced coverage. I watch very little TV but my sister just had me come and look at what FOX had on.  If anything, the good guys may have gotten a little more screen time than the moonbats. Apparently things have been calm so far, with the moonbats scheduled to set out for the Pentagon in about an hour.

*** 10:42   

Just got a call from Bob K. (our newest Dog, btw; I just had the pleasure of welcoming him into the pack) who says things have been calm so far and that he thinks J D's 5,000 number is way out of date.

*** 12:32

Just heard from The Gray Dog a few minutes ago. He says if anything the good guys have the moonbats outnumbered. Says the estimates he's heard were around 10,000 on each side. No major incidents of any sort. Getting close to time for the moonbats to move out for their little protest at the Pentagon, well away from our Wall. He says he got to thank Michelle Malkin for showing up but didn't see her headed his way in time to get his camera out of his pocket. I'll be looking forward to her coverage of the event.

I was grabbing a short nap when The Gray Dog called and haven't checked the news sites or other blogs for a while but I'll do that now.

***

CNN: Crowds gather to denounce, support war

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Hundreds of anti-war demonstrators and supporters of the U.S. policy in Iraq shouted at each other Saturday from opposite sides of a street bordering the National Mall as protesters formed a march to the Pentagon to denounce a war entering its fifth year.

The anti-war group carried signs saying "U.S. Out of Iraq Now," "Stop Iraq War, No Iran War, Impeach" and "Illegal Combat." The other side carried signs saying "Peace Through Strength," "al Qaeda Appeasers On Parade" and "We Are At War, Liberals Root For the Enemy."

Police on horseback and foot separated the demonstrators, who were on opposite sides of Constitution Avenue in view of the Lincoln Memorial. Barriers also kept them apart. ...

Police on horses ensured anti-war protesters and counterdemonstrators stayed apart at the staging area. Several thousand people, many of them service members, rallied in support of the war. They played "The Battle Hymn of the Republic;" the anti-war crowd danced to Stevie Wonder's "Superstition."

Veterans, some from the Rolling Thunder motorcycle group, lined up at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. ...   

Surprisingly balanced coverage for an AP piece, although it you read the whole thing some slant does come through.

*** 16:30

Don't know why FOX isn't giving this more coverage on their web site but they're doing a good job with it on air, including some good pics of the Gathering Of Eagles and Rolling Thunder crowd and the first on-air use I've heard of the words "Gathering Of Eagles." Sounds like the day ended with no violence beyond a couple of shoving matches. I shudder to think how things might have gone if the Eagles and RT hadn't been there in the numbers they were. Sounds like some anarchists got themselves arrested at the Pentagon but nothing major at all happened anywhere near The Wall. Color this Old Dog relieved and very, very grateful to the patriots who made the trip I wasn't up to, and especially to Bob K and The Gray Dog for taking time to call me in the midst of all that was going on.

***

From CNN.com, would you believe (click the pic to read the article):

***

R J Del Vecchio called a few minutes ago to let me know things went well. He thinks the patriotic counter-protests may become a regular thing. I hope he's right. He promised me an After Action Report by email by sometime tomorrow. Watch for it.  [Update: Click here.]

Don't miss Antimedia's reports here and here.

***

Blogburst: Gathering of Eagles
Michelle Malkin

It was a breath-taking, historic, and emotional day in Washington, D.C. You won't know it if you tune in to the usual MSM channels. But new media--bloggers, conservative documentarians, Internet activists, FReepers, citizen journalists, photojournalists, and talk radio hosts--turned out in full force to participate and cover the Gathering of Eagles counter-protest. Thousands upon thousands turned out despite freezing temperatures and hairy travel conditions. We met bikers who drove up all night from Huntsville, Alabama; a retired NYC firefighter who arrived here at 2am; college students who traveled from Massachusetts; a Vietnam veteran's wife who bought plane tickets at the last minute from San Francisco; and countless participants who arrived as part of Move America Forward's cross-country caravan.

A pure, grass-roots effort, the Gathering of Eagles' volunteers matched the massive Soros-funded anti-war machine sign for sign, chant for chant, and marcher for marcher. The contrast was most stark right before the entrance to the Memorial Bridge, where Eagles gathered with a field of American flags--while anti-Bush, 9/11 conspiracy nuts wrapped themselves in a figurative blanket of yellow "Out of Iraq" placards. Several of the vets shouted, "Yellow! How appropriate!" in between spirited chants of "U.S.A! U.S.A!" While the classless Cindy Sheehan ranted profanely, the Eagles raised their voices in polite, but roaring disapproval and raised their American flags in answer to the ANSWER socialists' Che banners and peace pennants.

Why did the Eagles come? One common refrain: Vietnam veterans, some fighting back tears, told us they came to show the kind of support for the troops that they did not receive when the surrender lobby marched on the Pentagon 40 years ago today.

Mission accomplished. ...

***

Bob Krupienski, our newest pack member, left this as a comment but I'll move it here so it doesn't get overlooked:

What an exciting day. Sorry I only called you once today Bill.

Today was a very emotional on for me. It was the first time that I had been to the Wall. There were many tears, including my own. There was a GoE determination that "We Are Back To Stay".

At the very least, we matched their numbers though I did hear a rumor that FoxNews said we had the punks by 3 to 1. It is really hard for me to say because we were spread out. We had folks at the GoE rally, we had long lines at the Wall, and we had folks along the punks parade route. My personal feeling is that we had them outnumbered.

I only saw one incident. One of the punks was dragging our flag on the ground. Of course, our side took exception to that and took the flag away from the punk. Just a little action but justified. The flag is in safe hands now.

Our non-Vet supporters get a big thanks. Behind us and our troops 100%. Our Milbloggers get a big thanks too. Without them, the word never would have gotten out. I mean, thousands of us got the word in a very short period of time. Oh, got to thank Michelle Malkin and Bryan for being there.

I spent the day with Kim from Rolling Thunder. RT had one heck of a turnout. They were everywhere. There is a rumor that I will be contacting my local RT chapter about joining. Patriots to the bone.

Got to close this for now. I have a wake-up call in 6-1/2 hours. Plan to drive back to Chicago in the morning.

I just took a few pictures and I will send them your way when I am home and rested. Kim, my RT buddy took a lot more and we will get his to you as well.

***

Spongebob Sheehan & the Eagles 

Sorry brothers, that I wasn’t with you defending the Wall today. Bit far from sunny, warm Encinitas (beach town between San Diego and Camp Pendleton). Took my almost 7-year old son Jason for a walk on the beach to collect sea shells, then went for pizza. The usual crowd of young, beach-going tatooed’s and a few comparative geezers like me scattered in. Watched TV in the pizza parlor, and someone turned to CSPAN. Cindy Sheehan came on ranting, as pizza eaters cracked up when one beach youth just up from surfing said Cindy looked worse than Spongebob Squarepants after a bad day. A grayed pony-tail geezer nearby commented that without sex, drugs and rock-‘n-roll during the ‘60’s to blur the senses these protestors looked truly bored at the rants, and that if he wanted to be yelled at that’s what he had a wife for. Probably why the shivering small crowd in D.C. looked like the fuzz-faced who didn’t yet know better about getting ranted at and angry grandma’s who miss having husbands to rant at. Vietnam vet, who runs the Army surplus store, came in for a slice, asked why the Gathering of Eagles wasn’t being shown, instead of the Cackling, and returned to work. Jason and I went back to the beach. Made a game of looking for our friend, the funny Spongebob. Had enough of the scary one. ...

***

I just posted R J Del Vecchio's After Action Report as a separate post: Defending The Wall.

***

Once-a-Marine-always-a-Marine Curt has some great pics and quotes here. Fine pup, that one. If he was older I'd try to recruit him as an Old War Dog.

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 17, 2007 at 11:59 PM in Bob Krupienski, Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, Peacenik Stupidity, R J Del Vecchio, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink

Comments

Posted by: Wild Thing

Love the song! Thank you.

Posted by: Wild Thing | Mar 17, 2007 1:11:06 AM

Posted by: Bob

What an exciting day. Sorry I only called you once today Bill.

Today was a very emotional on for me. It was the first time that I had been to the Wall. There were many tears, including my own. There was a GoE determination that "We Are Back To Stay".

At the very least, we matched their numbers though I did hear a rumor that FoxNews said we had the punks by 3 to 1. It is really hard for me to say because we were spread out. We had folks at the GoE rally, we had long lines at the Wall, and we had folks along the punks parade route. My personal feeling is that we had them outnumbered.

I only saw one incident. One of the punks was dragging our flag on the ground. Of course, our side took exception to that and took the flag away from the punk. Just a little action but justified. The flag is in safe hands now.

Our non-Vet supporters get a big thanks. Behind us and our troops 100%. Our Milbloggers get a big thanks too. Without them, the word never would have gotten out. I mean, thousands of us got the word in a very short period of time. Oh, got to thank Michelle Malkin and Bryan for being there.

I spent the day with Kim from Rolling Thunder. RT had one heck of a turnout. They were evrywhere. There is a rumor that I will be contacting my local RT chapter about joining. Patriots to the bone.

Got to close this for now. I have a wake-up call in 6-1/2 hours. Plan to drive back to Chicago in the morning.

I just took a few pictures and I will send them your way when I am home and rested. Kim, my RT buddy took a lot more and we will get his to you as well

Posted by: Bob | Mar 17, 2007 7:26:07 PM

Posted by: willowfae

I'm so glad everything went well. I was checking throughout the day knowing that if anything happened to that wall, you'd probably be in the car doing something stupid by nightfall. I love you.

Heather

Posted by: willowfae | Mar 17, 2007 8:05:20 PM

Posted by: Denise

Thought you'd like a laugh: ABC Evening News reported that about 10,000 protesters showed up for the 3 hour rally, but that after about one hour, the number had dwindled to about 1,000 or so. I almost fell out of my chair laughing at that. My husband rode a bus for two days (two busses, the first one broke down) to get there. He called me afterward very emotional. He doesn't cry often, but the solidarity of the protectors really gave him some peace he's needed since he got out of the Air Force in '73.

Posted by: Denise | Mar 17, 2007 8:47:17 PM

Posted by: Marnie Mowles

My name is Marnie Mowles. I am the proud wife of a USMC 100% Total &
Permanent disabled combat Viet nam Veteran. He served two tours in
Nam with the 1/9, also known as ,"The Walking Dead."

I would like to thank the Military men and women that have served
and that are serving for my freedom and all you have done and are
still doing for our country. I am forever grateful and you will
never be forgotten by me. I consider you all my HEROES !!!

I always make it a point to thank a Veteran and tell them how
grateful I am for my freedom . Thanks to you all I am able to type
this letter.

I consider it an honor to tell people I am married to a USMC
Vietnam Veteran. We have a 20 year age difference and he has been
my rock for 12 years.

I would like to thank each and everyone of you that have served and
are still serving in the Military for my freedom and all you've
done and are still doing for our country.

I know you all have sacrificed so much for me and our country .
Words will never be able to tell you all how grateful I am.

I know I have taken a lot for granted but I started thinking just
how lucky I am to have my freedom thanks to you all.

Please know that you will never be forgotten by me.

I told my husband if he should die before me I am going to dedicate
my life to our Military men and women.

I want to be able to give each and everyone of you a hug and bring
happiness to your lives.

Since I am not able to hug each and everyone of you , please
accept a cyber hug from me and know you are my HEROES !!!

In all sincerity , I can honestly say , "I love you."

God Bless each and everyone of you.

Forever Grateful,
Marnie Mowles
vietnamveteranswife@yahoo.com

Posted by: Marnie Mowles | Mar 17, 2007 11:26:52 PM