This is antimedia.  My site has been hijacked, so Bill gave me temporary posting privileges here so I could keep everyone updated on the Gathering of Eagles.

I left Dallas this morning on American Airlines, headed for Richmond.  When I got to the security gauntlet, I discovered my drivers license had expired in September of last year!  (Actually, the TSA rep pointed it out to me.)  Why the state never notified me is a question I'll have to get answered when I get home.  But it sure caused problems.  I had to remove everything, get patted down, wanded, searched and bomb-sniffed before they would let me go to my gate.

Then, when I arrived in Richmond, I couldn't pick up my rental car, because my license was expired.  :-(

One of the things you learn in the military is "adjust, adapt and overcome".  There I was in Richmond.  I needed to get to Mechanicsville, MD (home of my Marine buddy, John and his lovely wife Peggy.)  So, I started asking people at the rental car counters if they were headed to Washington.  In about fifteen minutes, I was on my way, riding with Gary.  Gary is an Army vet - seven years, NBC-trained, two tours in Germany, yada, yada.  He was headed to New York in a rental car because all the New York flights were canceled due to weather, so "of course" he'd take me along.

Gary dropped me off in Washington, where my Marine buddy, John, picked me up, and we headed for his house.  I offered Gary money for the ride several times.  He refused.  Said he was going that way anyway.   Next time I'm in New York, I'm buying dinner.

On the way to Washington from Richmond, we saw numerous cars and pickups with POW/MIA stickers, Vietnam Vet stickers, American flags and many other signs that made it certain we wouldn't be alone at the Wall tomorrow.  In fact, I think there's going to be a huge number of vets there.

The weather is miserable.  Cold.  Rainy.  Sleet.  Drizzle.  Perfect weather for the Gathering of Eagles.  Vets have been through worse many times, so a little bad weather just motivates us to stand tall.  The protesters, on the other hand, may wimp out, preferring to stay indoors with their lattes and cappuccinos rather than brave the cold.

No matter.  John, Peggy and I will be up at 0500, on the road by 0600 and on the Metro at 0700.  At the Wall before 0800, ready to stand guard and join the throng of vets in Washington to honor and pay respect  to our fallen brothers.

It's gonna be a great day tomorrow.

Contributed by antimedia on March 16, 2007 at 10:20 PM in Antimedia, Gathering of Eagles | Permalink

Comments

Posted by: Bill Faith

Thanks for being there, Anti. Wish I could be. I'll be looking forward to your next report. Just looked at the radar map on weather.com and it looks like all that precip is east of you now. I'll be glued to my blogging chair all day watching for news of how things are going. Some of the other Dogs have my phone number with them; wish I'd thought sooner about giving it to you as well.

Posted by: Bill Faith | Mar 17, 2007 12:28:02 AM

Posted by: JB

Antimedia huh? I like that concept AM, so you've made some points with me on that alone. The fact that you made the trip to DC too stand up for those of us that can't be there, well, that says the rest.

I share Bill's sentiments about not being able to attend, but at least we'll be well represented by those of you that do.

Welcome Home Anti and keep us posted.

Posted by: JB | Mar 17, 2007 9:06:51 AM