Article

2004-11-18 Arabia

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Posted by Fred 2004-11-18 10:23:38 PM|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I want to counter these rallies.....

Fred -- a question that has come to haunt me... how do we... me... just a lit'le ole lady in Texas, let our troops know, we stand with them? My heart aches for that young Marine so in the news.

See -- I'm one of those, that stood silently, when our troops came home from VietNam.... I didn't agree with what was happening. My small town heritage didn't lead me to understanding the focus against our troops. To me, our troops were our troops. And, of course, my age, same as those guys coming home, I didn't know how to stand up to what was happening.

This time, I vow... I will stand up. Only problem is... once again, through the cycle of life, big city, growth of company, growth of lifestyle, I'm back in a small town... and I don't know what to do, to stand up for these guys!

I'm in an area on the way out-skirts of Fort Hood. I've had some of these guys for customers. They amaze me... They are incredible. This comes after running a company with a large number of young, talented folks. Going for the top of the line, I went forthe best. Yet, these guys and gals from Ft. Hood? I thought I had the best and brightest, but these Ft. Hood folks and the folks from the bases around San Antonio.... well, no comparison.

It pains me to witness what I am seeing. I let my peers come home, in pain.... silently suffering with them.... but not knowing what to do. Now I know, we were "forced" into the "image" of what VietNam was. Yet, my first love was there, and what I got from letters from him, wasn't what I saw and read in the news.

I didn't know what to do, to show my support. Now.... again, I find myself asking myself, what can I do to show my support? There's got to be more than sending emails, care packages, donating money to soldiers and Marine's causes.... someway, we have got let this Marine, these Marines, these soldiers know.... we are with them. I want it to ring loud and clear, we are with you.

What do we do? Plant Victory Gardens? Buy T bonds? What is it, we civilians can do, to really, really, in this time of need, let these incredible folks know, how deep down, inside our souls, the part that grips at us..... let these kids know, we are willing to fight the cause, the fight for MSM to get the "real" story out there... that I am willing to be in that courtroom, with that Marine, sitting on his shoulder, whispering in his ear..... "what you did was right and good."

Thanks for listening.... this is, after all, Rantburg... and this VietNam ager is searching for ways, to never let the MSM do again what they did to my peers. I stayed silent then. That was an era that we were learning how to be vocal. Too many of us remained silent..

This time, like the Swiftboat Vets, we don't want to remain silent. But we Grandma's, Granddad's need some guidance to make a difference.

I just don't know how, to let this Marine know, here is one more Grandma, wrapping you in her arms, knowing that what you did, was the right thing.

How do I let him know that?

Thanks for letting me Rant!!!

Posted by Sherry 2004-11-18 12:44:52 AM|| 2004-11-18 12:44:52 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Sherry, you rock!

Whatever, wherever, however you decide to act, don't worry - you'll do the right thing and they'll know it. You only have to be yourself. I am proud to be an American (and Texan) - because America is mainly composed of people just like you. Thanx, Sherry. Ass-kickin' rant!

Posted by .com 2004-11-18 12:55:08 AM|| 2004-11-18 12:55:08 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Dear Sherry,

Beautifully written! As a first step, you might print up a copy of your post (minus the "Fred" bit, of course!), and send it to the base commander at Ft. Hood. Let those bright boys and girls know that you want to help more, and I'm sure they'll be happy to come up with something concrete. In any event, it would have to be a morale booster for them just to read what you've written.

Next, take a look at this website. The Protest Warriors have been staging counter protests against the anti-war idiots (many of whom are your age mates, repeating their youthful folly). They are having a convention in December in Austin; if you are interested, I'm sure they'd be thrilled to have you. Even if you don't go to the convention, I imagine they would be able to put you in touch with like-minded people in your area, and together you'll be able to make something happen.

Good luck, and please keep us informed of your progress. Oh, and some of Rantburg's readers are active military, so you may get some direct e-mails as well. Enjoy!

Posted by trailing wife 2004-11-18 3:47:01 AM|| 2004-11-18 3:47:01 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Mods, would you be so kind as to fix the link? I'm not sure what I did wrong, but I most certainly did it. Thanks!

Posted by trailing wife 2004-11-18 3:48:29 AM|| 2004-11-18 3:48:29 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 There is that Muslem Solidarity agin,nothing like pissing off those Iraqi's who desire Freedom and Democracy.One of these days there is going to be a backlash aginst all these people who support dening the Iraqi people Freedom and it ain't going to be pretty.

Posted by raptor 2004-11-18 5:16:57 AM|| 2004-11-18 5:16:57 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 Sherry,

Here is a bunch of links released by the DoD where you can send words of encouragement to the troops via the web, and donate care packages, and money.

NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense

No. 623-02
(703) 697-5131(media)
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2002
(703) 428-0711(public/industry)

Americans are again asking what they can do to show their support for service members, especially those serving overseas in this time of war. Below are Web sites for several organizations that are sponsoring programs for members of the Armed Forces overseas. While it would be inappropriate for the Department to endorse any specifically, service members do value and appreciate such expressions of support.

Donate a calling card to help keep service members in touch with their families at Operation Uplink at http://www.operationuplink.org/
Send a greeting via e-mail through Operation Dear Abby at http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/or http://www.operationdearabby.net/
Sign a virtual thank you card at the Defend America:
Web site at http://www.defendamerica.mil/nmam.html

Make a donation to one of the military relief societies: http://www.aerhq.org/links.asp
Army Emergency Relief at http://www.aerhq.org/
Navy/Marine Relief Society at http://www.nmcrs.org/
Air Force Aid Society at http://www.afas.org/
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance at http://www.cgmahq.org/
Donate to "Operation USO Care Package" at http://www.usometrodc.org/care.html
Support the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services at http://www.redcross.org/services/afes/.
Volunteer at a VA Hospital: http://www.va.gov/vetsday/ to honor veterans who bore the lamp of freedom in past conflicts.

Reach out to military families in your community, especially those with a loved one overseas. You could offer to cook meals or provide other services to lower the levels of stress on the families of deployed service members. Contact your local military family support services center and ask how you can help.

Please do not flood the military mail system with letters, cards, and gifts. Due to security concerns and transportation constraints, the Department cannot accept items to be mailed to " Any Service member". Some people have tried to avoid this prohibition by sending large numbers of packages to an individual service member's address, which however well intentioned, clogs the mail and causes unnecessary delays.

The support and generosity of the American people has touched the lives of many service members, over 300,000 of who are deployed overseas.

Posted by BillH 2004-11-18 9:02:58 PM|| [http://www.worldwar4.net] 2004-11-18 9:02:58 PM|| Front Page Top

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