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realblog.html

  
RICHMOND, VA. RALLY

 

'These Colors Don't Run'
by Melanie Morgan

Posted: 03/16/2007

It’s been 40 years since anti-war and anti-military protestors trampled upon the hearts and spirits of America’s troops who served in Vietnam. The anti-war movement staged a massive march to the Pentagon on March 17, 1967 to decry the fight against communism and demand the end of the Vietnam War.

Now with that anniversary approaching, the anti-war movement is determined to revisit history by marching to the Pentagon once again, to demand American surrender in the war on terrorism.

For the defeat-retreat-surrender crowd there is also the added significance that this marks the fourth anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The problem for the cut-and-run crowd is that a hearty group of American patriots won’t sit back and allow another generation of America’s troops to be denigrated and disrespected.

For the past seven days a caravan of families who lost children in the war on terrorism, families who still have loved ones serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring freedom have crossed the nation to send a message to the nation: surrender is not an option.

The brave men and women of the United States military will not come home to an ungrateful nation. There will be no more spitting on our troops, no more harassing of our troops when they wear their military uniforms in public.

The "These Colors Don’t Run" pro-troop caravan, organized by the pro-troop, grassroots group, Move America Forward, began March 8 with three pro-troop rallies in the San Francisco Bay Area, a region that might seem like an unlikely place for pro-troop supporters to gather.

The response was phenomenal.

Pro-troop supporters outnumbered anti-war activists by a ratio of more than 1,000 to 12.

American flags waved proudly at the rallies, cleansing the negativity and defeatism of the liberal bastions of San Francisco with patriotism and pride -- pride in our troops, pride in our country and pride in the American ideals of freedom and liberty.

As the caravan has crossed the nation the number of anti-war protestors dropped to literally zero.

Twenty-five pro-troop rallies have taken place and at each stop the caravan has been welcomed with an enthusiastic response from a public that is irked by politicians and certain media outlets that seem to wish for American failure in the war effort in order to validate a political agenda.

At each rally stop the caravan collected American flags, all of which will be displayed in a giant "Flag City" at Constitution Gardens in Washington, D.C. Move America Forward had expected to collect hundreds of flags, instead pro-troop supporters donated over 10,000 flags. Each flag will be sent to a unit serving in Iraq and Afghanistan so that our troops may see they are loved and supported back home.

Debra Argel Bastian says the response from the public has invigorated her, and that’s a good thing. Deb’s son, Capt. Derek Argel, died in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Derek believed in the mission and so does his mom.

Deb told supporters that at a time when the nation seems disengaged with the war on terrorism while fixated with the American Idol reality TV show, priorities needed to be changed.

"The only American Idols I care about are the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States military," she told the appreciative crowds.

Crowds at the pro-troop rally stops have hugged her and thanked her for speaking out on behalf of all those who have fallen in the fight for freedom and all those who continue to serve today.

Joseph Williams is a Gold Star Father. His son, Michael Jason Williams, died in the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Joseph went on the trek across the nation to make sure that the men and women serving overseas come home to a grateful nation.

"Jane Fonda is a disgrace to this nation and she caused a lot of pain to a generation of American servicemen, we can’t allow that to happen again," Joseph said when explaining why he joined the caravan.

American Legion Riders, Patriot Guard Riders and members of Rolling Thunder have mounted up on motorcycles to lead the caravan into many of its stops. Many of these good people are Vietnam Veterans and they share Joseph’s commitment to show respect and appreciation for our troops.

The caravan has been received surprisingly well by the news media. News helicopters followed the caravan, providing aerial coverage to viewers in several cities. Radio stations broadcast the rallies live in city after city.

In the nation’s second largest media market, Los Angeles, both news radio stations covered the rally -- making it their top story.

The New York Times blogged about the caravan. Washington Post Radio is doing a segment on the historic event, and USA Today and the Reuters news service couldn’t ignore the success of the caravan as they reported on its progress.

In central Texas the caravan received a police escort and was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. In Dallas a choir comprised of homeschoolers sang patriotic songs to the crowd, their voices breathtakingly beautiful.

In Memphis, Tennessee a thunderstorm dumped over an inch of rain in a one-half hour period, but that didn’t stop local residents from turning out and vocally supporting the caravan at a boisterous rally.

On Saturday the caravan will complete its journey in Washington, D.C. where Move America Forward’s hearty road-warriors will team up with several other pro-troop and veteran’s groups for the "Gathering of Eagles" -- an effort to protect America’s war memorials from desecration and vandalism by the most radical of the anti-war protestors.

Marine Mom Deborah Johns, who has traveled with the "These Colors Don’t Run" caravan all across the nation, said it’s up to each of us to make sure that our men and women in uniform come home in victory from their missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Some people say it’s a hopeless cause to try and fight against the media’s misreporting on the war effort and the negativity from the anti-everything crowd.

"What these people fail to recognize is that the American public wants to succeed. They want our troops to prevail in this cause so that America may never face another attack from Islamic terrorists again. We can sit back and whine about the media coverage of the war, or complain about the actions of anti-war protestors. Instead, it’s time for the eagles to gather up, soar high, and lead this nation ahead with confidence and determination to declare victory over tyranny, terrorism and fear."

Eagles up, everyone: the battle for hearts and minds here in America is just as important as the battle our troops are fighting half-a-world away, and it’s a battle we can’t afford to lose.
















 
   
 

A call to America to stand up

   This is a call to action to the silent majority in America. It is a dangerous time in the history of our country and we can no longer quietly sit back on our apathetic rears and hope that someone else will speak for us, or that someone else will make a difference. Many Americans have listened to the lies of the liberal media and have adopted a defeated attitude that they can't make a difference. I just completed a "These Colors Don't Run" tour with Move America Forward that conducted rallies in 25 cities across America and ended in Washington DC, on the 17th of March. We joined forces with the Gathering of Eagles to protect our Memorials and let our troops and our President know that we support them and "have their backs covered." I heard the heartbeat of America and we are fed up and ready to make a difference.
I joined the caravan in honor of my son Marc Alan Lee, the first Navy Seal killed in Iraq on 8-2-06. He was willing to endure the rigorous "buds" training, "hell week" with maybe 5 hours of sleep for the entire week, endurance runs, rock portage, and the most intense training in special forces to be a Navy Seal. "One of the elite of the elite," as his Commander in Chief told me. Did he endure all of this to sit on his tushy in his lazyboy and complain about how our world is going to "hell in a handbasket."  No! He was willing to take a stand and make a difference, to actively protect me and every American citizen, to defend this land that he loved against an attack from terrorists that killed over 3000 Americans in one day. He was willing to go Ramadi, the "hell hole" of Iraq and endure 120 degree temperatures while wearing 50 lbs of body armor and carrying an additional 100 lbs of weapons, ammo and equipment. He was willing to endure sleepless nights and months away from his family and friends. He was willing to stand in the direct line of fire and sacrifice his life to save his brothers at arms, and to continue to provide a safe place for you and I to live. Many people have commented to me, "the terrorists took your son's life that day." The terrorists didn't "take" my sons life, Marc willingly "gave" his life.  You see Marc recognized and believed that someone had laid down their life for him. As a single parent, raising 3 small children became overwhelming at times, and I didn't have all of the answers. At times I didn't have any of the answers. When my children would come to me with tough decisions to be made, I knew I didn't know everything, but I had learned that I did know the one who did. God promises to be a husband to the widow and a father to the fatherless and my children had often heard me tell them to  "Go ask your Father." They knew that meant to spend some time with their Heavenly Father. They knew that He loved them so much he had sent his son who willingly "gave" his life so that they could spend an eternity with Christ. Marc was confident in where his final destination would be. Marc was just following in His Daddy's footsteps when he gave his life for you and I. Jesus Christ and the American GI are the only ones I know who were willingly to die for us. Shouldn't we be willing to live for them?
The media, Hollywood and the liberal's want us to believe that we are failing in Iraq. They have made it their "political agenda" to change the world, they want the spotlight, they want to be in control. They want it to be "all about them," and are trying to figure out how they can use this for their gain. Look at Nancy Pelosi, she makes a "publicity" trip to Syria despite Whitehouse objections. Then, she acts as though she is representing the Nation that told her not to go and promises President Assad that there is an alternative Democratic foreign policy. Talk about political agenda! Only the President has that constitutional authority! Sounds like treason to me and grounds for an impeachment.  How self centered and ridiculous is that! Isn't this about HERE AND NOW!  We must remain united and not let the Nancy Pelosi's and Cindy Sheehan's speak for the minority of America! This war is about defending America and telling the terrorists "not on my watch." It is also about setting free a nation that is ruled by fear and daily violence. A nation that has been raped, tortured, beaten, killed and suppressed by the evil tyrants and dictators who do it in the name of "Allah." A nation who longs for the freedom America can help provide them with. My son told me amazing stories of the difference we are making over there. I saw pictures of Marc in the Iraqi homes being embraced by the Father, with Iraqi children sitting on Marc's lap. I have heard first hand of the hospitals that were being cleaned up, schools being built, water systems restored. Our technology is such that when the insurgents are found in a building we can take down just that building and leave the ones next door intact. Just this month I was briefed and saw amazing statistics about the difference in the last year on the number of Iraqi Army soldiers who have been trained and are staying, the major decrease in IED"S. Nobody wants to be in Iraq forever. I know that every time I hear of another family that is dealing with the loss of a son, daughter, husband, wife, Mother or Father, that I cry knowing the loss they are dealing with. Knowing the deep pain. I don't want any more lives lost and that's why we are there to stop the killing of innocent people in America and The Middle East. Sadaam killed over one million people. Do we just bury our heads in the sand and let these Terrorists continue? Do we wait for them to attack America again? Do we value American lives over the lives in third world countries? Do we think we are better than everyone else? Is our attitude send somebody else's son, but not mine.
I am proud of both of my sons and my son-in-law who all were in the military on 9/11 and were willing to defend our country and make the needed sacrifices so that you, can be reading this letter. I am proud of all of our Vets who have stood up for what is right and honorable. Now is the time for each one of us to be willing to stand and live for them, to live for our country, and live for our God. After all isn't this America that was founded as one nation under God? It's time to rise up and make our voices be heard! We need to wake up the silent majority and become the Vocal majority! Do some research yourself and find out the truth. Refuse to watch the liberal lying media! Tell them you won't be watching and why! Write to your Congressional leaders and your Senators, hold them accountable and let them know they can be voted out. Thank and support the ones who are representing and speaking for you. Register and Vote! Write letters to the editor, attend rallies supporting our troops and the War on Terror. Be confident and bold and share your opinions.  Do our troops hide from what they believe in? No, they take every opportunity to make a difference and it's time we do the same. Thank every serviceman or woman you see, they have sacrificed much! They are the true heroes! Send them cards, and care packages, support their families, and pray for them, our nation and ask God to give us the victory!
Thank you for joining with me to reclaim America!
A Very Proud Mother and American!
Debbie Lee
My Mighty Warrior
Marc Alan Lee
3-20-78 to 8-2-06
PS: Please help me by forwarding this to everyone you know including your local newspapers, media, blogs, Senators and Congressional leaders.