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MAF Presents: The Daily Blog
Here at the Move America Forward Daily Blog we chronicle the good news on the War on Terrorism you might
not have heard about on the evening news. We also shine the spotlight on those whose conduct against our
country and our military is unbecoming.
Friday, September 30, 2005
Day 6: Columbus Ohio
Day 6, Columbus, Ohio
The final day of the cross-country “We Support the Troops and Their Mission” bus tour kicked off with a press conference in the Westin Hotel in Columbus, Ohio. Despite occasionally heavy rain and a spectacular lightning display, several hardy supporters came down early Saturday morning to hear remarks from Deborah Johns and Joseph Williams.
Several people greeted the bus as it pulled into Columbus. Norm Emmets and his wife Barbara were there showing off the banner he and his wife have been holding on a street corner in their hometown of Hilliard, Ohio. Since the war began, he has missed just three days, and his current streak stands at 261. As the bus pulled away in the morning, Emmets stood in the rain holding an American Flag to send the tour on its way. “Without veterans, there would be no America,” he said.
The record, to this point, for distance traveled to see the tour goes to Murray Braden, who came all the way from Erie, Pennsylvania, about four hours from Columbus. She has two sons, one of whom served as a recon Marine at Camp Pendleton in California. The other served with the 82nd Airborne and is currently in New Orleans helping with the cleanup from Hurricane Katrina.
Jeff Hall, of Westerville, came out to support the troops and to send Cindy Sheehan a message: “Stop dishonoring your son and his ultimate sacrifice,” he said.
The tour will conclude today with stops in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, site of the crash of Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. From there it continues on to Baltimore, Maryland for a rally at Johns Hopkins University and then on to Washington, DC to complete the trip across the country.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Pro-Troop Tour Arrives in Cincinnati
Day 5, Cincinnati
The “We Support the Troops and Their Mission” Bus Tour concluded its fifth day with a rally in front of City Hall. Despite the drops of rain, supporters turned out and were excited to offer their support. “We can take this weather…the boys over in Iraq have to put up with worse,” Deborah Johns said. Joseph Williams also addressed the crowd.
Melva Gweyn and Mary Kuhl, both of Cincinnati, braved the elements because Cindy Sheehan does not speak for them. “Everybody should be supporting our troops. We’re all benefitting from their efforts,” Gweyn said. “Cindy Sheehan needs to shut up,” added Kuhl.
Leslie Ward came down because Cindy is offensive to her. Ward’s son, daughter, nephews and husband have all served in the armed forces. Her son went to Iraq and fought in Mosul with the 101st Airborne. One of her nephews was in Baghdad in the opening days of the war. Her other nephew is scheduled to leave in three weeks for Iraq along with the 101st. Ward came with Bonnie Hines, whose son is already on his second tour, but cannot say where is currently.
Also turning out was Peggy and Richard Gautraud, of California, Kentucky. The Gautrauds made a banner to bring to the rally, signed by children of Calvary Christian Elementary in Taylor Mill, Kentucky. The school’s principal is a United States Air Force chaplain and recently returned from Iraq. Their son is a Marine, and was in Iraq during the initial invasion with the 11th Artillery in Baghdad.
The tour will stay the night in Columbus, Ohio before heading off to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, site of the crash of Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. From Shanksville, the bus heads to Baltimore, Maryland for a stop at Johns Hopkins University and then arrives at long last in Washington, DC for the large rally scheduled for this Sunday.
Indianapolis, Indiana Stop
Day 5, Indianapolis
Day 5 of the “We Support the Troops and Their Mission” Bus Tour continued in Indianapolis, Indiana with a stop at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial downtown. The impressive Monument Circle provided a spectacular backdrop for the rally and press conference. Supporters flocked to the capital from as far as 100 miles to see Deborah Johns and Joseph Williams.
Jack and Joan Billman, of Greencastle, came 50 miles to see the tour stop. They had also brought with them a homemade banner with signatures and messages of support for the troops. The Billmans have followed the tour’s progress online and would like to be in Washington, DC for the rally on Sunday.
John and Donna Powell drove to the state capital from 100 miles away in Marion, Indiana. John served with the United States Marine Corps, and his wife served with the United States Air Force. The Powells closed their shop to be at the rally, so if you find yourself in Marion, stop in and seem them at Natural Gifts and Healing.
Edytha Hall came with her daughter Natisha Cooper and her granddaughters Dani Braunton and Gabrielle Cooper. They believe in the troops and that Cindy Sheehan should be ashamed. Hall left with Move America Forward a posterboard signed by residents of her neighborhood. “I don’t have family over there, but I claim every one of them,” she said.
Lucy Brixey turned out to support her son Ben who is in the 82nd Airborne. Ben will be deployed to Iraq at the end of this year, or early next year. “I really admire what they’re doing over there, ever one of them,” she said.
The tour makes its final stop of Day 5 in Cincinnati, Ohio, in front of the city hall. Following an overnight in Columbus, Ohio, the tour travels to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, site of the crash of Flight 93 on September 11. Move America Forward continues to invite anyone to bring homemade bedsheets signed or unsigned to any of the tour stops along the way.
Day 5: Chicago, Illinois to Start the Day
Day 5, Chicago, Illinois
The “We Support the Troops and Their Mission” Bus Tour commenced its fifth day with a press conference at the Downtown Marriott in Chicago, Illinois. Deborah Johns and Joe Williams gave brief remarks to the gathered media before heading off for the first rally stop of the day in Indianapolis, Indiana. Supporters showed up in spite of the early hour and downtown location. The media received a great deal of criticism from both Johns and supporters alike.
Mary Alger, of Crystal Lake, some fifty miles distant, hopped on a 6 AM train to Chicago to offer her support. She also brought a banner she had made which she left with Move America Forward to be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan. Her son, Joe Alger, also served in Iraq from February 2004 to February 2005. He served as a journalist with the 1st Infintry Division (www.1id.army.mil). Alger questioned why the efforts of people like her son to chronicle the progress being made in Iraq go overlooked by the mainstream media. “All they [the media] have to do is look for the 1st ID’s website. It seems like we have to do the media’’ homework for them,"” she said. Brian Jacobson came out in the early morning because he wanted to support the troops and feels it is very important to do so. Mr. Jacobson runs a pro-military blog, www.FreedomFolks.com. Judy Ott, of Oak Lawn is a Marine Mom and has a son, PFC Benjamin Kunst who is nineteen years old. She also has another son, a 17-year old, who wants to join the Marine Corps. “Both of my sons knew there was a war going on, and both wanted to protect their country.” The tour will continue Friday with stops in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Cincinnati, Ohio. After a stay in Columbus, Ohio, the tour makes its way to Shanksville, PA to pay their respects to those who brought down Flight 93 and to all those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
Rockford, Illinois Rally Stop
Day 4, Rockford, Illinois
The “We Support the Troops and Their Mission” Bus Tour ended their 4th day with a rally and press conference just outside of Rockford, Illinois. Despite the crisp autumn wind and occasional drop of rain, dozens of hardy supporters turned out to offer their support to the troops and Move America Forward’s cross-country bus tour featuring Deborah Johns and Joseph Williams.
Bryan Dishner, of Rockford, was surfing the internet a few days ago and ran across the tour itinerary. He was excited to see Rockford listed as a stop. He called it a shame that the mass media has focused on, “an incoherent message from the far-left,” and wanted to support the troops. “I bin the first believe in the cause of freedom and America’s mission in the world,” he said.
Brian Wilmot, also of Rockford, wanted to see the tour. Wilmot served in Iraq at Camp Anaconda and returned safely in March. “I’m very glad to see people doing this [the tour],” he said. “It will be a big morale booster.” Sherman Tipton first heard about the tour in the Rockford newspaper. He served in the first Gulf War and believes it was good then, and it’s good now. “Al Qaeda is over there too. They don’t talk about that,” he said.
Meredith Kelly came all the way from Lyons, Illinois, some 2 hours distant. Kelly has 2 nephews who are veterans of Iraq. One returned safely 3 weeks ago to California. The other has already served 2 tours and is likely to sign up for a third. Kelly’s husband is also a veteran, having served as a helicopter medic in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967. She herself has been a nurse with the Veterans Administration, but is currently on sabbatical.
The reason for her sabbatical is a 7-day a week job running Operation: Stars and Stripes (www.OperationStars.com). Like Operation: Care and Comfort, Operation: Stars and Stripes sends care packages to soldiers, including those who are at Bethesda and Walter Reed Hospitals. She has been working on this current project for over 2 and a half years now, beginning in March of 2003. They have even sent putters and golf balls to a group of soldiers who used them to set up a 6-hole miniature golf course. Currently they are gearing up for the holidays and already have over 400 Christmas stockings ready for shipment at the end of October.
She has also adopted a group of soldiers in Afghanistan and has a message for them: “To McCoy and PRG 61- we are so proud of you.” The flag she brought to the rally was flown over Balad on the Afghan Election Day.
The tour will stay the night in Chicago before setting off for its fifth day on the road. Rallies are scheduled for Chicago, Indianapolis, In, and Cincinnati, Oh. Banners will be available at each stop for signing messages of support for soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tour T-shirts will also be available for sale as well. At the conclusion of the tour on September 25, the banners will be sent to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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