I was in Berkeley last night...........

[ErnieH]

I got home last night and one of my service buddies called me up and told me that the Anti-War Protester were having a rally in Berkeley to have the city council stand their ground against the Marine Recruiters in Berkeley. So a group of us got together and took a ride up to Berkeley to support our "BROTHER AT ARMS".
When we arrived the lines were very clearly marked, the Anti's vs. the Pro-military folks. What I say in the upcoming hours burned memories into my memory. During the course of the few hours we were there"in uniform" (boy it was a little tighter then I remembered), I saw people burn the America and Marine Corps. Flag. We had people throw things at us. Police came out in full roit gear, ready to rock and roll. A few little physical incidents sparked up but were quickly dealt with.
I sat back today and was thinking about the horrors our Nam boys had when they came home. My hat is off to all those the served.
All of these Freedoms that these people hold so tightly to, do they not know that those freedoms came with the price of blood. They are great at using their "Freedom of Speech" When it applies to them, but God forbid someone have a different opinion.
What are your guys thoughts on this?

[DAN]

Ernie, My hat is off to you just for going. Too emotional for me! I won't go to Berkeley or San fran just because of the "situation". They can have Freedom Of Speech I just don't have to listen.
Thanks for sharing this.
DAN

[VegasGeorge]

Good for you, Ernie! I wish I could have been there to help you support the troops. Those Berkeley creeps are nothing but traitors.

[DMorrison]

It's a sad day. It's not even that I take it personal, but the idea of treating voluteer warriors like that is disgusting, cowardly and weak. I applaud you for staying cool. I like the quote, "The freedom of speech protects you from the government boy, not me. I got the freedom to give a god old country ass whoopin!" I knew I didn't like California.

[Bill of Rights]

"You have the right to remain silent. I strongly advise you to exercise it. I'm told teeth really hurt when they come out the other end. Threat? Nooooo, that's not a threat. A threat would be if I told you I was going to do that to you. That would be illegal. I'm just sayin'...."

There is a reason for the Marine Corps motto: Semper Fidelis.

To everyone who uses that "Semper Fi" as a recognition of "Brothers in Arms", and indeed, all of our uniformed services who hold American ideals dear, THANK YOU!

Blessings,
B

[Lady Di]

I can't say what I think. It would be too unladylike.

Thanks to all our men and women in uniform. They deserve much better! The Hoosier Heartland loves the military!

[brotherbill3]

"You have the right to remain silent. I strongly advise you to exercise it. I'm told teeth really hurt when they come out the other end. Threat? Nooooo, that's not a threat. A threat would be if I told you I was going to do that to you. That would be illegal. I'm just sayin'...."

or put another way ... in a favorite line from the movie "Chisum" ...

John Simpson Chisum: Well I don't favor talking to vermin ... I'm not going to the sheriff, the governor, or the president of the United States. I'm coming to see you.
Lawrence Murphy: Hmph. Mr. Chisum, that sounds like a threat.
John Simpson Chisum: [John Chisum belts Murphy, knocking him down with his right fist] Wrong word. FACT!

I guess we can't do that any more can we? too bad. knocking some sense in to people (forced osmosis?) used to work, didn't it? Oh well.

Way to stand up (again) for our freedom Ernie.

"Brother" Bill

[Clark]

ErnieH - that was way cool showing your support.

Berkeley sucks. Lets have the Marines and ALL military pull out of Calif. Lets see what they think about the BILLIONS pulled out of their economy and they can talk all they want about their IDEALS when they get a suicide bomber to walk up to them while they drink their own cool aid.

I have burned the American Flag -ONLY in a Flag retirement ceremony with TAPS playing. I almost can not talk because of the emotions every time we retire a flag showing proper respect to all of those that have fought for our freedom. Anyone burning a flag not in a proper retirement ceremony needs to move out of the country and live in Tehran.

Thank you for posting and showing your support to the troops.

[VegasGeorge]

Clark, here you go! Those idiots in Berekley should take a lesson here.

http://web.mac.com/vegasgeorge/iWeb/VegasGeorge/Photos_files/Farewell2.jpg

[Clark]

That is a great picture. That picture can not even capture the emotion of a troop of Boy Scouts around a camp fire and a large portion of the Dads around that have served in the military and to have Taps played from the distance.

There is never a dry eye.

Thank you for posting that picture. Our prayer is that our troops know that Berkley sucks and they do not express our feelings for our troops.

Thanks again Vegas.....

[VegasGeorge]

Thanks Clark. It was my privilege to be at this flag retirement ceremony at my homeowners association a couple of years back. Last year I played my horn instead of taking pictures. It's always a very moving event, sponsored by my homeowners veterans group.

The photograph is a composite of three pictures I took that day. The background flag is one that was held up for a final display before disposal, the thought balloon is the scouts playing taps and saluting at the end of the ceremony, and the foreground was the actual burning of part of the flag. I used Photoshop to put it all together as a pictorial representation of the overall event. I was inspired by the pensive expression of the young cub scout waiting his turn to place a section of the flag in the fire. I was thinking of Normal Rockwell as I ordered my selected shots and placed them together.

[fiddlin1]

Ernie-
My hat is off to you-
COWARDS in Berkeley-
I would like to see the Tax dollar cut off to Berkeley-
It has been proposed- I know-
I do avoid Berkeley too-
Mark
Carson City NV