Last Saturday, June 26, I attended a presentation at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.

The Gathering of Eagles, in conjunction with Soldiers Angels, Military Order of the Purple Heart and Rolling Thunder, donated brand new laptop computers to 20 wounded soldiers at Moon Hall.

With these internet ready laptops, equipped with webcams, the soldiers have the ability to communicate and stay in touch with family and friends during their stay in the hospital.

I've prepared a YouTube video of the event ... or some of the event. I missed the actual presentation because I was late. I was late because it took considerably more time to clear the security gate than was anticipated. More about that below.

So, why was I delayed at the security gate?

When I pulled up, the officer said
"Have your driver license and registration ready for inspection, open all doors and your hood. Exit the vehicle."

As I climbed down from my pickup, I said
"I have a concealed carry permit, and I am in possession of two loaded weapons.

The officer said
"Step away from the vehicle ...."

Wouldn't you like to know the rest of that story?

Albert Snyder, of York Pa. lost his son.

Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, killed in Iraq, was buried in 2006.
There was a massive turnout for the funeral.

Also present was the Phelps family of Topeka, Kansas: the infamous Westboro Baptist Church. In case you're not familiar with the Phelps, they travel the nation looking for military funerals at which they can protest.
While families mourn the loss of sons and daughters who gave life for their country, they have to bear the scorn and disrespect of the Westboro Baptists.

Have you had to lay to rest a loved one? Imagine how you would have reacted had a group of people attended the funeral with signs saying thank God your loved one was dead - that your loved one deserved to die.

That has been the burden of hundreds of military families in the last decade - to bury their dead while enduring the jeering mockery of ingrates standing on American flags.

Albert Snyder fought back. He sued the Phelps family - and won.
Well good! we said. Justice served! We celebrated.

But ....
from the Baltimore sun:
Marine's father ordered to pay Westboro's court costs

Lawyers for Snyder say the Court of Appeals has ordered him to pay $16,510.80 to Phelps for costs relating to the appeal, despite the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review the Court of Appeals' decision.

The high court agreed earlier this month to consider whether the protesters' message is protected by the First Amendment or limited by the competing privacy and religious rights of the mourners.

from the York Daily Record:
What the Supreme Court sees in Snyder v. Phelps

in which pompous intellectuals hone their babbling skills on the finer details of constitutional law.

The original decision for Snyder was overturned based on the abused 1st Amendment right of free speech, and Phelps was awarded over 16 grand - to be paid by the family of the fallen Marine.

Somehow, those five words "...abridging the freedom of speech..." have been twisted into "Scum like the Phelps have a right to scream and holler, wave evil signs, stand on your flag and make fun of your dead son."

How did everything get turned backwards and upside down?

I have many suggestions in mind that I would love to propose, but my freedom of speech is, without a doubt, not as holy as the Phelps'. So I'll just relay the following:

A better ending to this chapter of the story:
Rumor is that FOX News' Bill O'Reilly has covered the costs of the Snyders court case.

Of the three Navy SEALs accused of mistreating an Iraqi detainee, two will have their trials take place at Camp Victory, Iraq. WAVY-TV 10 ran this report today:

Navy SEALs' trials moved to Iraq

Despite the outpouring of criticism, the moving of the trials to Camp Victory is actually a good thing. For one, it will allow the sailors to face their accuser, and the defense an opportunity to cross examine. Two, the jury would be made up of military personnel who are currently serving in Iraq.

Nevertheless, those bits of good news do not negate the insult and slander against these men who have sacrificed so much of their lives in service to America.

The organizers of the December 7 Support Our Seals Rally in Norfolk VA have been getting ready for the next rally on January 19, 2010. Today it was announced that the rally is GO.

As on Dec 7, the rally will take place at the Norfolk Naval Base Gate 5 which is at the intersection of Hampton Blvd and B Avenue.

Again, as before, Donna and I will be renting a mini-bus van to haul as many folks as possible from the Raleigh NC area. Or two vans. If you would like to make the trip let me know as soon as possible. Seats on the van(s) are 'first come, first ride', and several have already been spoken for. The cost will be approximately $20 per seat.

Send an email to bubba @ whatbubbaknows.com to reserve your seat.

We will leave from Zebulon NC at 0500 hours, Tuesday morning, January 19; returning that evening.

Update
A letter to SOCOM commander.

Admiral,

I've never felt as strongly that a true and great injustice is being committed by the Navy, our government, and your command. You wish to try three SEALs for giving an enemy combatant a "fat lip"? In the words of John McEnroe, "You CANNOT be serious!" The job of a commander is to put his posterior on the line for his troops, not the opposite. You, sir, have failed to do that and I might add, miserably. You have the ability and the power to stop with the political correctness and I would respectfully request that you reconsider and do so. There are many of us in the retired/veteran community who see the damage being done to our military, the military we devoted a good portion of our lives to, and we see nothing but political correctness and those commanders who will put the troops posteriors on the line to protect their own. Are you trying to become CNO? Put your politically correct feelings aside and protect these SEALs. Your Navy will be a better place for it!

Very Respectfully,

Dr. Harold F. Swanson, LCDR, USN (Ret.)

via Josh Irving at SupportOurSeals.com

As most of you know, some of our military’s most elite, the Navy SEALs are under fire from the US Government for allegedly assaulting one of the most wanted terrorists in Iraq. Ahmed Hashim Abed is the suspected mastermind of the murder and mutilation of four Blackwater USA security guards in Fallujah in 2004. Special Warfare Operators 2nd Class Matthew McCabe and Jonathan Keefe, and Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Julio Huertas all face charges including allegedly punching Abed while being detained.
This past December, all 3 SEALs were arraigned and plead not guilty to the charges stemming from the alleged abuse of Abed. The 3 SEALs refused Non-Judicial Punishment (Captain’s Mast) which is based on an assumption of guilt resulting in consequences that can be career changing, and opted to take their chances with a Special Courts-Marshal to prove their innocents. Their trials are set to begin in 2010 and if convicted, they carry a federal conviction that will follow them throughout their lives, and punishment that can include a year detention and a separation from the service with an Other than Honorable Discharge.

The charges being brought against these SEALs, if guilty, warrant nothing more than a slap on the wrist. These guys do not deserve this; they deserve to be treated like heroes for doing the jobs that 99.999% of American couldn’t even fathom. Yet, here they are being thrown up on the chopping block by non other than the US Government. The country they swore to defend is now feeding them to the wolves. And to add insult to injury, Chapter 18 of the Al Qaeda training manual released by the US Justice Department says that members must complain of torture and mistreatment inflicted on them. They’re trained to use our own system against us!

I’m sure all of you agree that this is a complete outrage and mockery of our US Military. As Americans, we CANNOT stand for this and MUST show support for our troops who are constantly being put in harms way to protect the country that is now bringing them under fire.

Two of the 3 SEALs, Matthew McCabe (accused of punching Abed) & Julio Huertas went before a judge on Dec 7, 2009 and are scheduled to being trail in January, 2010. A very successful Support Rally for the 3 SEALs was also held that same day outside the Norfolk Naval Base in Norfolk, VA. Several hundred supporters came and went throughout the morning waving flags and holding signs as the 2 SEALs appeared in court. You can read more about the rally that took place at: http://www.SupportOurSEALs.com. The 3rd SEAL, Jonathan Keefe was arraigned on Tuesday, Dec 22, and his trial is set to begin in April, 2010.

Currently, nation wide Support Rallies are being planned for Jan 19, 2009 for various locations all across the U.S. This is the day Matthew McCabe’s trail starts and we want the world to know we stand behind these guys and support them. The more local media coverage we get from coast to coast, the more national coverage these 3 SEALs will get. As of right now, we are hearing of rallies coming together at the following locations, but will know more as it gets closer to the 19th:
• Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, VA
• Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM : http://www.meetup.com/Southwest-Patriots/calendar/12123784
• Perrysburg, OH, the Home Town of Matthew McCabe: http://www.meetup.com/the-children-of-liberty-d5/calendar/12127984/
• Naval Base San Diego in San Diego, CA
• Fort Hood in Killeen, TX
• Fort Worth Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, TX
And hopefully many more across the nation! We will continue to update everyone as more details about these rallies become available and PLEASE let us know ASAP if you are planning one in your area that day so we can help you promote it.

We want to stress to everyone that these are not protests, but instead rallies to show support for these 3 brave warriors. As Scott Taylor put it, “We are not against the military, we are supporting our boys. We stand against the political correctness being placed upon our brave men and women in a war zone. We agree that what these warriors are being alleged to have done warrants nothing more than someone telling you to stop. We applaud their brave actions in capturing this terrorist who was responsible for planning, killing, mutilating, and hanging 4 American citizens from a bridge in Fallujah. This then caused the invasion of Fallujah, costing many more American lives. Kudos to all of you out there showing leadership and standing by these men.”

If you are unsure you will be able to attend one of these rallies, PLEASE mark the RSVP for this event as “Maybe Attending” so we can continue to keep you updated.

Also, there are several groups / sites out there asking for donations in relation to the situation surrounding this case. PLEASE make sure you exercise due diligence when choosing to contribute to a defense fund. I know of one site in particular that is asking for donations so they can air the story on cable. As of right now, the legal costs for these 3 SEALs are extremely high and they have to cover those cost with money out of their own pocket. So, we are putting the call out to ALL Americans across the nation to help support these guys. The US Navy SEAL/Warrior Legal Defense Fund has been setup so donations can be made, and 100% of proceeds go directly to the 3 representing lawyers specifically for these SEALs on trial. Also, it’s been reported that there’s a possibility the trial could go over seas. If this happens, the legal fees could go much, much higher. And YES, I did say there’s a chance the trial could be held in Iraq since the accuser is an Iraqi prisoner. You can find out more about this particular defense fund at our website: http://www.SupportOurSEALs.com.

Lastly, please help us spread the word by doing the following:
1. Invite everyone you know and encourage them to do the same. Even if you’re not in the area, we need to get the word out to those who are. You can do this by clicking on the link “Invite People to Come”
2. Share this event with your friends. You can do this by clicking on the button “Share +”. This will post the event on your home page for everyone to see. Both of these links can be found directly under the picture of the SEALs on this page.
3. Post link a link to the website http://www.SupportOurSEALs.com on Facebook pages, groups, walls & also on blogs, forums and other websites talking about this case.

Thanks for your support, Josh

The Gathering of Eagles Warrior Support Project
Mission Update: December 31, 2009
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A song dedicated to soldiers and veterans is turning the third grade at Colonial Heights' Tussing Elementary School into an Internet sensation.
The response from around the world has surprised music teacher Michael Souders, who co-wrote the song "Thank You Soldiers" with his wife, Angela, and posted the video on multiple video-hosting Web sites, including You Tube.
The third-graders gave a school performance after Veterans Day, and Souders wanted to write a song for the students to sing that was not just about the soldiers, but to them.
"I wanted to write one that would be very sweet from [the students'] hearts, from them singing directly to the veterans and soldiers," he said.
The three-minute video has the lyrics to the song displayed over photographs of soldiers past and present. The song opens by celebrating the ability to sleep peacefully at night while soldiers protect America's shores "in the air and oceans, too / Defending freedom at all cost."

While Souders never served in the military, he has a deep appreciation for those who do. "Not having served, I feel indebted more," he said.
Souders said the students received certificates from the Military Chaplains Association of the United States of America and Catholic War Veterans of the U.S.A. for the performance. The class also is receiving notes and e-mails from all over the world, from active-duty soldiers to veterans to their families.
Since being uploaded to You Tube and other Web sites early last month, the video has been viewed more than 15,000 times. The song has been played on various radio stations throughout the Richmond area.
"The real, real desire for that video [was] the more soldiers that get a thank-you, the better," Souders said. "It's almost become a class project, to see how many soldiers we can thank."
One thing is certain, Souders said: "They are going to remember; it's not something they'll soon forget."

On December 9, reader Jeff Preston submitted the "Mother Avenged" poster in tribute to the Navy SEALs facing criminal charges (for doing their job).

Now Jeff has submitted another great poster.

Related:
Free the SEALs Fund
Symptoms of Corrupting Sickness

Written by Larry Bailey
Tuesday, 15 December 2009 05:14
Friends of the SEAL Trio (hereinafter referred to as "The Trio"):

All you generous folks who've been chomping at the bit to help our beleaguered warriors now have somewhere to send your checks. I think that by tomorrow you'll be able to contribute via PayPal or by bank wire.

Here's where you can send your checks:

Warrior Legacy Foundation
c/o First Western Trust Bank
5460 South Quebec St.
Greenwood, CO 80111

The Fund we've set up is tax-exempt and your contributions are tax-deductible, plus we have a six-person oversight board. There will be two SEALs (Pete Poillon and me), a troop-activist lady who introduced us to the Warrior Legacy Foundation, and a mixture of Army and USMC overseers.

You will be provided more information about how the Warrior Legacy Foundation has "adopted" the Warrior Defense Fund (The Trio's Fund) to give us 501(c)(3) cover.

Keep those checks rolling in. They will be put to good use almost immediately.

The Trio thanks you.

Larry Bailey

From FreeThSeals.com

Related:
Friends of the SEAL Trio!
Please consider signing this petition; it was done by Jed Babbin, Editor of Human Events, who is a long-time friend of the SEAL community. Won't take but a few seconds, so get it on!
Some petitions are better than others, but THIS one will be delivered!

Symptoms of Corrupting Sickness

 

It would be interesting to create a poll with these two photos and have people guess what's happening. I suspect that most would never assume anything close to the real story. It appears to be a joyous homecoming, a reuniting of mother and son.

The truth is not so heart warming.

The lady in the picture is the mother of an American that was ambushed in Fallujah, Iraq. Her son was murdered. His body was dragged around in the streets of the city, then burned and hung from the upper trusses of a bridge. The murderers gathered to celebrate and have their photos taken with the trophy.
The young sailor in the picture is one of the Navy SEALs that later captured the leader of the band of terrorist butchers and brought him to justice.

If the story ended there, it would still be an acceptable feel-good, good-guys-win story. Unfortunately, that's not the case - this Navy SEAL is facing criminal charges. Because, somewhere along the timeline of his capture, the terrorist murderer suffered a school-yard fat lip, his captors are now being charged with nothing short of war crimes and facing discharge and imprisonment.

So, instead of celebration of justice served and heroes honored, these photos record betrayal, compounded mourning and the effects of a corrupting sickness.

From WAVY.com:
SEALs assault case goes to court

NORFOLK, Va. - "It's been very stressful," said Navy SEAL Mathew McCabe, 24, moments after his arraignment in military court at Naval Station Norfolk Monday on charges that he allegedly mistreated an Iraqi detainee.

The mother of slain Blackwater guard Jerry Zovko drove from Ohio to give each of the accused SEALs a blessed rosary and lend them her support. "These young SEALs are in this situation because they caught the mastermind behind the death of my son, and not only my son and his co-workers but also the marines who went into Fallujah after their death," said Donna Zovko. "I am very proud of these young SEALs and thankful to them. They did not do anything wrong."

Through history how many nations have habitually betrayed their defenders and survived?

Donna and I left our home at 4:00am, Monday morning and drove to Norfolk. We were in the company of four other patriots from the Raleigh area:
Don Gray of Military Appreciation Day and NC Gathering of Eagles.
Patrik Holbrook, NC Gathering of Eagles.
Russell Pope, NCFreedom.us
and Randy Dye, Randy's Right Blog and NCFreedom.us

We joined a hundred or more others at Gate 5 of the Norfolk Naval Base to demonstrate support for Navy SEAL Mathew McCabe.

Here are my photos.

Above: My friend Jim Holmes, Quantico, VA: Gathering of Eagles


Above: Mike Blankenship, Gathering of Eagles


Above: Randy Dye with my bride





Above: Me and My friend Mike Blankenship


Above: Russell Pope on my right, Patrik Holbrook to my left


Above: I met the SEAL's father, Marty McCabe.


After the arraignment hearings, McCabe came out to meet his supporters.




















Above: McCabe and Jim Deihl, Gathering of Eagles


Above: Josh Irving met McCabe




















Above: the expression of this supporter sums it.

Thanks to Pat, Don, Randy and Russ for riding with us.
Thanks to Russ and Randy for photos.

And Thank You Mathew McCabe for your service to our country.

Update 5 : January 9, 2010
Josh Irving of SupportOurSeals.com has suggested that Facebook account users update their profile photo with this image:



Update 4 : December 17
Free Our Seals

Update 3 : December 16
A Free the SEALs Fund

Update 2
Again, from WAVY.com:
Lawmakers rally around accused SEALs

NORFOLK, Va. - Lawmakers are rallying around three Navy SEALs accused of mistreating the suspected terrorist who masterminded the ambush and killing of four Blackwater contractors protecting a convoy in Iraq. Many lawmakers are asking the Navy to drop its prosecution of the SEALs

Update 1
Contribution by reader Jeff Preston
(click for full size)