As some of you may be aware, the anti-war Left in this country is organizing a protest that will gather at the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, DC on March 17th. Folks, these protestors are not just your average Americans who disagree with the war in Iraq, these are professional agitators infamously known as "ANSWER." You can read all about this at their webpage devoted to this action.
(For the record, ANSWER lists the people who are endorsing this action and I completely and unabashedly dislike and disagree with every single person on their list.)
What makes this action disturbing is that they intend to gather at the Vietnam Memorial Wall to begin their day of America-hating. These groups just recently defaced government property in one of their other protests. Many of us are worried that the same will happen again but this time they will deface a war memorial -- one that is very emotional to many Americans, one that they hold sacred. Vietnam was a devastating loss to this country in American lives and in American spirit. We cannot allow this loss to be relived and passions inflamed by actions that may be taken against this memorial to our brave men and women who fought and died in Vietnam.
Mark and I will be there as will some other folks from the Louisville area who feel VERY strongly about this. You can be there too. You can show the troops in combat today that you support what they are doing by guarding and respecting the memorial to other troops who have given their all for this country. Believe me, if you feel strongly about this, you should have no doubt that, if you participate in this, you will come away feeling very proud that you were there to protect and honor our patriots in the face of America-hating throwbacks to the Vietnam era. It's the least some of us can do to show the proper respect for the sacrifices made in our honor.
I'd like to share with you a dispatch that was sent my way today regarding this anti-war protest and what we anticipate in the "Gathering of Eagles" response to it:
Veterans, family and friends:
In response to the concerns expressed, I contacted Robin Owen (person in charge of issuing event permits for the National Mall area) of the National park Service via telephone this morning and was very convincingly informed and assured of the following:
1.) There will be a 300 yard perimeter comprised of double snow fence barriers with an ample number of mounted, foot police, riot reaction squad nearby and intelligence personal on scene, to ensure that the conditions of the permit granted to the antiwar activists are not violated (e.g., the assembly point is in an appointed area on the eastern end of the grounds (knoll) and they will not be allowed in the proximity of the wall). A similar exclusion zone applies to the area and approaches from Constitution Ave. So, net effect... no protesters within 300 yds.
2.) That ALL laws will be vigorously enforced and prosecuted in terms of any violence, vandalism,or, threat to public safety. This was stated emphatically.
3.) About an hour later, I received a phone call from Sgt, Booker of the Park Police saying he had been asked by Robin Owen to reiterate the policy and to reinforce her statements to me and answer any further questions I may have on the Park Police law enforcement polices.
Sgt. Booker stated even MORE emphatically that the Park Police consider the Wall as sacred ground, as we do, (as did Robin Owen) themselves, and that they WILL enforce any, and all laws, relevant to it's integrity. And, any concerns we may have stemming from the non-enforcement of the law by the Capitol Police last weekend are not relevant to his Dept. They WILL arrest and prosecute anyone who breaks the law.
4.) The Wall will be open for visiting to the general public as usual... if any of you care to do so on that day.
Vietnam veterans are asking veterans, their families and friends, active duty military personal, as well as the like-minded public, to join us in emailing, calling, and writing to the National Park Service robbin_owen@nps.gov (1-202 619-7225) and Vietnam Memorial Fund vvmf@vvmf.org (202) 393-0090 Fax: (202) 393-0029 asking them to take any and all legal action to prohibit the planned anti-war demonstration on March 17, 2007 at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Further, to demand that the appropriate law enforcement agencies stringently enforce the law as it pertains to defacement of public edifices, monuments, and property.
We are very concerned, in light of recent events, there will be a repetition of the vandalism that occurred at last weekend's antiwar protest has a real potential to reoccur at the upcoming event and that the police again will be prevented from enforcing the law by their superiors. We will not allow the Vietnam War Memorial to be vandalized, spray painted, or in any way be defaced, as was the U.S. Congress during last weekend's antiwar protest when police were ordered to retreat in the face of leftist radicals who defiled our nation's seat of government. If the police are similarly prevented in doing their job as they were in the case of the U.S. Congress, we veterans are more than willing and able to form a "human honor guard" (peacefully) to prevent a similar sacrilege to the nation's property and to that we consider hallowed ground, and our war's collective tombstone.
We do not object to public protest. Many of us have fought, bled, and died, to provide (and protect) the citizenry the right to free assembly.
We do however, strongly object to the use of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial as a backdrop and stage for political gain. And, we take it as an affront to our fallen comrades-in-arms and to their honor that the antiwar movement's organizers and supporters would be so insensitive, inconsiderate, and boorish, as to even consider it as suitable location for political theater.
It is scared ground and should be considered as such.
This is a very emotional issue to many veterans and the potential for confrontation is very high. In the interest of the sensitivities of the veterans and that of public safety and good order, we ask you to use your good offices and influence to convince antiwar movement's organizers to reconsider their choice of assembly point and relocate it to a less emotionally charged area.
Semper FiMichael S. Golden
President/CEO
Veterans Construction Inc. (VCI)
Knoxville, TN.
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