Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Subject: Fridays at the Pentagon

Friday’s At The Pentagon









HAPPENS EVERY FRIDAY. DID YOU KNOW?




It really breaks my heart to know that we didn't know this goes on every Friday, well at least I didn't know. Instead, I guess the media feels it's more important to report on Tiger Wood with his car accident, or Brittany Spears loosing weight and getting married for the 4th time, or football players betting on dogs, or endless stories about Michael Jackson. I hope this article gives you a sense of pride of what our men and women are doing for us, everyday, as they serve in the armed forces here and abroad.

____________________________________________________________ _________________________

IT HAPPENS EVERY FRIDAY! WERE YOU AWARE?

Mornings at the Pentagon

By JOSEPH L. GALLOWAY
McClatchy Newspapers

Over the last 12 months, 1,042 soldiers, Marines, sailors and Air Force personnel have given their lives in the terrible duty that is war. Thousands more have come home on stretchers, horribly wounded and facing months or years in military hospitals.

This week, I'm turning my space over to a good friend and former roommate, Army Lt. Col. Robert Bateman, who recently completed a year long tour of duty in Iraq and is now back at the Pentagon.

Here's Lt. Col. Bateman's account of a little-known ceremony that fills the halls of the Army corridor of the Pentagon with cheers, applause and many tears every Friday morning. It first appeared on May 17 on the Weblog of media critic and pundit Eric Alterman at the Media Matters for America Website.

"It is 110 yards from the "E" ring to the "A" ring of the Pentagon. This section of the Pentagon is newly renovated; the floors shine, the hallway is broad, and the lighting is bright. At this instant the entire length of the corridor is packed with officers, a few sergeants and some civilians, all crammed tightly three and four deep against the walls. There are thousands here.

This hallway, more than any other, is the `Army' hallway. The G3 offices line one side, G2 the other, G8 is around the corner. All Army. Moderate conversations flow in a low buzz. Friends who may not have seen each other for a few weeks, or a few years, spot each other, cross the way and renew.

Everyone shifts to ensure an open path remains down the center. The air conditioning system was not designed for this press of bodies in this area.

The temperature is rising already. Nobody cares. "10:36 hours: The clapping starts at the E-Ring. That is the outermost of the five rings of the Pentagon and it is closest to the entrance to the building. This clapping is low, sustained, hearty. It is applause with a deep emotion behind it as it moves forward in a wave down the length of the hallway.

"A steady rolling wave of sound it is, moving at the pace of the soldier in the wheelchair who marks the forward edge with his presence. He is the first. He is missing the greater part of one leg, and some of his wounds are still suppurating. By his age I expect that he is a private, or perhaps a private first class.

"Captains, majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels meet his gaze and nod as they applaud, soldier to soldier. Three years ago when I described one of these events, those lining the hallways were somewhat different. The applause a little wilder, perhaps in private guilt for not having shared in the burden ... yet.

"Now almost everyone lining the hallway is, like the man in the wheelchair, also a combat veteran. This steadies the applause, but I think deepens the sentiment. We have all been there now. The soldier's chair is pushed by, I believe, a full colonel.

"Behind him, and stretching the length from Rings E to A, come more of his peers, each private, corporal, or sergeant assisted as need be by a field grade officer.

"11:00 hours: Twenty-four minutes of steady applause. My hands hurt, and I laugh to myself at how stupid that sounds in my own head. My hands hurt. Please! Shut up and clap. For twenty-four minutes, soldier after soldier has come down this hallway - 20, 25, 30.. Fifty-three legs come with them, and perhaps only 52 hands or arms, but down this hall came 30 solid hearts.


They pass down this corridor of officers and applause, and then meet for a private lunch, at which they are the guests of honor, hosted by the generals. Some are wheeled along. Some insist upon getting out of their chairs, to march as best they can with their chin held up, down this hallway, through this most unique audience. Some are catching handshakes and smiling like a politician at a Fourth of July parade. More than a couple of them seem amazed and are smiling shyly.

"There are families with them as well: the 18-year-old war-bride pushing her 19-year-old husband's wheelchair and not quite understanding why her husband is so affected by this, the boy she grew up with, now a man, who had never shed a tear is crying; the older immigrant Latino parents who have, perhaps more than their wounded mid-20s son, an appreciation for the emotion given on their son's behalf. No man in that hallway, walking or clapping, is ashamed by the silent tears on more than a few cheeks. An Airborne Ranger wipes his eyes only to better see. A couple of the officers in this crowd have themselves been a part of this parade in the past.

These are our men, broken in body they may be, but they are our brothers, and we welcome them home. This parade has gone on, every single Friday, all year long, for more than four years.

"Did you know that?
The hardest thing to learn is:
Which bridge to cross and which to burn.

Semper Fi!
Sgt. Bill

Never had a clue but leave it the Army folks to honor heroes like this... The place is huge...I gotta find out where they convene and visit one Friday...You can supposedly walk from any point to another in 7 or 8 minutes...yeah right.

Having worked at that funny 5 sided building for 6 years, i have on had the oppurunity to be one of those lining the halls and clapping until my hands hurt. I have come across the parade while in route to customers office now that i know it is every friday i will it a point to try to attend more.

That is awesome! I might have to try to attend one day. It would be my honor to clap for those warriors!

http://mediamatters.org/


are you really going to link this site?

Media matters is funded by george soros.... he couldnt care less about the troops.WAke UP!

I don't know who George soros is but I thought it would be nice to see that something like this was being done for our Military people that got messed up in the bullshit over their.
Bill

SgtBill wrote:I don't know who George soros is but I thought it would be nice to see that something like this was being done for our Military people that got messed up in the bullshit over their.
Bill

George Soros is a gazillionaire who got rich betting against the British pound. He is one of the richest liberal socialists in the US. I dont think he's ever had on any kind of uniform much less honored our heroes...

George soros funded media matters after the 2004 election. He earlier stated that he would be willing to expend his entire fortune if someone could guarantee a Bush defeat in 04. When Bush won, the hungarian born Billionaire started many leftwing endevours to ensure a democrat win in 08. Hence the media picked Rhino John McCain to run against the dems. Hillary would have won, except Soros, who was backing hillary at the onset, changed his loyalties to Obama, and Obama soared through the dem primaries. Obama's world view is what convinced Soros to switch. You see Soros has for decades thought that more of an International government, instead of multi-national governments would be more 'fair'. A centralized International Government. (ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT) is his dream. He has been invovled in many economics callapses worldwide, and said to have caused most of them, or at least participated and made Billions of dollars doing so. Isn't it odd that as soon as he got involved heavily to beat any Republican in 08, we as a nation started our fall, economically into the Abyss. Like I said a long time ago, the economic situation we are in has been cleverly devised and expertly choreographed. It was the perfect October surprise, as far as political strategy goes. McClatchy newspapers, who reported this story are known to be leftwing mouthpieces, and instinctively reported anti-US war stories from insurgents during the Iraq War and purposely sought out the opinions of insurgents.

In 2008, McClatchy's bureau chief in Washington, D.C., John Walcott, was the first recipient of the I.F. Stone Medal for Journalistic Independence, awarded by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism.[4] In accepting the award, Walcott commented on McClatchy's reporting during the period preceding the Iraq War:

Why, in a nutshell, was our reporting different from so much other reporting? One important reason was that we sought out the dissidents, and we listened to them, instead of serving as stenographers to high-ranking [Bush administration] officials and Iraqi exiles.[

Sgt Bill thanks for a great story. As a disabled veteran I spend a fair amount of time at the Veterans hospital in Richmond and you can see many of these wounded warriors walking or being pushed around in the hallways. I always make it a point to thank them for their service. To see that the brass at the pentagon has established this tradition is heart warming. Too many people forget that the cost of these wars is paid for in flesh and bone. I don't really care where the story comes from, it's just good that the story is being told. A small parade through the Pentagon with some applause is the very least these guys deserve.

firstcavapache64 wrote:Sgt Bill thanks for a great story. As a disabled veteran I spend a fair amount of time at the Veterans hospital in Richmond and you can see many of these wounded warriors walking or being pushed around in the hallways. I always make it a point to thank them for their service. To see that the brass at the pentagon has established this tradition is heart warming. Too many people forget that the cost of these wars is paid for in flesh and bone. I don't really care where the story comes from, it's just good that the story is being told. A small parade through the Pentagon with some applause is the very least these guys deserve.

John, many thanks for your service and sacrifice. I dont think the "brass" established this...if I know Army folk (and I do having been one) the worker bees started it...

Helluva story Sarge, Hell, I'd pull the Dress Blues with medals out of the closet just for the opportunity to applaud our brothers in arms.

I'm going to find out where they do this as I'd like to participate once or twice...I'd also be willing to take a small group in if anyone is interested. We could set up a Friday and go for it...

firstcavapache64 wrote:Sgt Bill thanks for a great story. As a disabled veteran I spend a fair amount of time at the Veterans hospital in Richmond and you can see many of these wounded warriors walking or being pushed around in the hallways. I always make it a point to thank them for their service. To see that the brass at the pentagon has established this tradition is heart warming. Too many people forget that the cost of these wars is paid for in flesh and bone. I don't really care where the story comes from, it's just good that the story is being told. A small parade through the Pentagon with some applause is the very least these guys deserve.

I agree, it is the very least.

zephyp wrote:I'm going to find out where they do this as I'd like to participate once or twice...I'd also be willing to take a small group in if anyone is interested. We could set up a Friday and go for it...

That would be a good idea, let us know when and where , if they do this every friday it should be a simple task to set it up.

GS78 wrote:

zephyp wrote:I'm going to find out where they do this as I'd like to participate once or twice...I'd also be willing to take a small group in if anyone is interested. We could set up a Friday and go for it...

That would be a good idea, let us know when and where , if they do this every friday it should be a simple task to set it up.

I'll be happy to do it if 5 or 6 folks are interested...

Count me in, I would love to go. I wonder what the rule is as far as guns in the parking lot. Could we leave our CCW guns in the parked car or is that a no no ?

firstcavapache64 wrote:Count me in, I would love to go. I wonder what the rule is as far as guns in the parking lot. Could we leave our CCW guns in the parked car or is that a no no ?

Well, since you cant park at the Pentagon the short answer is yes. I would recommend those wanting to attend park at a metro station and take the train...

Once a couple more folks pipe up I'll put post up in the M&G thread...

zephyp wrote:

SgtBill wrote:I don't know who George soros is but I thought it would be nice to see that something like this was being done for our Military people that got messed up in the bullshit over their.
Bill

George Soros is a gazillionaire who got rich betting against the British pound. He is one of the richest liberal socialists in the US. I dont think he's ever had on any kind of uniform much less honored our heroes...

Don't you believe it, George Soros is at basic the capitalist's, capitalist who has made tons of money running a very successful hedge fund. He has also spent millions to defeat communists in Eastern Europe, and to open and democratic governments in emerging nations. But let some tell it he does nothing but fund any and everything progressive or liberal. If that were true, the man would be penniless. Soros is an immigrant who made it BIG by being a successful currency speculator. Soros also saw the bubble coming and profited from it. You can't be any more American than that!

Funny you never hear how Richard Mellon Scaife and his foundation funds all types of right wing causes. Remember that book about Anita Hill? Yep funded by Scaife. Remember the millions poured into the attempt to bring President Clinton down, you guessed it funded by Scaife. The book about Hillary Clinton, yep same source. The author however was cut loose because the book was not critical enough and did not dish more dirt on the Clintons.

Unlike those who detest Soros, I have no problem with Scaife spending his considerable fortune however he likes. And let's not forget the Coors family who do the same thing. Soros is very critical of U.S. policy in numerous realms, but so what?

The National Review (which has never made a dime), the Heritage Foundation, The American Enterprise Institute have also been critical of US policy, and they are heavily funded by the Scaife's and the Coors. Again I ask, so what?

Gat 6

Sarge-
Thank you for sharing/highlighting...awesome story...
DK, I would certainly be in for trip down to the pentagon...

which reminds me, (bear with me, story coming on) I am not sure if it still holds, but at the time, I had the dubious honor of having been the only person corralled by the MP's in the pentagon for riding his skateboard in the wide smmmoooooth tiled halls...

would go in with Dad on weekends and hang out while he fixed the "western hemisphere"...i would walk up and down the hallsways and stare at the art work and trophy cases and the flags and banners and just drink it in mentally...and the funny thing is that there are double bathrooms as the pentagon was built before the end of segragation, and they had mens and womans and Black and white bathrooms...big stuff for a 11/12 year old to contemplate.

So, one day, I took my skateboard one day ( looooooong time ago, galaxy far far far away in a different universe where you could do things like that) and was really toooling down one of the rings, just had come off a down ramp and i had just missed a mailman on on of those electric carts (they drive worse then NY cabbies) and i wiped out and my skate board went whizzing across the hallway and hits a flag officer in the shin...game over.

Dad was pissed cause i promised him i wouldn't touch the wheels to the tile...when the MP's brough me back to his desk, he knew exactly what had transpired... not a good day...thought he was going to tar and father me on the spot, in front of the MP's, who stode like stone until they were dismissed...but in fact i got far worse, I got a lo-o-o-ng talking too, in the command voice, no less...he used words like "respect"..."revernce"..."pride"..."patriotic"..."honor" and "responsiblity"... and how i better get some of each, and do so in a hurry, and he finished with "if you have any damm idea what is good for you"...which i can hear in my memeory plain as day , which actaully sounded alot like 2 rocks being scraped against each other... the man is a master of inflection.

we laugh about it now as a "rememeber when..." story, but it really stuck with me... and helped positivly shape who i am today, and I love him for it.

...and that is my pentagon story.

BluemontGlock wrote:Sarge-
Thank you for sharing/highlighting...awesome story...
DK, I would certainly be in for trip down to the pentagon...

Great. Now there are 4 of us...

@gatling - he (soros) may employ capitalist principles but he's still the biggest socialist this side of the ocean...