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Thursday, February 15, 2007
Gathering of Eagles - Followup (National Park Police Assure Vets They Will Protect The Memorial )
From: M.S. Golden
To: 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 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 area and approaches from Constitution Ave. So net effect ... no protesters within 300 yd's.
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 prosecuted 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, 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 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 what we consider hollowed 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 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 comrade-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 the 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 Fi
Michael S. Golden
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I received the above letter via email from Del - a Vet residing in Raleigh, NC.
I have thought very deeply about the situation for two days, and hope that the National Park Service Police adopts a zero tolerance posture with regard to vandalizing of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Three Brothers and the Women's Memorial. I am very afraid that many of our Vietnam Vets have a bitter taste in their mouths from the conduct of Ms. Fonda, et al during that conflict. In some cases, they could easily go absolutely ballistic at the first sign of vandalism of the monument, or even worse, the first drop of blood shed by a vet at the hands of Cindy Sheehan and/or her followers. In a worst case scenario, it could turn into a blood bath.
I am not going, because I fear that I might be the one that goes ballistic. I don't pray very often, but I am praying that no-one is injured on March 17 - from either side of aisle. I urge those that are not absolutely sure that they can maintain their "cool" to skip this one - again, from both sides of the aisle. Maybe next time.
~g
To: 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 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 area and approaches from Constitution Ave. So net effect ... no protesters within 300 yd's.
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 prosecuted 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, 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 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 what we consider hollowed 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 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 comrade-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 the 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 Fi
Michael S. Golden
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I received the above letter via email from Del - a Vet residing in Raleigh, NC.
I have thought very deeply about the situation for two days, and hope that the National Park Service Police adopts a zero tolerance posture with regard to vandalizing of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Three Brothers and the Women's Memorial. I am very afraid that many of our Vietnam Vets have a bitter taste in their mouths from the conduct of Ms. Fonda, et al during that conflict. In some cases, they could easily go absolutely ballistic at the first sign of vandalism of the monument, or even worse, the first drop of blood shed by a vet at the hands of Cindy Sheehan and/or her followers. In a worst case scenario, it could turn into a blood bath.
I am not going, because I fear that I might be the one that goes ballistic. I don't pray very often, but I am praying that no-one is injured on March 17 - from either side of aisle. I urge those that are not absolutely sure that they can maintain their "cool" to skip this one - again, from both sides of the aisle. Maybe next time.
~g
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