Subject: KMOX packing party 2007
Reply-To: "Julieann" <soldiersmother2@charter.net>

Well yesterday KMOX did the second Packing Party at Grandview plaza at Schnucks And it was busy.   And a lot of things that were coming in fast and furious.   And a big thank you to Jane Rivers who was filling out declaration forms and answering questions about ASWL. And to Lottie. Who (as always) was out there talking to everyone about what we do and bout the big Christmas packing party.   And to Kelly who was busy packing boxes. 

We had to leave at 11:30am and they still had items coming in.    So KMOX did a very great job. 

And here are pictures. And the Teamsters "ROCK" they were the greatest bunch of guys .

Julieann

me, soldier, Kelly, Lottie (in front of the humvee) Kelly and "Charlie Brenner" interviewing her ,her brother is a marine on his second deployment in Iraq.   The group of guys with the reflective vests are the teamsters union who were there helping big time.

Here is one of Kelly, looking so serious!!!!   The one in front of the humvee ,soldier, Lottie, Kelly, Jane and some fat broad!!

The last picture if of Lottie "smoozing" up the mayor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you all

And now here is the information needed to get out to all:

Christmas for our Troops:

800 large boxes to go out on December 1st.... Starts at 9am, so of course we need to earn about $18,000.00 and here are the items needed for gifts:

1.  X-boxes (refurbished) and games. 
2.  Game boys.
3.  Portable DVD players.
4.  Digital Cameras.
5.  Stereos.
6.  Microwaves.
7.  CD'S / Country / Rock / Rap / Hip Hop.
8.  DVD'S / Pre-owned / New.
9.  Thumb drives.
10  Laptops / pre-owned / New.
11.  I-Pods.
12.  Gift baskets for women with feminine items.
13.  White Socks.
14.  Black Socks.
15.  Specialty Teas / Coffees.

These are big items as they are going to units so all can use them and trade off and the smaller items to our individual troops.   WE will be sending trees 6 ft to smaller units.   Large units will get the 8 foot tree (have one ready to go) but no small ones this year as they have a day room to put them into to share.   All will be getting baked goodies i.e." brownies, cookies, fudge.   (looking for lots and lots of bakers) last year we sent over 500 pounds of goodies.   And each soldier will be getting a wrapped gift.

So looking at our list we will be sending to MASH units.   And Chaplains and they will get them to the ones who don't get any.   And the smaller units will be getting them to distribute to the men and women in their unit.
     

At 05:54 PM 8/31/2007, you wrote:

I am sharing this with all of you.
 
I am starting a new project ,this is mine.   It is NOT ASWL.  I ordered these postcards, the postage and the printing and paid for it myself out of my pocket.  As this is about my son and about so many troops who need this,.  So I ordered 500 postcards and Jane Rivers printed out the address labels to all senators and house of representatives and we put on the stamps today and mailed them all.

This is just the start.  Please take a moment and send a letter to your Senator and ask why they are being ignored.....

So now I need to get the info.   Out about this.  TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) or (Troops Being Ignored) is something that you cant see.  But our troops are suffering from this So if you know of military families or those who you want to share this with ,please do so.

And THANK YOU, THANK YOU,  THANK YOU JANE RIVERS FOR HELPING ME SO MUCH WITH THIS AND ALL THE TIME AND EXPENSE ON THE LABELS

YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Julieann

From: Move America Forward
Date: 9/4/2007 8:07:49 PM
To: soldiersmother2@charter.net
Subject: Terrific First Day for Caravan!

Wow! What an incredible first day for the Move America Forward "Fight for Victory Tour."   We launched the tour just as the news media was reporting that President Bush had timed a special surprise trip to Iraq to thank U.S. troops for their service to this nation.   Needless to say this inspired our crowds and the Move America Forward team alike.

The staff at Move America Forward are writing this report at 1:44 AM after a wonderful, and long, first day.

In Carson City we had 150-200 people show up, waving American Flags and singing.   Congressman Duncan Hunter of the House Armed Services Committee gave a fabulous speech, as did Gold Star Mom Debbie Lee and Blue Star Mom Deborah Johns.   TV cameras reported on the event....   We were the top story on the local news / talk radio station, the local newspaper covered the event.  It was fantastic!

We hit lots of traffic crossing the Sierra Nevada mountain range as we left Carson City, Nevada and headed for Sacramento, California.  We arrived a bit late, but there were still over 100 proud patriotic Americans on hand.  Again, more TV cameras, and the local country music station was there to sponsor the event and broadcast reports.

We next had to get to San Francisco, but with the Bay Bridge closed for repairs we were forced to take a long circuitous route into the most liberal, anti-war bastion in this nation.   But nothing could seem to stop our momentum, and the CBS and NBC affiliates were on hand to interview the big crowd in San Francisco.  That crowd cheered and waved flags as our caravan arrived, and we felt so proud to be standing with so many wonderful Americans who will not allow the media, nor political activists, to undermine the missions of our troops serving overseas.

By the end of the day we had rallied several hundred Americans before a phalanx of media outlets who were reporting to the general public that there is a resurgence of activity and support from the pro-troop movement.

On Tuesday we start off in Modesto, California with a pro-troop rally at 7:00 AM before heading to Fresno, California for a 10:00 AM rally and then to Los Angeles, California for a 3:15 PM rally, and then we head to San Diego to get situated at our hotel there (and probably greet more people who will gather to greet our arrival there).

We're making outstanding progress - so much so that it has even surpassed our best expectations, and while we are all very tired from the strenuous pace and enormous amount of work that is involved we are nevertheless driven forward by motivation, determination and pride.

Singer Diana Nagy will knock your socks off, you HAVE to come to one of our stops to see her perform.  She has touched our hearts and souls!  Melanie Morgan and Lt. Colonel Buzz Patterson of Move America Forward kicked off each event with such dynamic power and enthusiasm that it set the tone for our positive, uplifting, patriotic effort.   We just cannot come up with enough adjectives to convey to you how extraordinarily exciting this first day has been!

We're posting reports and pictures here:
http://www.moveamericaforward.org/index.php/DailyFile/

And we are also thankful that so many of you continue to send us contributions to help us purchase the TV, radio and Internet advertising to keep getting the word out about the upcoming pro-troop rally stops.

Contributions can be made online here:
https://www.completecampaigns.com/FR/contribute.asp?campaignid=MAF-Fight

Or you can contributed via PayPal here:
http://www.MoveAmericaForward.org/Contribution

We'll report more soon!

- Sal, Joe, Danny and Ryan from the "Fight for Victory Tour" caravan - currently in Modesto, California.

P.S. A special note of thanks to all the great people at FreeRepublic.com who have been helping us with this effort!

This message was sent to: soldiersmother2@charter.net (Julieann)

At 03:08 PM 9/17/2007, you wrote:

Okay,

We arrive in D.C. About 9pm something (Joyce and Lisa do all the driving) and its dark and thank god for "Tom Tom" (the direction thingy the Jane Rivers let us borrow) we found our hotel.   Came around the corner.  And remember Joyce's car is all decked out with flags and writing all over it.   And she has this song that "gathering of eagles" always plays "we will rock you" by Queen.   And she cranks it up to get into the mood.   We were "doing our thing" and we drove up to the main entrance and had valet take the car.   And we got into our room which is nice and the beds with comforters to die for.   But unfortunately Lisa had to leave us the next morning and fly home for a previous engagement.  So she was gone by the time we got out of bed.   And Joyce and I got in the car with all the Cookies, newspapers and cd's from Carol Biggerstaff, letters from Tauba, and get well cards from a lot of well wishes.  We drove around.   (now remember she doesn't have Lisa as a navigator anymore.  She is stuck with me) well, we get a little lost.  But Joyce is good, we found our way to Walter Reed.   We were going to meet Norris Galattis and his wife Janis and go to dinner with them.   (Norris was severely wounded on April 19th ,my Son Dennis's birthday.  He had an IED go up through the wheel well into his seat area into his buttocks area and Into his intestines.  He was in a very bad way.)
  
So we get there and get to the gate and finally get to Malone house.   Walter Reed is a big place.   We walked out of the car and met a man who was leaving and saw the license plate from Mo.  He is a minister and invited us to a BBQ for the wounded on Sunday.  But we had to decline as we were going to be leaving.   We walked up the walk and the first one I see is a young man with one leg and one prosthetic leg, I asked if I could give him kiss.   And he just smiled and said.  Well, yes, ma am thank you.  So I gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked in and put some letters from Tauba and others on the table for the wounded.  We went up to Norris room and Janis was there and we talked for awhile and then Norris and his niece came in and we got to finally meet this very brave and wonderful man.   He has been through a lot and shared with us some of the pictures that a lot of people couldn't believe anyone could survive.

So While Norris rested awhile Janis was gracious enough to take us to the main hospital and we were walking across the courtyard area and I saw this young Hispanic man sitting with his head down and smoking a cigarette, and I went up and asked if I could sit with him.   And he looked up real slow and Said "yes ma am" so I sat put my arm around him and asked very quietly "you have TBI don't you?" he looked at me and said yes.  He was hit with an IED and he has swelling of the brain and bleeding in the brain.   And his speech is very slurred.  So I told him about Dennis and about myself and then I asked him if he had family.   And he said "yes ma am I have a wife and son" I wanted to stay and talk to him longer but knew we were on limited time.  So I gave him my card and told him that if he or his wife or son needed something to call or let me know and I would see what I could do And then I told him "God has a purpose for you" and it will get better.   And said goodbye.

Then we were coming around the corner and across the street was a young man walking fast up the hill on two prosthetic legs TWO!!!! and they were above the knees and he was wearing shorts and I was impressed with his determination in his face.   Then there a young man in a wheel chair missing one leg right below the knee and I asked if we could talk to him.   And he loved to chat and he was so sweet, he just wants a lighter wheel chair so the hills wouldn't be so hard.   But otherwise the told us ,he was going to have big muscles.   And he also told us. Sometimes I hate the problems with this.  But I love the army and want to get a leg and stay in.

We went into the building at WR  and a soldier got on the elevator with us.   Who is missing a leg, an arm and had a severe looking indention to his head .  Janis asked him if he could get the wheelchair into high gear, and he said he was working on it.

We took the cookies to the Soldier Family Assistance Center, and they thought that was great.   And the letters and cards were given to the clerk ,who gives them out the wounded in the area.

Joyce and I got to meet Mr. Stephen Maguire, the Director of the Soldier Family center.   And he told us how grateful they were for the donations..  Then we left and of course I have to thank all of them and I was coming into a large area and there was a young soldier in uniform (Casper) talking to Another soldier and Casper's father.  So I started to walk up and I noticed this young man who just turned 21.  Has part of his head caved in.  And I go up shake his hand if ask if he would mind if I asked what happened.  He was very talkative and told me this story:  He was in Iraq sitting on his bunk playing on his laptop and had just bent over to spit in his can (for tobacco) when a rocket came through the roof and went off and hit him in the head, and blew out part of the head.  They took the part of the skull out to allow for the brain swelling and then put in a new plate.  Now this is what really got me, this happened Sept. 9th 2006 not quite a year and this young man looks great.   As you can see in the picture you will see the left side indention. He is getting out of the army and his wife is going to have a baby and his father told me it was a good thing my son has a hard head.   And said when he was younger he was in a car accident and went though a window and survived ,so he said he wasn't surprised.  This young man is remarkable an what an attitude!!!!!!

Then we went back and got Norris and his niece and we went to dinner and then went back to the hotel as tomorrow is the big DAY, so had to get ready

Tomorrow D.C. March!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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At 03:14 PM 9/17/2007, you wrote:

These are pictures of some of the soldiers I met when we came in the court yard at Walter Reed.
 
# 30 -- In the wheelchair decorated his cane ,he was wounded in Mosul.

# 31 -- This young man in uniform was wounded in Afghanistan.

# 32 -- This soldier is from the south and wounded in Iraq.

# 33 -- This is the father of a wounded soldier, his son was wounded in Iraq.

# 34 -- This young man was very talkative and wounded in Iraq.

# 35 -- This is a close up of the guy who decorated his cane.

# 36 -- The picture I thought I sent already. Of Casper with Truillo (his friend who was with him when he got hit).

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At 04:01 PM 9/17/2007, you wrote:

Washington D.C. the "St Louis" Chicks have arrived......

O.K THIS IS GOING TO BE LONG:

We arrived at the area around 8am and a lot of people were gathering and a lot of "gathering of Eagles" and I noticed people from all over the U.S. Signs from Oklahoma, California, Wis, Mich, La, Georgia, and we were holding up the banner and the speeches started and the crowd grew and grew.   And Joyce got a lot of great pictures that will be coming later.   Gold star mothers, fathers and wives were there.   And they were so outstanding.   Duncan Hunter was there.   Now if you haven't heard of him, you will now.  He is running for President, has a son in the military who was in Iraq and is a big supporter of the troops.  And it was great and the speeches were spellbinding.  And very inspiring.  So then we started down to Penn. Ave.  To "greet" the protestors.  And we lined both sides of the streets for about 4 blocks.   And then way up at the right end you could see this one group who calls themselves "Code Pink" they got out in the middle of the street at the opposite side of where they were to start So I thought I didn't come all this way and not make some kind of statement.  So I took the banner and went to the end of the street and I went into the middle of the street and held out my sign.  (my arms were killing me as I was by myself) and this young man came up and asked if he could help and of course I think he is with the "bad guys" and he said no.   I am a student and I don't like what they are doing to the troops.  so I let him hold the other side.  And the leader of the group (I guess) long gray hair, hippie dress, sandals, and a German Shepard dog, came up to me and told me I wasn't welcome there as it was their area.   I told her to "f---k off" and she did.  Then a cop came up to me and said "you have to move to the sidewalk." and I asked if he was going to move the others.   And he said they to would have to move.   So I told him. "when they leave I will leave" and he left.   So I turned to the young man and said are you ready to go.   And he looked and just nodded and we began walking down the middle of the Penn. Ave street with our banner that says "SUPPORT OUR TROOPS" and people were screaming and yelling. and we just kept going and they kept encouraging us.   And then a cop came up and said. "if you don't move to the sidewalk I will have to arrest you" I just smiled.   And said. "my son was hit with an IED in Iraq I think this is the least I can do for him" and kept walking.   The young man, who by now I found out his name was "Rick" said ,"are we going to jail" and I told him "I guess so" he just looked and said.  "cool"..... We walked the 4 blocks and then got off and I thanked him and never saw him again.   But he was outstanding and he helped me a lot.

Now this march was to start at a certain time and they were 2 hours late.   And once it started they all came on one side of the street.   And this is where is gets hairy.  The majority of the marchers were 18-21-25 years of age.   And dressed like the hippies of the 60's wearing head bands, with peace symbols on their heads and cheeks, and they are "vile" and I mean very vile.   And they got as good as they tried to give.   Here is some of what I saw and heard.  From what I saw on my side. And I was loud.   Bold and rare.   And very mad!!!!!!!!!!!!

Young kid come up the street with pink hair and a ring in his nose.   And chanting peace and giving the peace sign (from me: do you know that is a victory sign started in WWII with Winston Churchill? )  A girl comes up screaming f___ you B____ it means peace (go figure) so I told her what she could do with her peace sign.   And she tried to spit. but LOL she spit on herself!!!  Girl comes up screaming we are going to hell and I yelled at her "why don't you join the military" she yells back I wouldn't join those pieces of S---.   And I told her not to worry as she was to fat to get in.   And she started to come back and was blocked.   One guy came up to me and said.   "my family served in Korea, and WWII" so I said great. What did you serve in.   He said he didn't.   And I called him a coward. And he got angry!!   Guy came up in cameos and told me " I was in Vietnam " so I said.   Good where were you at in country????   And he just kept saying I was in Vietnam. And finally a Vietnam Vet came up behind and said "hey stupid if you don't know what "in country" you weren't in Vietnam.   So what co.   Were you with ,and where were you at exactly" the guy took off!!   one guy came up with a ponytail knot on the top of his head and screaming and I yelled at him why aren't you in the military. He said he was in collage. And that really pissed me off so when he got close enough I told him he was a coward to allow brave men to protect him when he should be doing it himself.   He split to the other side

Then these people scared me,  it was a group of about 6 -25 year olds wearing the scarf's of Palestine and they were very evil and this young man was screaming about death to us all.   And so when he got close enough I asked him why the yelling. What are in this for.   He said.   Americans need to get out of Iraq because of the poor Palestine people (or something like that, didn't make sense) and I yelled to him are you a student he said "No. I am a worker, I was born here ," so I yelled to him then you are a traitor to your country and need to leave.   And he started to come over and was blocked by this black woman who had a shaved head.   And then she turns to me and tells me to shut the f--- up. And I tell her to go to hell and f--- off an she left.    Then a woman came up who had long white hair in a braid.   And she was giving me the peace sign.   And I told her I remember you.  Your the one who slashed my ankle in 1968!! She looked and Said I did not. ( hell, it was a hippie and they all look alike)  Then this young man came up and came up to me and said something I couldn't understand.   And I asked him "excuse me are you gay??" and before he could answer this girl comes up and starts yelling at me why I asked that .and I told her to shut up and I turned to him.   And said I was going to tell you that you were being very polite and I thought that was nice.   And he looked and just said I'm say and your a bitch~!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go figure. So then it was like.   "well, son you must be part of Clintons army" It was really a throw back from the 60's and these people don't have a clue about what or why.

So it is time FOR THE DRAFT~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At 04:45 PM 9/17/2007, you wrote:

The Biggie Day......

AFTER THE MARCH:

Joyce got some awesome pictures and there was sooooooooooo much going on that if I missed something Joyce will help me remember.   But I have to tell you all if this is the best we have to offer in our country.   We will all be on prayer rugs before to long.   They are ungrateful.   they said terrible things.   And granted I was one of the loudest rudest and most vile 60 year old you have ever heard.   But believe me when I say it would driven a saint to abuse.  The things that were said about our troops was beyond worth repeating.   And they are evil, So I am sending you more pictures and one of them is really vile.

So after the march.   We all went to the capitol to block them from doing any damage or evil to the others.   And there were some crazies out.   Everyone was spouting there agenda!!   So we were close to the capital and we heard about a fight going on so we went over to support. and heard the following information:

A Gold star father (lost his son in Iraq) saw these guys with a coffin draped with an American flag and boots on it and a picture of a soldier on it.   The father grabbed the picture.  and when he did.   Someone hit him in the head from behind. And knocked him down and then bit him.  This was awful, Then there was this guy in a wheelchair with a big sign about a condom and Bush (cant remember what it said ,but it was very bad around families) so anyway he comes Up to me and asked if he could ask me questions.   Sure I don't care.   And so he says. "how Long are you willing to fight over there and send troops "I said" you forget we are still in Germany after 50 years.  In Japan , in the Philippines, and Kosovo.  And freedom isn't something you can put a timetable on.   And we are still in Korea.   And I told him soldiers have been killed in Kosovo, Germany, South Korea and how about Somalia.   And he said he didn't know about soldiers in South Korea, Germany, Kosovo told him to look it up on the computer.   And he just wanted to sound smart I guess.   But I listened and then I asked him do you have children?  He said yes, and I asked him how many are in the military or ever have been , none he said. So I told him my brother, sons fight so yours didn't have to, so they and you owe them better then this.   And I walked away.

Now.   I was standing there talking to these people we met from California and Virginia and my back was to the bushes.   And this woman about 5'6" walks by and kicks me (at the time I thought it was an accident) and she elbowed me and I turned around and she says "you Bush lovers are ruining the country" I just Said I love George Bush.   And she started saying other things.   That I can't remember as I was getting really pissed.   So I turned to her and told her to "back off lady" and her husband was there he was about he same height and long gray hair (what else) And I told her "my son was wounded in Iraq so idiots like you could shoot your mouth off" she said. " I don't care" so then I am mad.   And I told her to get the hell out of my face.   And she just kept yelling and pointing her finger in my face. And then she said "you are the f------ terrorist" and I pushed her to get her out of my face and she went back and her husband is saying "go ahead, hit her, go ahead" (I wasn't going to hit her) and then he is saying "don't you touch my wife" then she called me a "f------" terrorist" again and that's it, she flew into the tall flowers.    And then I was upset.   So the picture you see is the flowers where she landed.   So I like this one lady said later. "ARMY MOM TOSSES HIPPIE INTO FLOWERS"  So then this young woman comes up and in my face screaming at me and accusing me of hitting her.  And I am yelling at her.   "listen B---- I didn't hit her" and then of course the police come and the ole hippie wants to press charges and send me to jail!!!!!!!!! And the news crew was there trying to film it.   And all of sudden there was people all around me with American flags and not allowing the news crew to get in!!!!!

So here I sit on the grounds of the capital waiting to hear if I am going to jail and like Joyce's husband says.   Bologna sandwiches without the edges cut off!!!!!!!!!!
But the people who were with me were not leaving and 10 witnesses who saw how this lady started this and what she did.   They told the cops what had happened. And said they were going to stay as long as it took to prove what had happened. Well 8 cops and a detective later.   My son Dennis called and I asked the cop if I could take the call to let my "wounded son know that his mother might be in jail" ( hey gotta get the sympathy going)  The detective told me she was adamant about pressing charges and wanted me in jail. the cop said in D.C. That also the other party could file.  In other words  Lady IF I GO ,YOU GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So the cop told her I had just pressed charges against her for instigating the problem to begin with.   And she was going to be arrested also.   And then the Move America Forward girls came by and Debbie Johns told me that one of the protesters slapped her and she slapped them back.   And not to worry.   Just to let them know and they would get me out.!!!!!!!!!!!!   Damn, 60 and I'm gonna be a jailbird!!

But it was dropped and the detective gave me his card in case of further problems. So the group that was with us.   Part left (California family) and the others took Joyce and I back to our hotel (in case the idiots came around) and we took them all to dinner.   So the picture you see of the group is of them they are so wonderful. And we made long friendships.

So the next morning we left about 8:30 am and got home about 10:30pm Sunday Night.   And I gotta tell you, if you ever want to do a road trip.  Joyce and Lisa are the best

Thanks girls. 

And Joyce, A BIG, BIG THANK YOU
    

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Prayer Wheel for our Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, Coastguard, and Airmen..

'Dear Heavenly Father,
 Hold our troops in your loving hands.
  Protect them as they protect us.
 Bless them and their families for the selfless
 acts they perform for us in our time of need.'