You don't stand for me, Cindy!

The Move America Forward "You Don't Speak For Me, Cindy" tour bus rolled into Cincinnati tonight, just as the business day was ending. I wasn't sure how many people would be there, but it didn't matter- because I was going to be there anyway. As it turned out, there was a small crowd of about a dozen staunch supporters of our troops and our President.

We listened to USMC Mom Deborah Johns speak about her son and his upcoming third tour in Iraq. Her recurring message was one of hope and support. She told us she was "sick and tired" of the media ignoring the good stories coming out of Iraq and Afghanistan, and the undue attention Cindy Sheehan has been receiving. She proudly told us her son just re-upped for another four years in the Marines. And she reminded us that it has been 17 months since Cindy Sheehan's son was killed in Iraq, yet she hasn't been able to find the time to buy his headstone. She told us how disappointed Cindy was when her son joined the military, and how angry she was with him when he re-upped. Cindy's anger toward the war started long before her son was killed. Her son's death has provided her with an emotional platform on which to showcase her anti-military, anti-Bush agenda.

We listened intently as USMC Dad Joe Williams spoke passionately about his son who was killed in Iraq in March, 2003- just three days into the war. Over the summer he went to Sheehan's Camp Casey in Crawford to personally remove the cross erected in his son's honor and to black out his picture on the wall of lost soldiers. He wants nothing to do with Sheehan and her campaign of hate. And he issued a strict warning to Cindy: Continue to use his son's name to promote her cause, and he will prosecute. Now THAT'S a legal fund I'd contribute to!

Singer Kaweah Angel and photographer Bill Stephens are also touring with Move America Forward. Kaweah sang several songs from her new CD and lead us all in the National Anthem. She's trying to raise money to go to Iraq and Afghanistan to sing for our troops at Christmas. Bill Stephens' photo titled "Freedom" (see below), is "in honor of all who those who stand guard over us, and in deep gratitude for those who have fallen so we may know freedom." Copies of the print, and many other amazing photographs can be found on his website.



We cheered. We recited the Pledge of Allegience. We sang (yes- I actually sang and no one keeled over in pain). We celebrated our troops. And we all vowed to get the word out about Move America Forward and the proper way to show our love and support for our soldiers. I wish I could join them in DC this weekend when they put Cindy in her place and show the world that the majority of Americans and our military family members support our troops, their mission, and our President.


I even got a really cool Move America Forward t-shirt with the words "You Don't Speak For Me, Cindy" in big, blue letters on the back! If you live near DC, PLEASE go the rallies this weekend- both the Sheehan rally and the MAF rally. Show your Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and Sailors how much you love them and appreciate the work they are doing to promote freedom around the world.