My 1,000 th Post- This One's for Wiley

[jhain]

I have been sitting on my 1,000th post...for months...
Reading and reading and reading DU but wanting my 'Grand' post to be a gift to Du for all it means to me.
I read Wiley's recounting of his last 5 years here:
http://tinyurl.com/lq6nr

Wiley,I wish I could do more to ease your grief. I will share these photos with you and all of DU on a day when we need something to hang onto...Something to assure us that these thieves and thugs squatting at 1600 PA Ave will NOT take America from those of us who love her. Those of us who have lost love ones because of that love.
I swore I would not step foot in Wash, DC while the Mousketeers were in residence ...but, back in March we had an invitation ( aka - a free room) to stay near DC and view the Cherry Blossoms. I realized that it was not my kids' fault that the elections were stolen from us and that they deserved to see their Nation's Capital ( while they were still willing to travel with their parents).
I was BLOWN AWAY. STUNNED. The day was spectacular. The blossoms were peaking and the People! The People! My fellow Americans were............Oh, man....they were so...AMERICAN. Everyone was respectful, helpful, patient. The town was PACKED; hurrying to cross a street we nearly knocked over a guy who had stopped with his foot up on a bench to tie his shoe. As we apologized we realized his socks said "IMPEACH BUSH"! We had a wonderful conversation with him and his friends while we admired those socks. And, in the crush of the crowd around the basin we ran into The World Can't Wait heroes. As we signed the petition someone shouted, "Amen!" to us as he passed nearby.
We came home from that trip,*not* as we had expected; disgusted and depressed by the affairs of our country but encouraged and positive that we will prevail.

Dear Wiley, and All at DU, stay positive, stay strong. America needs us.
I hope this album will give you some peace:
http://news.webshots.com/album/549490419lvMNnh

[jhain]

1. Just click here- it's worth it

self kick- all my original posts are sinkers. But, it doesn't stop me from trying.

Monday was incredible here on DU- and Tuesday was Mr Olbermann's day.
Maybe today we can kick this for Wiley.

Love, Jude

[JeffR]

2. Thank you

This won't make the Greatest Page, I guess. But as far as I'm concerned, it's already there.

:patriot:

[intheflow]

3. Thank you, jhain.

This is a wonderful thread that should remind each of us to remember what Woody Guthrie sang so long ago: This land was made for you and me. Very inspiring--and comforting. :hug:

And that's just from reading your wonderful account of your day in DC. Now I'm off to check out your photos. If the cherry tree reflected in the Vietnam Memorial is any indication, they ought to be as inspiring as your story.

[annabanana]

4. I wish I had seen this in time to recommend...

Thank you. I had missed dear Wiley's post.

[DemonFighterLives]

5. Welcome to the thousand post club

:dem:

[jhain]

6. Why, thank you and

I am happy to be in such esteemed company.

[Blue_In_AK]

7. Very nice, Jhain

I love this picture of the Wall. I had a chance to travel to DC last September for the march, and visiting this memorial was one of the most moving parts of my trip. I thought I would be mentally prepared, but upon locating my 19-year-old cousin's name there among all those others, I just had to break down and cry. It's so tragic that our current misadministration could not have learned the lessons from that other senseless war. As my bumper sticker says, "How do you say Vietnam in Arabic?" So sad...

[jhain]

8. I found a local boy

It is an extremely emotional experience. My kids were greatly impressed by all the artifacts being left that day. And every day....I have been 3 times now to The Wall- each time I find Michael Callahan, a local boy who was killed in Nam.
Our Mothers were friends...my mother always says, "She was never right after losing him.", each time the subject of Viet Nam arises....

And now ...at least 3,000 more Mothers who will 'never be right'.

[wiley]

9. Thank You!

Cherry Blossoms have a very special meaning for me, as did your post.