Gathering of Eagles

As many of you probably already know there is a movement of veteran’s and families and individuals meeting in Washington, D.C. a week from today, March 17th. The movement is called “A Gathering of Eagles” and will be there to counter the protesters who have said they are going to march on Washington from the Pentagon to the Vietnam War Memorial. There have been threats of desecrating that memorial and others as well. The Gathering of Eagles will be there to make sure that doesn’t happen.  This is not a confrontation, they are going to protect our National Memorials from those who would deface them. This is their Mission Statement:

Our Mission Statement
1. Gathering of Eagles is non-partisan. While each member has his or her own political beliefs, our common love and respect for America and her heroes is what brings us together.

2. We are a non-violent, non-confrontational group. We look to defend, not attack. Our focus is guarding our memorials and their grounds.

3. We believe that the war memorials are sacred ground; as such, we will not allow them to be desecrated, used as props for political statements, or treated with anything less than the solemn and heartfelt respect they–and the heroes they honor–deserve.

4. We are wholly and forever committed to our brothers and sisters in uniform. As veterans, we understand their incredible and noble sacrifices, made of their own accord for a nation they love more than life itself. As family members, we stand by them, and as Americans, we thank God for them.

5. We believe in and would give our lives for the precious freedoms found in our Constitution. We believe that our freedom of speech is one of the greatest things our country espouses, and we absolutely hold that any American citizen has the right to express his or her approval or disapproval with any policy, law, or action of our nation and her government in a peaceful manner as afforded by the laws of our land.

6. However, we are adamantly opposed to the use of violence, vandalism, physical or verbal assaults on our veterans, and the destruction or desecration of our memorials. By defending and honoring these sacred places, we defend and honor those whose blood gave all of us the right to speak as freely as our minds think.

7. We vehemently oppose the notion that it is possible to “support the troops but not the war.” We are opposed to those groups who would claim support for the troops yet engage in behavior that is demeaning and abusive to the men and women who wear our nation’s uniform.

8. We believe in freedom at all costs, including our own lives. We served to protect the freedoms Americans enjoy, and we agree with Thomas Jefferson’s assertion that “From time to time, the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”

9. We will accept nothing less than total, unqualified victory in the current conflict. Surrender is not an option, nor is defeat.

10. We stand to challenge any group that seeks the destruction of our nation, its founding precepts of liberty and freedom, or those who have given of themselves to secure those things for another generation. We will be silent no more.

The Gathering is asking for people to help them do this. You can find further information at their website http://www.gatheringofeagles.org as well as something you can do if you are unable to be there. It’s a petition:

To all of the bloggers and websites that are listed in our sidebar as Participating Websites, we need your help and support now. Please post the following information on your blogs and websites. It is imperative that we get this word out as quickly as possible.

There are two petitions now up online. One for people to sign only if they WILL be at the Gathering of Eagles on March 17th:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/GOE31707/petition.html

The second petition is for those who will be with us in spirit:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/GOE317/petition.html

This will be very helpful in giving us some idea of how many Eagles will be in attendance on the 17th and how many will be supporting us from home.

If you plan to be there, sign in. Those who just can’t attend but stand with us in spirit are asked to sign the second petition.

755 so far have signed in as attending.

940 have signed is an with us in spirit.

(as of 1214 CST, March9th)

This number is a fraction of what we know to be true, but we need ALL BLOGGERS and WEBMASTERS to get this word out!!

If you encounter problems signing, please persevere and try again later. We need your count!

The GOE website has information on where to stay, where to meet and updates on activities. Please, please, please read and become involved. Let’s not allow those who would shame our veterans and those serving in harm’s way, get away with their plots and plans! We need to honor those who have given their all for this country.