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View Full Version : National parks closed? WWII vets don't care. Visit anyways.




shane77m
10-01-2013, 11:37 AM
More pics and some tweets at the link. Way to go vets.

http://freebeacon.com/wwii-vets-knock-over-shutdown-barrier-to-visit-wwii-memorial/


BY: Washington Free Beacon Staff
October 1, 2013 11:55 am

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BVgJvJxCEAMSQ2X.jpg

A group of World War II veterans in an Honor Flight group Tuesday knocked over barriers imposed during the government shutdown at the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C., to get inside.

As part of the federal government shutdown, national parks are closed. But the group of veterans continued to the monument Tuesday, as reported by Stars and Stripes reporter Leo Shane:


Update: WFB staff writer Lachlan Markay arrived at the WWII Memorial, where a second group of Iowa vets (in yellow shirts) have also arrived at the memorial. Park police are letting all vets through, according to Shane.

“We’re looking about how to deal with this in the future,” Park Police spokeswoman Carol Johnson said Tuesday.

Brian4Liberty
10-01-2013, 11:38 AM
Outrageous vindictiveness from Obama!

They have the gall to put up barricades around open-air, outdoor monuments?

Athan
10-01-2013, 11:40 AM
Heh, they won't mess with WW2 vets. lol

Christian Liberty
10-01-2013, 11:41 AM
I think I've been to that memorial. I also don't think I could do that again. The whole concept of a memorial deifies men, and in most cases (Including this one) acts like service in an unjust war is anything to be proud of.

Even still, I respect them for giving the middle finger to Uncle Sam.

CaseyJones
10-01-2013, 11:42 AM
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?429200-WW2-Vets-about-to-be-arrested-at-WW2-memorial-with-an-urgent-activism-idea

Seeing some reports that a group of WW2 vets from MS have gone up to the WW2 Memorial in D.C. despite warning not to and that the Park Police are now on their way to remove them.... So with this in mind would any activists in the MD/DE/VA/DC areas like to assemble at the Jefferson Memorial tonight at around 8 p.m.? I am being serious... If we can get even just a few dozen people to show up maybe we can get some media attention.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/10/01/vets-knock-down-barriers-to-gain-entry-to-wwii-memorial-during-shutdown/

dannno
10-01-2013, 11:44 AM
They spent more money keeping people out than if they would just go away.

Brian4Liberty
10-01-2013, 11:44 AM
385097828827017216

Brian4Liberty
10-01-2013, 11:48 AM
385098634313748480

CaseyJones
10-01-2013, 11:49 AM
tweet out jdmyprez_deo_vindices activism idea

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?429200-WW2-Vets-about-to-be-arrested-at-WW2-memorial-with-an-urgent-activism-idea

Occam's Banana
10-01-2013, 11:58 AM
“We’re looking about how to deal with this in the future,” Park Police spokeswoman Carol Johnson said Tuesday.

In other words, they're being hoisted on their own petard - and they have to figure out some kind of PR spin to deal with it.

On the one hand, if they DON'T let the vets through, they risk being smeared by the same "why don't you support the troops?" style of jingoism the government likes to exploit so much elsewhere.

On the other hand, if they DO let them through, then they have to explain why they are still able to police and manage traffic despite the fact that they can't allow any (other) visitors because they are are allegedly "shut down" ...

shane77m
10-01-2013, 12:09 PM
The government can afford to bomb Syria but it can't afford to keep the parks open. LOL

youngbuck
10-01-2013, 12:10 PM
Heh, they won't mess with WW2 vets. lol

Until the cops show up and beat/taze/shoot them...

UtahApocalypse
10-01-2013, 12:10 PM
Bravo.... If our current, and future generations have even half the guts, courage, and balls WWII vets have we may do all right......

69360
10-01-2013, 12:13 PM
I think I've been to that memorial. I also don't think I could do that again. The whole concept of a memorial deifies men, and in most cases (Including this one) acts like service in an unjust war is anything to be proud of.

You think WW2 was unjust? Really?

Warrior_of_Freedom
10-01-2013, 12:27 PM
The government can afford to bomb Syria but it can't afford to keep the parks open. LOL

murdering innocent people is more of a priority than non-essentials like parks. Who goes to parks anyway? Losers. Go to starbucks like a good little slave.

jkob
10-01-2013, 12:28 PM
This is inspiring, how about this for a peaceful protest? WE DON'T NEED YOU!


...




How long until they open fire?

Brian4Liberty
10-01-2013, 12:31 PM
385108842012364800

muh_roads
10-01-2013, 12:48 PM
The government can afford to bomb Syria but it can't afford to keep the parks open. LOL

+rep

Brian4Liberty
10-01-2013, 01:09 PM
385118868735148034

Warlord
10-01-2013, 01:13 PM
bump

tangent4ronpaul
10-01-2013, 01:42 PM
http://benswann.com/breaking-veterans-knock-down-barriers-at-wwii-memorial-after-it-is-closed-during-shutdown/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=nl

World War II Veterans taking part in an “honor flight” pushed their way into the national World War II Memorial, Tuesday. The memorial had been closed due to the federal government’s shutdown which began at 12:01 AM, Tuesday morning.

The honor flight is a national organization that provides free flights to and from Washington D.C. for World War II Veterans. For many of these veterans, this is the first and only time they have visited the National Memorial.

According to reports from Leo Shane, a reporter with Stars and Stripes, about 8-12 members of Congress distracted park police while the veterans knocked over barricades to gain entry to the memorial.

According to Republican Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann, in some cases, it was only police tape that separated the veterans from the Memorial. In that case, Bachmann says she cut the tape to allow entry for the vets.

Shane, reporting via twitter says that there has been no attempt to stop those vets from visiting the memorial. He goes on to post “maybe after the congressmen leave.”

Here is the Twitter page with more pictures and information: https://twitter.com/LeoShane

-t

ronpaulfollower999
10-01-2013, 01:45 PM
385118868735148034

Bleed them dry.

shane77m
10-01-2013, 01:46 PM
Seems like the park police harassing the vets would be enough to get people riled up.

phill4paul
10-01-2013, 02:00 PM
Drudged.

ObiRandKenobi
10-01-2013, 02:30 PM
how are they able to walk and take pictures without federal assistance?

Root
10-01-2013, 04:41 PM
The government can afford to bomb Syria but it can't afford to keep the parks open. LOL


https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/q71/s720x720/1378312_681342705211496_245132976_n.jpg

satchelmcqueen
10-01-2013, 05:09 PM
its our parks anyway. go into them i say.

MelissaWV
10-01-2013, 05:15 PM
I've been to the parks and memorials in DC and I didn't need any assistance getting around? I even figured out which one was the Washington Monument all by myself!

Neil Desmond
10-01-2013, 05:22 PM
Ok, so based on how I understand this, no one is getting arrested for breaking the law while the government is shut down? Interesting.

Mani
10-01-2013, 07:57 PM
Park police have no problem putting people in headlocks for tresspassing, sitting under a tree thats off limits and attacking people without a permit.


Im surprised they didnt attack these vets. They usually just respond....aww shucks....nothing i can do....i just enforce the law...its my job..as they drag people away in handcuffs....

Too many media and congressman around i bet.....


Later this week when other vets show up in a small group, and no press is around, i bet they get denied.

Lucille
10-01-2013, 08:07 PM
Obama admin. knew about WWII veterans’ request and rejected it
http://dailycaller.com/2013/10/01/obama-admin-knew-about-wwii-veterans-request-and-rejected-it/#ixzz2gWTH8eJb


“We got the heads up that they will be barricaded and specifically asked for an exception for these heroes,” Palazzo told TheDC. “We were denied and told, ‘It’s a government shutdown, what do you expect?’ when we contacted the liaison for the White House.”

Palazzo’s office was in touch with the heads of the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior and the Capitol Police. He says all these officials rejected his request to allow the veterans, many of whom are octogenarians and some of whom are in poor health, to attend.

Palazzo, a Gulf War Marine veteran who has participated in all five of the Honor Flights, blames the White House for making it harder on veterans and playing politics. “At first I thought it was a huge bureaucratic oversight,” Palazzo told The Daily Caller, “but having talked with the officials I can’t help but think this was politically motivated. Honor Flights, which bring WWII veterans to the nation’s memorials, are planned a year in advance and cost anywhere between $80,000 to $100,000. How low can you get with playing politics over our nation’s veterans?”

Brian4Liberty
10-01-2013, 08:21 PM
385195013681844224


Congressman Steven Palazzo was willing to go to jail.

The representative from Mississippi’s Fourth Congressional District was standing on the Washington Mall Tuesday – outside a barricade that had been erected around the World War II Memorial.

He was standing shoulder to shoulder with members of the Greatest Generation – 91 Mississippians who fought valiantly during World War II. Their families had also gathered along with eight members of Congress.

They had traveled many miles only to be told the open-air memorial was closed – on account of the federal government shutdown.

The memorial that had been built for the aging warriors was barricaded and roped off with yellow tape. The water features were turned off and the bathrooms were locked. Armed park police stood nearby.

The congressman worked in vain to try to convince the National Park Service to open the memorial.

He called the Department of Interior but they did not intervene.

He even wrote to President Obama – pleading with him to open the memorial so that the elderly men could lay flowers and pay their respects to fallen brothers. But the president remained silent.

“They did not lift one finger to help these veterans,” Palazzo told me. “It is sad that they would not even make an exception for our World War II veterans.”

And so it was on a cool autumn day that the congressman from Mississippi stood alongside his constituents and he felt a stirring in his soul.

“I was nervous but my number one priority was the safety and welfare of the veterans,” he said. “This is something they wanted to do. This is their memorial. It was built to honor them.”

They even asked park officials on the mall to reconsider – but they would not budge.

So Palazzo gathered together his colleagues. There was Sen. Roger Wicker from Mississippi and Rep. Louie Gohmert from Texas. Rep. Michele Bachmann from Minnesota was there along with Rep. Steve King from Iowa, Rep. Alan Nunnelee from Mississippi, Rep. Bill Huizenga from Michigan, Rep. Gregg Harper from Mississippi and Rep. Spencer Bachus from Alabama.

Palazzo had decided to crash the gates and break through the barricades. And the United States being a constitutional republic – he decided to put his idea to a voice vote.

It passed unanimously.

Someone had a video camera and recorded the moment when the crowd applauded as Palazzo and Gohmert unhitched the barricades and opened the gates to the memorial.

“These are people who were not stopped by the Nazis, not stopped by fascist, not stopped by kamikazis. It just didn’t seem right that some little bicycle racks should be able to stop them,” Gohmert told me.

Bagpipes played "Amazing Grace" as the gentleman from Mississippi escorted his constituents to their memorial. They laid a wreath at a memorial for the Magnolia State. There were tears and smiles and memories – memories of a generation that changed the world.

“It’s been a huge emotional roller coaster,” the congressman told me. “This morning we were heartbroken. We were mad. We were angry. We were uncertain. We didn’t know what to expect. It turned out great.”

Gohmert called the decision to barricade the open-air memorial mean-spirited and beyond the pale.

“This is an open-air memorial for heaven’s sake,” he said. “It’s beyond outrageous to say that people have to walk around the exterior instead of walking across the middle. You have to be pretty hard-hearted, pretty petty to say we’re going to keep these guys away from their own memorial.”

Park police were on hand – but no one was arrested and they did not intervene.

“They did the honorable thing and stood down,” Palazzo said. “We don’t fault them or the staff there one bit.”

And while the Mississippi veterans were able to pay their respects, it’s unclear what will happen with other Honor Flight guests.

A spokesperson for the organization tells me nearly 1,000 veterans are expected to visit the World War II Memorial this week. Some have been on a waiting list to visit the nation’s capitol for more than a year.

“It’s very disheartening to know these veterans are flying across the country to see this memorial that they’ve waited for years to see and they’re being locked out of the memorial,” Executive Director Diane Gresse told me.

She said for many this is a one-time, one-shot trip of a lifetime.

“A lot of these veterans will not be alive next year,” she said quite frankly.

It’s unfortunate that President Obama did not respond to Palazzo’s reasonable request. But this president has a penchant for being petulant.

Nevertheless, the good people of Mississippi’s Fourth Congressional District should hold their heads high. They were well served by their representative – a man willing to go to jail to defend the honor of the Greatest Generation.

Rep. Palazzo – you are a great American. And should you need bail money, give me a call.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/10/01/lawmakers-world-war-ii-vets-rise-up-against-government-slimdown-at-war-memorial/

HOLLYWOOD
10-01-2013, 08:43 PM
Outrageous vindictiveness from Obama!

They have the gall to put up barricades around open-air, outdoor monuments? AMAZING eh?


They spent more money keeping people out than if they would just go away. YES INDEED... this needs to go viral on social media... Government spending more money closing down and keeping our the REAL owners of national monuments and parks out of them.


The government can afford to bomb Syria but it can't afford to keep the parks open. LOLSure can spend $100s of billions overseas, giving the people's money in the $10s of billions to oppressive regimes and dictators around the world, while America crumbles and shuts down monuments/parks/public palaces.

Just more data points to the scams and fraud perpetrated by the liars, thieves, and dictators of the U.S. government. Hitting the people in the face with fencing, blockages, and restrictions, because government is present. CON GAME

Neil Desmond
10-01-2013, 08:57 PM
Park police have no problem putting people in headlocks for tresspassing, sitting under a tree thats off limits and attacking people without a permit.


Im surprised they didnt attack these vets. They usually just respond....aww shucks....nothing i can do....i just enforce the law...its my job..as they drag people away in handcuffs....

Too many media and congressman around i bet.....


Later this week when other vets show up in a small group, and no press is around, i bet they get denied.
Normally it would seem to sound plausible that if there are that many media & congressmen around, they'd be even more compelled to enforce the law to show the media and congressmen that they're doing their job. However, keep in mind that the government has been shut down, and perhaps their inaction is in accordance and consistent with the fact that the government has been shut down. Arresting suspects is a function of government agents, but if the government has been shut down, then that means government agents should not be conducting government business. To me that seems like a perfectly sound explanation for what's going on, here.

GunnyFreedom
10-01-2013, 09:03 PM
From CPAC 2011:

https://scontent-b-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/q73/946022_10151963868953274_1486271611_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/q71/1017371_10151963871978274_629896802_n.jpg

Lucille
10-02-2013, 10:12 AM
Workers Attempt To Block Off WWII Memorial Again (UPDATE: Vets Back In)
http://reason.com/blog/2013/10/02/workers-attempt-to-block-off-wwii-memori


This morning, Charlie Spiering of the Washington Examiner returned to the memorial to find a gaggle of “essential” government workers there to barricade it once again. He tweeted that the employees fled after cameras started filming them working, but then came back to attach “closed” signs. A couple of them appear to be talking to the media. The barricades are apparently there, but have not been tied together and are therefore easily removed.

The visits from the veterans aren’t over, either. Spiering reported that more veterans will be visiting the memorial throughout the month of October, with the assistance of the charity Honor Flight. [...]

UPDATE: According to a picture on Twitter from Cox Radio reporter Jamie Dupree, visiting vets are back inside the memorial.

mczerone
10-02-2013, 10:19 AM
Yeah, they disregarded the barricades and went into the Memorial.

But did they DANCE?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWeF6lwg4aY

Even veterans get body-slammed for dancing.

JK/SEA
10-02-2013, 11:16 AM
World War 2 memorial built with money from private donors?

Brian4Liberty
10-02-2013, 11:19 AM
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/wwii-memorial-rand-paul-97708.html


Sen. Rand Paul blasted the federal government for trying to block World War II vets from visiting their memorial, saying “some idiot in government sent goons out there to set up barricades.”

“If Harry Reid and the president want to keep the parks closed — I mean did you read the story today? Some idiot in government sent goons out there to set up barricades so they couldn’t see the monument. People had to spend hours setting up barricades where there are never barricades to prevent people from seeing the World War II monument because they’re trying to play a charade,” Rand (R-Ky.) said Tuesday on Fox News’s “Hannity.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/wwii-memorial-rand-paul-97708.html

Cleaner44
10-02-2013, 11:27 AM
As I suspected, they have plenty of paid personnel to stand around and make sure people don't look at the monuments because we don't have the funding to pay people to stand around while visitors look at the monuments.
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/53158224/displaymode/1247?beginSlide=1

http://media4.s-nbcnews.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-131001-government-shutdown/ss-131001-government-shutdown-12.ss_full.jpg

I count at least 4 cops or rangers or whatever, standing around wasting time and money.

Lucille
10-02-2013, 12:05 PM
385456294275993600

Lucille
10-02-2013, 08:27 PM
This brought a few tears to my eyes. I have a soft spot for "infants in their late nineties." /Nonno (http://books.google.com/books?id=QDHMomNMt34C&pg=PA33&lpg=PA33&dq=infants+in+their+late+nineties.%22+/Nonno&source=bl&ots=5ORK-bV8ce&sig=8uaoDvLDsFyRxyj7Y0iHi0yt2Eg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=6N1MUoilN8WRqgGSj4HoCQ&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=infants%20in%20their%20late%20nineties.%22%20%2F Nonno&f=false)

Honor Flight Veterans, Reunited with Their Memorial
http://www.theamericanconservative.com/honor-flight-veterans-reunited-with-their-memorial/


Yesterday, an Honor Flight of 100 World War II veterans on the Mississippi Gulf Coast flight broke down the barriers on the WWII monument, which had been closed due to the government shutdown. Today, another Honor Flight, including veterans from Kansas, Missouri, and Ohio, arrived hoping to see the memorial.

When a government shutdown leads to veterans who cannot visit a memorial in their own honor, it is easy to politicize the incident. But these veterans are not simply political props. Rather, they are men and women whose service supported this country, who fought to make our world better.

James Walter, from Kansas City, Missouri told me upon walking into the center of the memorial, “this is beautiful! We sure were hoping we would be able to get in here today. We’re really glad to be here.” These thoughts were echoed by Bill Lewis, accompanied by his son Rob, who told me, beaming, that “I am very, very pleased to see this.” Bill Forrester proclaimed this monument “beautiful.”

As Elsie Lemberger approached the monument, I asked her where she served. “I was in the Navy. I’m Rosie the Riveter! I really am excited. I can’t wait! I didn’t think I would ever see the day I would come here.”

As the Greatest Generation ages, for many, these Honor Flight trips are their one chance to see the memorial dedicated to them and their fallen comrades. With the shutdown locking up these open air monuments, there is the chance that others visiting in the coming weeks will lose that one opportunity...

XNavyNuke
10-04-2013, 12:33 PM
WWI vets not getting much love. While NPS is weaving wire through their barricades and replicating Omaha beach, the lack of funds seems to be having an effect on the ability to do the same at the Second Division memorial commemorating WWI.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BVkshNuCMAA8yza.jpg:large

https://twitter.com/McCormackJohn/status/385388192465031168/photo/1

I hope there are lots of ghosts leaving their ectoplasmic deposits on that barricade!

XNN

cajuncocoa
10-09-2013, 05:59 AM
An interesting (imo) take on the shutdown of war monuments:



Is Closing a War Memorial 'Despicable'? by Jim Fedako

According to Congressman Steven Palazzo of Mississippi, the Obama administration committed a “despicable act (http://onenewsnow.com/culture/2013/10/03/congressman-despicable-for-our-government-to-close-ww-ii-memorial-to-vets)” when it barricaded the National WWII Memorial in DC as a consequence of the partial shutdown. In knee-jerk fashion, his conservative base shouted, “Amen.”1

Despicable? Closing a monument?!? Let’s step back for a minute and take another look.

Some 20 years ago, officials of the federal government decided they could reach into my pocket to build another monument to the gods of war and the state; a monument the feds dedicated on the so-called hallowed ground that is DC.2

That is despicable.

You see, in the manner of the Roman Empire before it, the US Empire has its own version of Forum Romanum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Forum): a place where homage is paid to the specters of the state. A place that every citizen is expected to visit on pilgrimage, genuflecting and shedding tears for the supposed great men and women – fully agents of the state – who made the state stronger at the expense of the individual. So these are not monuments to the individuals, never have been. They are nothing other than monuments to the state itself.

The people have the means to remember their own, and they have done so through the ages. Yet, to many, the only meaningful remembrance is that bequeathed by the state. So these folks advocate and agitate for state to memorialize their lives and deeds, as well as the lives and deeds of their families and friends.

To them, the cemetery is for those whose lives had no meaning. Believing their lives and deeds worthy of the ultimate recognition, they conclude that while the town square is nice, it does not suffice. Instead, these folks require recognition from their supreme god: the federal state. For only that justifies a life in their eyes.

However, state monuments do not commemorate lives of individuals, they commemorate actions in service to the state. In this context, the individual is nothing but a rod in collective fasces (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism). So if the state decides memorialize a life, it is only for the state that the life is memorialized. That folks want to be so recognized is beyond me. That they demand I pay for such recognition is the offence – a despicable offence at that.

Furthermore, that the so-called champions of less government chide the feds for not funding access to these ill-gotten monuments is even more despicable. The tears and anguish for closing monuments are simply cries for the hand of the state to reach once again into my wallet.

If you want to be remembered, or to remember others, commission and fund a monument on your own property, or the property of another. Do not thieve from me and claim it as a symbol of the eternal and vigilant fight for liberty. To do so is both hypocritical and despicable.

Notes:
1. Of course, the liberals make claims to the produce of my sweat. They at least are open and overt about it. But the conservatives demand that same while asserting otherwise.
2. That the monument was funded largely by private donations does not obviate the truth that my money forcibly funded both the initial construction and its continual maintenance.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/2013/10/jim-fedako/is-closing-a-war-memorial-despicable/