This is 30 minutes of music and pictures memoralizing over three years of continuous

Friday night gatherings at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC.

It has been my honor and a privilege to have been a small part of this trubute to our brave

soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen serving.

Please allow time to view the whole thing and allow as many of your team to see it as possible.

From the DC Chapter of FreeRepublic and the DC Chapter of Protest Warrior please accept our sincere thanks for your service.

Never forget that you are always in our thoughts and prayers.

Day 8:

Coop and I arrived just in time to catch the RTW RV as it was traveling to the step off point for the 8th day of the Resolve to Win Walk. I had dropped my vehicle at the VA/NC State line and rode with Coop. I was not prepared for the level of motivation displayed by these men and the people with them. I knew it was high; but when you experience it first-hand, it's truly inspirational.

These men had spent their lives in service to their country and retired to enjoy the benefits of the freedoms they had fought to preserve. They voluntarily returned to active duty and went to Iraq. What they saw there convinced them, in spite of news reports to the contrary, that we can win if only have the Reslove to Win. They didn't have to do this. They could have stayed home and enjoyed every minute of the rest of their lives and no one would have questioned it. Instead, they decided it was time to make a statement. It was time to show the American people, and the world, that America is a force for good and we need to win.

The Major runs a tight ship.

We stepped off promptly at 0730 with Gunny taking the Guidon, Major Heerup holding the American flag and just as promptly, it began to rain. Not too bad. The first leg of the walk was mildly uncomfortable, with intermittment rain squalls, but we had two young active duty Army recruiters on point and spirits were high. No way was I gonna go girly in front of these Warriors. I am a former Marine after all. I had prepared with rain gear, and knew I could handle just about anything short of a hurricaine or tornado.

I had emailed two morning radio shows about this event and had called in around 0630 to the Lee Brothers on WRVA.

I was informed that they would take my call at 0750. Coop is giving me five minute warnings as the clock ticked. Promptly at 0750 I made the call and was put right through. Scott Lee spoke to Major Heerup and emailed at 0759 to tell me that VNN had picked up the story.

I mentioned two morning shows didn't I? The second show was John Boy and Billy out of Charlotte. I never heard a response back from this one, and no one picked up the phone during the broadcast. I'm disappointed with these people and will let it be known just how disappointed I am shortly. They have always been good supporters of the troops in the past, but apparently, three retired Army officers just back from Iraq who decide to walk 400 miles to show their resolve that we can win this thing isn't worthy of their time. I would appreciate it if anyone reading this would take a minute and let them know how I feel as well.

On the air: 1-800-BIG-SHOW
Studio Fax: 1-704-570-1369

P.O. Box 7663
Charlotte, NC 28241

To send us an email, click on the link below.
mailbag2@thebigshow.com

Our first stop came, and we rested for thirty minutes and stepped off again. I noticed a white SUV parked on the side and assumed it was a LEO waiting for us. As I walked past, I looked back and saw a license plate with 173DABN Sky Soldiers mounted on the front. Well, I wasn't going to walk past THIS vehicle without a question. Turned out to be the parents of two soldiers with the 2nd Battalion 508BCT. They had heard of the walk and brought two little ones with them and those are the pictures you see at the top of this post. They met us twice more during the walk and the video is Major McCool speaking to the parents at the VA/NC state line.

A little more rain, and now my feet are starting to bark. I have good boots; I never had a problem with my feet. Suddenly, I'm feeling pain where there usually isn't any. Shifting my weight from the ball to the heel helped; the burning on the bottom of my heels subsides and then it becomes a contest to see how long it takes to relieve the pain in my heels, versus the pain in my calves as I shift my weight.

I think the thing that impressed me most was the fact that Major Heerup and I share a common interest. Major Heerup is a structural engineer in civilian life. Because my job involves the construction of infrastructure, I had questions about the conditions in Iraq, and whether he had used his skills as an engineer during his deployment. We spoke about the conditions of the infrastructure in Iraq. He told me it was bad. Insurgents apparently do not appreciate the basic neccessities we here in America take for granted and really don't think about until they cease to function: clean water, waste water treatment, and power. Not only do the insurgents not appreciate them, they don't want anyone else to have them either. Major Heerup spoke of an incident where a WWTP (waste water treatment plant) had been repaired and put online. Within days, the insurgents had stripped and removed every piece of equipment, every run of wire, anything that could have been sold for scrap. Clean water is the basis of a civilized society. When you provide a clean sustainable source of clean water to any area, you can build from there. PRT's (Provincial Reconstruction Teams) are working daily in Iraq and Afghanistan to provide these people with the basic neccessiities and AQI and the Taliban are working just as hard to keep these people in the Dark Ages.

The left in this country don't seem to understand this fact either; and if they do, their actions make them culpable with the terrorists. They are either incredibly stupid or they are traitors.

The day ended for me at the VA/NC state line. Gunny and his wife Lori were impressed. Lori chastised me for not getting in the car with her for the last 1/2 mile. Fussed at me is more like it. She could tell I was hurting, and frankly, the thought had crossed my mind until I saw that Georgia-Pacific water tower in the distance. Thats in VA. Just across the line. From my position as "Tail-end Charlie" I called out to the group "Ya see that water tower? THAT'S IN VIRGINIA!!!"

I hurt in places I haven't hurt in since boot camp. I move like an old man this morning. But you know what, I'm going to join them again in Fairfax on Sunday and walk the last 16 miles with them.

You couldn't keep me away with a shotgun.

My friend Maggie has a post you should read.

Warning: This is a hanky alert.

and

My buddy Matt over at Blackfive has an interesting post up.

I was at CPAC on Saturday just hanging out, looking around. It's a fun place to be if you're conservative, pro-Second Amendment, pro-Federalism, pro-military and pro-victory over terrorism. It gives you the opportunity to see and interact with the conservative internet outlets you surf everyday.Iraq Veterans for Congress Townhall, Freedoms Watch, Claire Booth Luce Institute for Policy, Freedom Alliance and dozens of others set up exhibits and hand out literature and stickers and give away books. Very cool stuff.

If you're lucky, (and I was) you get to see Ann Coulter (kinda up close), or one my favorite internet conservative icons, Mary Katherine Ham, who looks absolutely gorgeous in person and very easy to talk to. (Confession...I have a HUGE CRUSH on MKH.. shhh...don't tell.)

I had intended only to grab a few t-shirts and some new stickers, but found an exhibit that I had not seen before. It offered a view of Iraq all Americans need to see.

It was produced by J.D. Johannes who is a former Marine. It's called "Outside the Wire '07" 

The premiere of this documentary was today at CPAC. In attendance at the premiere was JD Johannes, Bill Roggio, and Jeff Emanuel. I had the opportunity to speak to all three of these incredible individuals.

All have spent time in-country under fire because they wanted to. They wanted to insure the stories were told fairly, honestly and completely. They wanted to tell the stories the other media weren't telling. They succeeded.

J D has put together a three part documentary you have to see.

Danger Close is the story of Blackfoot Company, 1-501st Parachute Infantry Regiment at Outpost Omar in March of 2007.

Anbar Awakens gives you the story from the Iraqi point of view. It's the war you won't see on television.

Baghdad Surge takes you with a U.S. Army Captain and a typical 18 hour day in Baghdad for the "boots on the ground" people outside the wire.

It contains war footage. It is as real as it gets and you really should watch it.

from Combined Joint Task Force 82:

KAPISA PROVINCE, Afghanistan -  Hundreds of community members and several civic leaders attended two ribbon-cutting ceremonies Nov. 27 in Kohistan II, recognizing the completion of months of work and cooperation between the Bagram Provincial Reconstruction Team and the Islamic Republic of AfghanistanKapisa Gov. Kwaia Kholam and Army Capt. Jordan Berry, Bagram PRT Kapisa Civil Affairs team leader, presided over the ceremonies officially opening the Dihat Dasht Girls School and the Jamalagha Basic Health Clinic. According to Berry, the Dihat Dasht Girls School is an eight-classroom facility that will accommodate approximately 160 students. The $150,000 facility includes four faculty offices, restrooms, a well, a guard house and a perimeter wall. Read more

In addition to the winter gear and snacks we've been sending to the 173DABN, I've been packing writing pads, pencils, and envelopes in the boxes. With the announcement of this new school opening, maybe we should consider sending some school supplies for these kids.

Jump over to my other site, DCProtestWarrior, and write down the shipping address. Send me all your paper, pencils, protractors, rules, compasses, and anything else you can remember using in elementary school. Books too...hell, just pack up a schoolhouse and ship it to me...I'll take care of the rest.

Ya think the taliban is happy about this???? Who cares? Screw that bunch of goat bopping assclowns. We're going to bring these people as far into the real world as they want to go.

Big & Rich Video with introduction by Kris Kristofferson

My friends at FreeRepublic have stepped up and lent a hand.

One of them has created a tribute to the illustrious history of the 173rd Airborne Brigade.

They have truly been the Tip of the Spear since their inception.

Thank You StarCMC for taking the time to design and post this important piece of military history.

From the jungles of Southeast Asia in November of '65 to the mountainous regions of the Afghan/Pakistan border in November of '07, the 173rd Airborne Brigade has been the first line of defense, taking the heat and giving what they got and then some.

They are Warriors.

2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne) "The Rock"

As of June 2006, the 173d Airborne BCT was in the process of being reorganized as part of the US Army's modularization process. On June 8th, the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, the 4th Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, and the 173rd Special Troops Battalion were all activated as part of the 173d Airborne BCT. As of January 2006, the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment was reassigned to the 173d Airborne BCT. The 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment will remain with the BCT.

The 173d Airborne Brigade was reactivated on 12 June 2000 on Caserma Ederle in Vicenza, Italy, where it serves as European Command's only conventional airborne unit. The SETAF Infantry Brigade continues the proud legacy of this historic unit.

In January 1994, an Infantry Brigade was established at SETAF to provide command and control of SETAF's deployable units. The brigade mission is to operate as a separate, independent brigade; to fall in on a division as an organic brigade; and to operate as the Army Forces component in a Joint task force. In August 1994, the newly formed brigade deployed to Rwanda on Operation Support Hope to aid millions of displaced citizens. This same operation saw portions of the USASETAF headquarters deploy for the first time in history, as the nucleus of the Joint Task Force Headquarters.

The 173D Airborne Brigade was activated on the island of Okinawa on March 26, 1963. From its beginning, it proved to be an aggressive and unique unit led by (then) Brigadier General Ellis W. Williamson who established realistic training throughout the Pacific Region. The "SKY SOLDIERS," as the Nationalist Chinese paratroopers called the 173d, made thousands of parachute jumps in a dozen different Pacific area countries.

The 173rd on Okinawa was called the "Fire Brigade" meaning that it was available to be dropped in any of the Southeast Asian countries if needed. To call Reveille, the battalion commander of the 2/503rd erected a number of very large speakers from which the song of the theme to "Rawhide" was blasted all over their camp. Every morning, the Sky Soldiers of the 173rd's 2/503rd were rousted from their bunks by the blaring words, "head 'em up, move 'em out, Rawhide" or something to that effect. The entire 173rd Airborne Brigade soon became known as "the Herd."