Vietnam vet branded “panhandler” for handing out memorial poppies
Some of you will remember my friend Big John Miska, who sent me a classic Photo of the Day a few years ago capturing his encounter with a 9/11 Truther:
Big John is a Vietnam veteran and VFW leader who works tirelessly on charitable efforts for our troops. Last year, my family and I attended his Thanksgiving feast for wounded vets at the VFW in Arlington, VA. John’s got a heart of gold and an infectious, can-do attitude.
Now, he’s in trouble. Some petty bureaucrats have branded him a “panhandler” and repeatedly threatened him with arrest for handing out “Buddy Poppies” on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The Rutherford Institute has come to his aid:
A local veteran is speaking out after police threatened to arrest him for distributing ‘Buddy Poppies’ or memorial flowers at the National Mall in Washington D.C. Now the Charlottesville-based Rutherford Institute has stepped in and filed a first amendment lawsuit against the National Park Police.
Now the Charlottesville-based Rutherford Institute has stepped in and filed a first amendment lawsuit against the National Park Police.
John Miska enjoys volunteering and spends most of time helping injured veterans and distributing ‘Buddy Poppies.’
“They’re handed out as a remembrance of veterans sacrifice. The poppies are red representing the blood the soldiers shed and it’s a reminder and it gives people pause to think,” said John Miska, Veteran.
Recently the National Park Police threatened to arrest Miska for handing out his Poppies on the National Mall in Washington D.C.
“People see me standing there and they approach me and ask may I have a Poppy and I give them a Poppy. If people are moved to offer a donation we accept the donations,” said Miska.
According to president of the Rutherford Institute Miska hasn’t done anything wrong, he has only expressed his first amendment rights.
“People occasionally give him money. There’s a statute it’s a D.C. law that says you can’t aggressively solicit money, but he doesn’t do any of that. We feel it’s a violation of the first amendment of the United States Constitution which guarantees you the right to assemble or guarantees you the right to free speech to hand out Buddy Poppies,” said John Whitehead, President, Rutherford Institute.
Miska says this experience isn’t going to stop him from his mission and that it will only encourage him to do more.
“I took an oath to the constitution to preserve protect and defend and I feel if you don’t stand up for you rights you will lose those rights,” said Miska.
CBS19 has tried contacting the U.S. Park Police, but they have not returned the phone call.
The Rutherford Institute is waiting on the government to answer the complaint. What happens next will depend on the U.S. Attorney General’s response.
John is undaunted. And he’s busy with holiday planning and volunteering. He let me know he’s working on a Christmas party at Walter Reed for 300 wounded soldiers and their families and asked me to spread the word. Any cash donations or gifts would be most welcome. Last year, Miska and his crew handed out MP3 players to hundreds of soldiers.
We will accept Christmas cards to hand out as well over the Holidays. They must be unsealed so they may be inspected. If someone wants to send a specific gift we will hand out tickets and draw by number to hand out gifts that we receive. They must be unwrapped and in original factory packaging. If someone wants to send wrapping paper and tape along with a note or card we will include that with gift. A suggestion would be a gift card to a major store, restaurant or gas station with a Christmas card.
Donations may be sent to
VFW Post 8208
PO Box 653
Ruckersville VA 22923Place a memo note that donation is Christmas fund.
We are a 501c19 Veterans Service Organization for tax purposes and will provide IRS donation letters upon request for tax returns.
Help out if you can!
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The Park Police are just getting their act together for the Obama Emperorancy.
Petty bureaucrats with nothing better to do. All the incentive I need to get behind the cause. We need to let our vets know we’re behind them–God bless ‘em and a very Merry Christmas to all!
Why do I think that if he was a booze-soaked crackpot, mumbling under his breath and shouting about the government’s involvement in 9/11 he wouldn’t be hassled by the Park Police?
Friggin’ PC, un-American liberals.
I was thinking about it and this isn’t the first time scary moonbat lefties used poppies to stop a noble cause.
Perhaps these guys could spend some time downtown D.C. rounding up the hundreds of disease-infested panhandlers who spend a third of their day sleeping the middle of the sidewalk, another third pissing everywhere, and the remaining third annoying the hell out of the suits and tourists.
I nominate Big John Miska for our country’s Medal of Freedom.
A Christmas card with a $25 gas card enclosed is on the way.
May God Bless the John and the VFW.
On November 25th, 2008 at 10:30 am, mojoe said:
“Why do I think that if he was a booze-soaked crackpot, mumbling under his breath and shouting about the government’s involvement in 9/11 he wouldn’t be hassled by the Park Police?”
Because it’s true.
They wouldn’t be. Yet another example of how askew things have gotten in our former shining city on the hill. I wish I’d been born fifty years earlier so I wouldn’t have to see the fall.
I’m not surprised that the DC libocracy doesn’t know or care about the history and significance of poppies. They’re long on fantasy and short on history. When I was a kid, the poem In Flanders Field was recited every Memorial Day at a ceremony at the soldier’s memorial. I doubt anyone does it any more.
Gives a whole new meaning on spitting on a vet.
History lesson #1
National Mall and Memorial Parks
900 Ohio Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20024
For Visitor Information (Phone): 202.426.6841
Park Headquarters (Phone): 202.485.9880
This is freakin unbelievable! Vets do this all over the country to solicit funds for the work their posts do. And people wonder why local cops have no regard for feds?
I was real proud of my son the other day - he came home from a shopping stop with 3 poppies - one for me, another for his mom, and one for him. He was saying there were a couple of vets outside the store and virtually everyone passed right by, so he tossed them $10 bucks. When they started to give him $7 change he told them to keep it and just asked for a poppy for each of us. Guys told him he was the FIRST person to donate in like 3 hours.
I guess seeing me giving to vets every year - wherever I see them (or as many) made the right impression.
The VFW is chartered by Congress. We can hand out those poppies any time we wish and it is always without arrogance or assertive behavior. I would hope that all my fellow VFW members would go to their Posts grab the extra poppies they have and go out and hand then out anywhere and everywhere. Oh, thanks for posting his address. You all might want to consider giving to Operation Uplink at your respective Posts.
Bet this is another thread that our trolls will avoid.
Forward this on to every VFW group you can think of and hopefully, they’ll assist us in flooding the rent-a-cops at the National Mall in D.C. with complaints. If they can stop this hero in D.C. - they can stop others all over the country. I always get a lump in my throat when approached to take a poppy, whether or not I contribute. Many are Korean/Nam vets now and contribute generously with their time.
Are they going to arrest Girl Scouts for selling cookies? Cub Scouts for selling popcorn? Deaf people for handing out sign language cards? These are all groups that I have seen at the supermarket in my town along with Vets handing out poppies. If you’re going to arrest Vets, you also have to go after these other troublemakers (sarc).
Hmm, could this be the same guy who I got a Buddy Poppy from on Veterans Day at Fort McHenry? Or is it a whole group of people who do this?
Why don’t the police arrest the hundreds of panhandlers throughout DC? Every time I go to DC I get harassed by those lazy bums. And, how about San Francisco, the Park Police are stationed in SF as well. Why aren’t they arresting those Obamessiah voters?
And no ACLU help being offered. Big surprise. They are the most anti-American group in this country and that includes the radical muslim groups.
tikvah
all of us VFW members hand them out, usually around May… but we can do it anytime. Well, I thought we could ( sarc)
I was so livid with anger when I read this it took me quite a while to settle down before I could coherently respond.
Why do veterans hand out poppies? The answer is nearly a century old:
A few years ago the local Walmart had mentioned stopping veterans from handing out poppies and ran into some very angry citizens, now the DC Park police “square badges”, the Walmart of Police Protection, decides to insult and threaten real patriots, not Joe “Don’t Draft Me” Biden’s check writers.
Unamerican, unpatriotic bastards. Now we know why some reject was able to damage the Vietnam Memorial - I think it probably was one of these commie square badge f___ers.
Go back to scooping up dog crap and leave the veterans alone you miserable worthless pathetic excuses for a uniform hanger. Let us vets protect our memorials and just go away.
F___ing DC park police - aren’t they still busy hunting for Vince Fosters real killer? Pathetic worthless self inflated excuses for bureaucratic nepotism.
Sorry - but an attack on honorable men like Big John is an attack on any man or women who proudly took up arms to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States.
Give em hell, Mr. Miska.
The National Park Police deserve every single bit of enmity and scorn they get because of this. What skunks.
The whole VFW does this every year, the American Legion does the same but not to the extent the VFW does. The poppies are an old tradition starting after WWI. I am guessing inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields”
Drive on Big John!!! I’ve no doubt you’ll win this battle!!
Well, D.C. hasn’t changed much since I lived there 40 years ago. Just got worse. Nobody talks about the SE part of D.C., the part I grew up in. Next time you are in D.C., take time to visit ALL OF IT. After you are finished with the museums and monuments, head over to SE D.C. for some thrills. Bring a gun. This is the s**thole that your congressman never talks about.
Before rushing to force someone to conform to their perception of correct behavior, bureaucrats should ask themselves, what does it hurt?
There’s just not enough people who say, its none of the government’s business.
The Girl Scouts? Not likely, as, from what I hear about them, they are gradually being turned into good little godless lefties by their NOW (alias National Assn of Gals or NAG per Rush) approved national leadership.
Now the Cub Scouts, on the other hand, will go on to become homophobic Boy Scouts, so, in some places, perhaps.
Oh, by the way, don’t ever forget the veterans of this country. It is because of them, and the armed forces on duty today, that we enjoy our freedom.
MM, this is really SAD!!! Probably JOHN would have been better off if he whipped out his TALLYWACKER and peed on the AMERICAN FLAG… Probably would warrant KUDOS and front page status in NYT and WAPO… Again HOW SAD!!!
About prendad’s advice (#24)–do NOT take a gun! They are still illegal for all but residents who have jumped through an annoying series of hoops. You will wish you had a gun though.
So I guess all those poppy drives I participated in and volunteer work I did is “panhandling”.
How nice.
At my first graduate school orientation party in 1970, I said I had just left the service. A chill spread across my part of the room as another student said “You don’t belong here you fascist. We’ll get rid of you.” They are usually not as vocal now, but some people just don’t like our soldiers and veterans. We are antithical to their political views.
Part of the problem I suspect is recognition: Poppies are the flower of rememberance from WWI.
First, the National Mall is Federal property, and thus DC statutes do not apply. Second, where are the stupid ass National Park Police when the homeless are tugging at my pants leg, “aggressively” begging for money as I walk around on the Mall??
I LOVE Buddy Poppies– they are one of my favorite things about our national pride holidays. I think I even still have a few from back when they were made out of paper. They make me think of the kind of love that’s so strong it makes you cry– and reading this story definitely makes me want to do that.
Save the Buddy Poppies!!
Actually, I have a blue poppy from the DAV (Disabled American Vets) that I received on or abouts Memorial day, wrapped around my phone antenna at work.
It was the first time I ever saw a blue poppy. I’ve only gotten the red ones in the past….
What’s wrong with these people? It’s almost beyond belief, equating a veteran handing out poppies with panhandling.
God bless Mr. Miska, and all our wonderful veterans!
The photo with the truther is always good for a laugh. The ‘nit wit’ looks so pleased with himself, it just adds to the humor quotient.
It won’t be long before the Democrats begin arresting veterans as they exit the planes on their return from their final tours.
Donation sent. He’s actually a local guy and I am glad to help.
In the old British Commonwealth (UK, Canada, Australia, NZ) November 11th is Remembrance or Armistice Day, commemorating the end of the Great War. Legion members and cadet corps youngsters, and all major retailers have poppies and donation tins for the two weeks prior. You’ll see most people wearing poppies, and certainly everyone on television. There are services at cenotaphs across the country (I live in Canada) and hundreds of thousands turn out for the Remembrance services. Any business or government agency (and there have been a few) who tries to interfere with this tradition is immediately subject to overwhelming criticism.
Incidentally, the poem “In Flanders Fields” was written by John McCrae, a Canadian officer in the Great War. The first stanza appears on the back of the Canadian $10 bill.
I love the photo. I’ll save the address, this is a great cause. I haven’t seen these poppies in years, but used to always get them as a kid.
“Damhim.” —The Government.
It used to be like that here in the US. Over the years, like all noble traditions, its importance has been undermined to insignificance.
As Ive mentioned before, I now have a stock answer to every panhandler all over the country “Sorry, Obamas got your money, Ive already sent it to him.”
I haven’t seen the poppies for 30 years.. The young park service people probably didn’t have a clue what they stand for.
Thank you John for your service to our country and your good works for all vets. Please know there are millions of Americans who support our military. God bless every single one of you.
L
May God bless John Miska and the other veterans who defended and protected and still work for our country’s liberty. They paid a price no one who didn’t serve in the military can comprehend.
***
I met a proud Black VFW Navy vet–87 years old–at WalMart handing out poppies just before Veteran’s day. He was in good health and spirits. He had served in the Navy’s South Pacific aircraft groups and had been to some of the same WW2 hellholes my dad flew through as a Navy cargo plane navigator.
***
We would be speaking German and / or Japanese except for the exceptional courage of these men and women who fought the evil menaces. Thank a veteran this Thanksgiving–and read George Washington’s excellent Thanksgiving day speech thanking God for our country.
John Bibb
Ahhhh, you must have posted while I was typing……….
The first time I saw that “remote control” photo, I thought to myself, “Yeah, there’s truth to that…Muslims believe that Allah controls the outcomes of all things, so yes, it was flown by ‘remote control’ with Muslim Terrorists in the pilots seats!”
Solution: Don’t accept donations on the street. Otherwise, sadly, the cops are right.
Thanks for the address, Michelle. Just sent the check!
Hey Michelle do you think after the holidays you could get a protest started and see if we cannot get a couple of thousand to march on Washington for this egregious overhanded disgusting display by the Park Police……I mean if Code Pink and their filth can protest against our military SURELY WE can get thousands of VETS and those who love and respect them to March on Washington.
If we do not start utilizing the tactics of the left when this kind of crap happens it will just continue to happen!
I have seen those VETS show up to protest the anti-war protestors and I think WE can make a statement!
Or, fight for your rights….
If you gotta roust somebody like Big John to show your importance, then you must truly be a teeny weenie. Although I realize he wasn’t doing something progressive like carrying a sign to rename it Obama Mall.
We didn’t have to look far for the National Park Police back when I was a kid in high school and we were stealing decorations off of the national Christmas tree. They were in our faces before we could climb down out of the tree.
Thanks for the info. Calling now.
I have one of these Poppies hanging on my rear view mirror right now. The VFW was at the 4-way stop down the street last week handing them out. When I drove up to the stop sign, I rolled down the window and told the guy that I had no cash on me. He told me, That’s OK, here take one anyway.” I took it and went to run my errands. On my return trip I made sure I had a generous donation ready. The VFW does this in our community anually. and we always support them.
The Denigration of anything patriotic, decent or Christian is one ongoing endeavor.
It was the WWI vets selling Flanders Poppies at one time and as that generation passed away the WWII vets took it up. I know Target here won’t let them sell Poppies but ACORN is generally out front on a Saturday. It is an Obamination.
But I have been on the National Mall several times seeing all kinds of leftovers panhandling. I never give them anyting but I have paid $50 for a couple of Poppies more than once.
Wolf Hounds Bite!
B/1/27th Infantry/25th Division
If he lived in San Francisco, he’d be getting a check for a couple of hundred bucks a month from the city that he uses as his personal urinal.
It’s not a stretch to imagine that Park Police officer being one of those cowards who yelled “Baby Killer!” as the Nam vets were returning to the country they just risked their lives for.
Michelle,
I just sent you an e-mail about this and would like to help if I can.
The Parks Service requires anyone who wants to conduct an activity on the Mall to apply for a permit in advance and submit an application with a non-refundable fee (in our case, it was $50).
I would not have been aware of this, had we not been set straight by other Vets groups that have activities on the Mall for Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day.
You must be very clear in what you are requesting permission for.
In our case, we wanted to erect a canopy , a banner stating, “Operation Thank a Marine”, and requested the right to hand out buttons (”I Thanked a US Marine”) and the right to collect voluntary, at-will donations, as well as having members of the public sign the banners.
We included photos of past banners and a sketch of how we would set up the canopy, table, chairs, etc.
Our permit was approved for “Operation Thank a Marine” on the Mall near the WWII memorial on the Labor Day weekend in Sept and we did collect signatures, handed out buttons, and received some donations to defray mailing costs.
When the permit is approved, you are “assigned” a space on the Mall.
There were complaints about our “activities” and the Park Police did come and inspect our permit and clarify that we had permission to distribute the “offensive” buttons and accept (not solicit) voluntary donations.
That being said, people like Miska are angels!
Of course, here in Canada (as well as the Commonwealth in general) the poppy is a ubiquitous symbol of rememberance of the sacrifices made by the troops, and prior to November 11 it is difficult not to see both poppies on lapels and those who are handing them out (and to require a permit for such a thing would almost be a treasonous act by the norms around here). So this just boggles my mind.
Outfreakingrageous! These damn bureaucrats aren’t fit to dig latrines for my brothers and sisters in uniform, never mind trying to stop a Veteran from handing out poppies.
My father talks about seeing poppies being given out on Veteran’s Day from the 1940s to the 1960s and after that he doesn’t remember seeing them. I haven’t seen people wear them either. Is this something done only at Arlington?
I never saw them in Boston or the surrounding suburbs. Have any other New Englanders seen them given out or people wearing them?
Have a great Turkey Day everyone!
Go Pats!
Mooseman,
I have seen poppies handed out throughout Northern Virginia (we lived in Prince Wm County) and when we were stationed in northern Washington state. However, in the numerous other duty stations my husband has been assigned to, I have not seen the poppies handed out.
My understanding is that in the US, the poppies are distributed by the local branches of the American Legion as a fundraiser to support their efforts on behalf of disabled veterans. The American Legion Auxiliary’s website has a page on the history of the poppy campaign and how they distribute the funds raised (for some reason, I can not get the link to work - my apologies).
So I guess finding a poppy would depend upon how “active” your local American Legion branch was. It takes alot of time to coordinate enough volunteers throughout the campaign. I am sure if you contacted your local American Legion you could get some.
I can concur with Pickle, though, that the Nov 11th Remembrance Day (Veteran’s Day in the US) seems to be bigger in Canada and the Commonwealth than in the US. I remember as a child having Remembrance Day assemblies at school at 11 am, and businesses displaying wreaths, etc. Veterans were at all stores, malls, train stations, etc distributing poppies.
FYI, this is the 90th anniversary (1918-2008) of the establishment of the remembrance celebration.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/remembrance
Doesn’t this guy know the courts have more important Constitutional issues to deal with like extending rights to Gitmo “residents”? /sarc
Meanwhile, if you are a member of the right party, you can slap a Capitol Hill policeman and get away with it.
I wonder if the police just had nothing better to do or if some sensitive little dweeb complained.
Perhaps you could give them a call and ask?
I wonder how long before they put Miska’s picture up?
One would think being around so many memorials, one would get a clue.
Thank you Michelle for telling us about this. This is horrible to have this happen to Big John or any Veteran.
At least it’s good to see that we conservatives still love our Vets. The left and their hypocrisy regarding the Vets should be exposed as much as possible. I just read the Army recruitment is up. That means more Vets in a few years…and more people supporting our Military.
I guess living onbase has spoiled me, because they always have a table set-up, with the little paper flowers (sorry, all flowers look the same to me…), outside the BX/PX on holidays. You’ll always see the 14-17yr olds stopped and listening wide-eyed to the experiences these venerables relate. It is a great educational experience for everyone in earshot.
I do remember that last Memorial Day Security, (with take-out and a case of pop,) came by and told them some self-important so-and-so complained that the Vets were “causing a disturbance, blocking traffic into the BX, aggressively accosting[sp?] shoppers,…” etc.
The Security guys were good eggs, and they decided to post an Officer there, to “make sure those troublesome Vets behaved”. The young butter-bar spent the afternoon listening in rapt attention (atleast the 5hrs I spent in the BX…) to the memories of one of the Grizzled Old Men.
While Security & those Vets had a good yuck over it, Ive on occasion wondered if it was a visitor or some kind of “Only Here Because I Took College Money” troop who displayed such a lack of respect.
We’re going to he11 in a handbasket, and there’s a reed shortage…
I’ve worked with John a few times at Walter Reed. He’s always ready to drive that VFW bus anywhere the wounded want to go. This is BS.
NPS does not require fees for 1st Amendment events. I’ve filed permits with NPS several times over the last three years and have never paid a fee.