Michelle Malkin » WELCOMING HOME THE TROOPS

WELCOMING HOME THE TROOPS

By Michelle Malkin • July 15, 2004 09:28 PM

Unlike the miscreants in Bainbridge Island, Washington, the folks on American Airlines Flight 866 know how to show their gratitude to our men and women in uniform:

Eight soldiers flying home from Iraq for two weeks of R&R flew in style instead of coach after first-class passengers offered to swap seats with them.

“The soldiers were very, very happy, and the whole aircraft had a different feeling,” flight attendant Lorrie Gammon told The Dallas Morning News in Thursday’s editions.

The June 29 seat-swap on American Airlines Flight 866 from Atlanta to Chicago started before boarding, when a businessman approached one of the soldiers and traded his seat.

Update: Reader Peter send a link to the original Dallas Morning News story on the flight here, which includes this great photo:

Meanwhile, back on Bainbridge Island, Tamar Gilson and her son, Jason, the 23-year-old military veteran who was booed and mocked by Kerry supporters while marching in his local July 4th parade, send the following notes along (Tamar also includes an e-mail address where the family can be reached):

4th of July Parade crowd degrades an 23 year old Iraqi Disabled Veteran!

In the year 2004, where in the United States can a 23 year old Disabled Veteran of the Iraqi War march in a parade and be called a murderer, baby killer, booed and cursed at through out the parade route?

Only in Washington State at Bainbridge Island’s 4th of July parade.

The reason for this mob style degrading was simply because my son had chosen to proudly wear his military awarded metals upon his blazer while holding a small sign that said Veterans for President Bush? Even one of the announcer in the parade mockingly singled out my son and said in a sarcastic voice over a loud speaker, “And what exactly are you a veteran of?”

How shocked and saddened I was on Sunday by the total lack of respect and decency I witnessed first hand at this parade. I have to admit when my family and I were asked to come and march in the parade I felt a surge of pride and was greatly honored to be able to participate in such an event.

I knew that Bainbridge Island has many who do not wish to have our current President re-elected but never in my wildest dreams did I believe that so many would stoop so low as to degrade mock and cuss at my 8, 11 and 13 year old children and call my 23 year old Disabled Veteran son a murderer and baby killer.

When I picked up the local paper on Monday I was stunned to see a glowing report of the parade with not a mention of the shameful way in which many acted towards our group.

My son was 22 when he willingly answered the call to go to war and risk his very life, yet he was treated as a criminal by the very people he has sworn to protect and defend.

Last year in one of the letters our son wrote us of his concerns while he was over in Iraq. He stated,

“I really miss being in the states. Some of the American public have no idea how much freedom cost and who the people are that pay that awful price. I think sometimes people just see us as nameless and faceless and not really as humans: It’s just all so disheartening sometimes. A good portion of us are actually scared that when we come home, for those of us who make it back, that there will be protesters waiting for us and that is scary. I miss home so much.”

Well I wrote him right back and assured him that his fears were nothing more that a dream and that this would never happen in the country I know and love. I told him to hold his head high knowing that America loved him, supported him and appreciates his service to our country.

Well on Sunday that all changed for him. As he was booed, cursed at and called a murderer and baby killer you could see the pain and total betrayal he felt. I could say nothing to comfort him except that I loved him. His life will be forever changed because of the thoughtless words and actions of many who appear to care nothing for their fellow Americans and even less for those who serve our country.

The sad part to all of this is that I have always taught my children that a lesson is repeated until it is learned. I shudder to think that people have not learned the horrible lesson in history by how the Vietnam Veterans were treated when they returned home.

Where have our morals, principals and decency gone? I am heart sick, yet, ever and more determined to stand up for what is right.

For who will if we won’t?

Tamar Gilson
Bremerton, WA
patrioticfamily@hotmail.com

___________________________________________________

Dear America,

My name is Jason. Over the past few days I have been apprehensive about writing this letter as I have been trying to find the right words to express my gratitude for the enormous amount of supportive e-mails and phone calls I have received thanking me for my service and expressing your dismay at the ignorance of many individuals who booed at yelled at me and my fellow americans who showed support for President Bush on Bainbridge Island. I am not sure about how each of you heard about our experience, but I do know that the response has been very wonderful and even a bit overwhelming, however very welcome.

Thank you all so much.

Jason Gilson

P.S. Remember to VOTE!

Update II: Robert L. Jamieson Jr. reports that the mayor of Bainbridge Island has apologized to Gilson:

“I called him Monday night,” Mayor Darlene Kordonowy told me yesterday. “I felt badly about his experience. He was distressed and distraught about what happened when I talked to him.”

Interestingly, this quotation does not include an actual apology. I wonder if the mayor said “I’m sorry” or something to that effect.

Jamieson, for his part, calls the treatment of Gilson “unconscionable”–but hedges that conclusion with his assertion that Bainbridge Islanders are no less tolerant than conservatives in other parts of the country. Jamiseon, the P-I columnist, wrote:

I am willing to bet my last shiny penny that if Gilson were marching in a Republican stronghold — say, Midland, Texas — and carrying a pro-Kerry sign, he would be barbecued faster than a longhorn steer.

Update III: A couple of readers in the Comments section believe the above quote (”I am willing to bet my last shiny penny…” was from Bainbridge Island’s mayor. That is incorrect. The quote is from Robert Jamieson, the Post-Intelligencer columnist.

Posted in: Worthy Causes

Send to a Friend
Printer Friendly

comments (21)

trackbacks (4)

See what others have said

Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.

Trackbacks

Trackback URL

Comments

#1

On July 15th, 2004 at 9:52 pm, PDN said:

Now that is what I call supporting the troops. Thank you Michelle for the uplifting human interest stories.

PDN
#2

On July 15th, 2004 at 10:31 pm, sam said:

Thanks Michelle, I’ve heard this story over and over the last couple of weeks and I am grateful to drop a quick note of support.
#3

On July 15th, 2004 at 11:11 pm, bdfaith said:

We have an email address, people. How about an email flood for Jason? I just sent an email with the subject line “WELCOME HOME, Jason, and THANK YOU!” Let’s let this guy know that for every idiot that insulted him that day there are a thousand of us that appreciate him.
#4

On July 15th, 2004 at 11:44 pm, turkeyshoot said:

heartwarming…

patriotic…

not a substantive improvement on veteran benefit policy…

not ‘real’ sacrifice of first class riders, though a noble gesture…

touching…
#5

On July 16th, 2004 at 12:12 am, Museum Curator said:

Personally, I would love to get the quotes from some of these morons who degraded one of America’s hero’s. I’d love to place them in my Museum of Left Wing Lunacy with their names right next to the quotes like I do with celebs and politicians to embarass them! Didn’t anybody other than his family stick up for him there? If I had witnessed that I think I would have got myself arrested! Those people are a disgrace to this country. They make me sick. God bless Jason and his family. Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. It is truly appreciated. :O)
#6

On July 16th, 2004 at 12:50 am, Turkeyhead said:

I sent an e-mail of support to the Gilsons as well. It is amazing to me that there are still people in this country (damned dirty hippies) who just don’t understand how lucky they are to even BE here.
#7

On July 16th, 2004 at 7:05 am, Retread said:

So even after floods of e-mails and phone calls and publicity, atleast on the web, Jamieson couldn’t make a gracious apology and had to use the occasion to get in a dig against Republicans. How very small of him.
#8

On July 16th, 2004 at 8:59 am, Noble Eagle said:

It all comes down to just one word: CLASS

Those people who gave up their first class seats to the troops have it, the people who called Jason Gilson names don’t.
#9

On July 16th, 2004 at 9:08 am, sam said:

for the Update II:

As for the BBQ in Midland, I’d like to invite the ‘apologetic’ mayor down to find out how we would treat a person who calls ANYONE in our services a ‘baby killer’. I take offense to his implying ‘if the shoe was on the other foot’ without taking any responsibility for his own town first.
#10

On July 16th, 2004 at 9:20 am, Chris said:

I sent them a note, too. Thanks Michelle for providing the address.
#11

On July 16th, 2004 at 9:52 am, Christopher said:

I’d love to take up that idiot Jamieson’s bet. The difference, of course, is that while people in Midland might despise Kerry, they’d respect the soldier and his choice, misguided though it is. The fascists in Bainbridge see the same uniform and react like vampires confronted with a cross. I’d say the sooner Gilson gets out of that lefty hellhole, the better.
#12

On July 16th, 2004 at 11:18 am, flashlights said:

Thank you!IT is possible.

飞翔网络 flashlights
flashlights 飞翔网络
免费电影情色电影
小电影成人电影
音乐在线试听
aluminum flashlights Aluminium
alloy flashlight Gift box LED
LIGHTS aluminum flashlights
Aluminium alloy flashlight
Gift box LED
LIGHTS
#13

On July 16th, 2004 at 11:19 am, flashlights said:

Thank you!IT is possible.
#14

On July 16th, 2004 at 11:40 am, AK said:

“I am willing to bet my last shiny penny that if Gilson were marching in a Republican stronghold — say, Midland, Texas — and carrying a pro-Kerry sign, he would be barbecued faster than a longhorn steer.”

No doubt this is what Jamieson actually believes. Longhorn steer wandering through the streets of Midland. Republicans in cowboy hats driving 50-foot Cadillacs and threatening them dang hippie faggots. Or making their Mexican servants threaten them.

People like Jamieson continue to provide the rest of us with ample evidence of just how valuable their beliefs and opinions are.
#15

On July 16th, 2004 at 12:07 pm, Walter E. Wallis said:

If a conservative crowd ever molested a progressive demonstrator it would be headlines for months.
#16

On July 16th, 2004 at 1:10 pm, Tony said:

I can tell you, asn ex-pat Texan, that it’s just not the case. Sorry, Mr. Mayor, but you’ve obviously never been to Texas.

Down there they raise people to have some *couth*.

As if Texas is a political monoculture! Bush isn’t exactly welcomed out east in Marshall, or in the capital either. Austin is a democratic stronghold.
#17

On July 16th, 2004 at 1:24 pm, kat-missouri said:

The other problem might be the “silent” ones. No one said anything to these people? Were they afraid? Are we afraid to shoiut down these people? Start a counter call: “support our troops”?

What the hell is wrong with the rest of us?
#18

On July 16th, 2004 at 1:30 pm, Larry J said:

I am willing to bet my last shiny penny that if Gilson were marching in a Republican stronghold — say, Midland, Texas — and carrying a pro-Kerry sign, he would be barbecued faster than a longhorn steer.

Sounds like a case of projection on the Mayor’s part. Some really lowlife scum in his town acted like idiots, so he assumes everyone must be the same. I’ve noticed that quite a few Democrats actually do the things they falsely accuse others of thinking.

Mr. Mayor, you’re a fool. There are a lot of Democrats in Texas and I’ve yet to hear of a single one being harmed, much less barbecued, for expressing an opinion.
#19

On July 16th, 2004 at 1:42 pm, DJDrummond said:

I live in Texas, and have for almost all my life.

I have seen anti-fur, anti-war, anti-religion, anti-death-penalty, anti-10-Commandments, anti-soda-pop-in-school, anti-standardized-testing, anti-speed-limit, anti-car, anti-black, anti-white, anti-Bush, anti-corporation, anti-just about anything protests in many Texas cities, whether Houston, Dallas, Waco, Austin, and many other parts of the state, and never once have we harassed the protesters or denied their rights and voice.

We kinda take pride in living up to the Constitution.

Of course, we also love our President, trust our way of government, we go to churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques and respect other people’s choices, we respect our seniors and our women, and yes, our soldiers.

Shewt, you didn’t think we were proud of our state, just because Texas is big, did you?
#20

On July 16th, 2004 at 6:24 pm, James Rose said:

thank God there are still Ameficans who know how to respect others and show their gratitude to our troops who are risking their lives daily for us all our freedom, even the bastards who don’t appreciate it.
#21

On July 17th, 2004 at 12:59 am, Ricky bin Ricardo (Abu Babaloo) said:

The thing to remember about Robert Jamieson (the Puget Pravda…oops, I meant Seattle P-I columnist) is that he’s a VERY hardcore lefty - otherwise, he would not be on staff there. His extremely mild condemnation of CPL Gilson’s treatment in the Bainbridge 7/4 parade is frankly surprising, considering as how least once a month, he writes yet another column filled with slobbery praise for Baghdad Jim McDermott.

The editor of the Bainbridge Review still has a hell of a lot to answer for, on the other hand…he wrote an op-ed on July 10th saying in so many words that CPL Gilson DESERVED the treatment he got. If anyone’s interested, post a message here & I’ll paste it into a comment.