Again we gathered on a crisp sunny day in West Chester, PA.  We stood up for America and for Our Troops and their valiant mission.  

United We Stand, representing the best of America’s values and principles.  We arrive at our rallies, happy to see each other again.  It’s a most uplifting experience.

Blue Star Mom (son Matt is in Iraq), Air Force Vet Dee, John, and Nina.

Steve, Ben, and Vietnam Vet Joe.

Dee, Marine Ray, Sean and his son Ben.

Blue Star Mom Maria (daughter Sharon in the Marine Corps) and Vietnam Vet Jeff.

Air Force Vet Mike, Carl, and Navy Vets Richard and Mark.

Kathy standing tall and proud.

Marine William and Vietnam Vet Charlie.

Marine Tom, Carol, Nina, and John show support for Israel as they fight to defend themselves from the terrorists Hamas in the Gaza and Hezballah in Lebanon.

The peaceniks across the street, prolonging the war, and hurting our troops.

The Sheepdogs “Support the Troops” coin was passed to Cathy.

20-year Marine Ray enjoys a hot meal afterwards at “The Works”

Blue Star Mom and Dad (Harry and Mary Lou) with Nina and Carol sign a card to send to son Matt in Iraq.

WWII Vet Frank with Rich and Bud.

Dee and Bud share their love of the USA and our troops’ noble mission.

John from Coatesville High School, plays in the marching band. Says he loves his country and his troops.

Thanks for another great rally – see you next week!

Wow, what a homecoming!  Seeing all of you was just the medicine I needed.  I’ve recovered nicely from my injuries and it was great to be able to stand with everyone once again.

I loved being there to salute as we sang the National Anthem at the end.   And I was touched to have our “Support The Troops” coin passed to me by Carol.   It’s a great Sheepdog tradition.

Thanks to all of you for coming out and making this one of the best rallies ever.  Your hugs, espres de corp and love are amazing.

We have become a tight group of friends, patriots with a common purpose of showing public support for our troops and their noble mission.  And we are growing.  Special welcome to newomer Jonny Detweiler.  We do represent the very best of America.

Check out Skye’s report here and see all of NeoCon’s photos here.

Despite the 5-degree weather, we had another fantastic rally in support of our troops and their mission. Although I was personally unable to attend the rally, I received a great report from Ray and Carol. We had a strong turnout. At the end, everyone sang the National Anthem, said the Pledge of Allegiance, and said a prayer for our troop’s protection and success.

Thanks to Carol for taking a group picture. It’s a little blurry because she was shivering in the cold…

MEDICAL UPDATE: Thanks to all of you for your prayers since I slipped on the ice on Christmas Eve. I am resting comfortably and am being well-taken care of by my brother and sister-in-law at their home in Coatesville. Their TLC and home cooked meals are just what I need. My ribs are still a little sore and I am waiting for the chest-tube wound to heal. I get stronger each day and it won’t be long before I am able to stand with you all again. I took my first shower in 25 days on Saturday and I went to Mass the last 2 weekends. I’ve missed 4 rallies but I have enjoyed reading about them and seeing the photos here and on Midnight Blue. I am grateful to have such good friends as you guys and I am ever more appreciative of my own family.

As always, I remain committed to making sure our troops and their families always know that we love them for all they sacrifice for us. Thank You Troops! Thank You Military Families!

Found this great poem about our heroic “Sheepdogs” on Michelle Malkin’s blog. Malkin was remembering a fellow patriotic blogger named Bill Faith who wrote “Small Town Veteran”. The Sheepdogs poem was written by Russ Vaughn, an Army Vietnam Veteran who has a blog called “Old War Dogs” (he loves his Sheepdogs).

The Sheepdogs

Most humans truly are like sheep
Wanting nothing more than peace to keep
To graze, grow fat and raise their young,
Sweet taste of clover on the tongue.
Their lives serene upon Life’s farm,
They sense no threat nor fear no harm.
On verdant meadows, they forage free
With naught to fear, with naught to flee.
They pay their sheepdogs little heed
For there is no threat; there is no need.

To the flock, sheepdog’s are mysteries,
Roaming watchful round the peripheries.
These fang-toothed creatures bark, they roar
With the fetid reek of the carnivore,
Too like the wolf of legends told,
To be amongst our docile fold.
Who needs sheepdogs? What good are they?
They have no use, not in this day.
Lock them away, out of our sight
We have no need of their fierce might.

But sudden in their midst a beast
Has come to kill, has come to feast
The wolves attack; they give no warning
Upon that calm September morning
They slash and kill with frenzied glee
Their passive helpless enemy
Who had no clue the wolves were there
Far roaming from their Eastern lair.
Then from the carnage, from the rout,
Comes the cry, “Turn the sheepdogs out!”

Thus is our nature but too our plight
To keep our dogs on leashes tight
And live a life of illusive bliss
Hearing not the beast, his growl, his hiss.
Until he has us by the throat,
We pay no heed; we take no note.
Not until he strikes us at our core
Will we unleash the Dogs of War
Only having felt the wolf pack’s wrath
Do we loose the sheepdogs on its path.

And the wolves will learn what we’ve shown before;
We love our sheep, we Dogs of War.

Russ Vaughn
2d Bn, 327th Parachute Infantry Regiment
101st Airborne Division
Vietnam 65-66