Thanks Kathy......Well Said !

I couldn't agree more about this issue.

Just as we each have one #@ $, we each have an opinion about the events coming in Sept.

Very few wars have one front line. Most are fought on many fronts in many different ways. This battle against the moonbats is no different.

There are those among us who are good at shaking hands and politely explaining our ideas to others. Thankyou for doing so, as I'm not one of those people.

There are those among us who are good at organizing media campains and lobbying groups. Thankyou for doing so, as I'm not one of those people.

There are those among us who can stand in front of a memorial and say "NO" to those who would do harm. I AM one of those.

Lord knows there is enough work in enough areas for each of us to participate. Let's each of us figure out how we can help, and do it.

Also, quityerbitchin'

Very well spoken Kathy. As one Eagle I can say Kathy Upton is a Lady Eagle who works 24/7 for the greater good of the GOE. I stand with her 100 ,Please channel your energy into Wash. DC in the Fall & we will do our duty. to support the troops. The forces of the Anti-War can never distroy the G.O.E., but forces within the G.O.E. can devide the members, cause us to lose focus on just why we are all still after March 17 2007. We can become just what the people at ANSWER wish us to be , a flash in the pan, or we can stand united, face them in Congress & on the rally line in Sept. The choice is not for leadership, the choice is yours, each member must search their heart & make a choice they can live with. I ask you to support state & national leadership., as the greatest need now is unity of purpose, orginizational details can be worked out , with success after we return home in late Sept. Please find a way to air your questions & receive correct answers, without infighting on the forum. New prospective Eagles stop to read our post & our comments, post your comments after you have read them from their prospective, make sure the words that sent them away are not yours..

Another point-- we're always criticizing the opposition for not exercising their right of free speech responsibly; so if we want them to clean up their act, we should be willing to set the example. Yeah, I got pretty sick of hearing that growing up, too. ;) But just like my mom said all those years ago, these are growing pains, and they pass. Remember-- we define ourselves by what we SUPPORT-- our troops, our nation, and each other. :)

As for the arguments of the 10th vs. the 15th-- just like the scripture says, we all have different gifts to use in the service of one goal. The articulate ones will go try to reason with Congress. The strong, silent types will stand guard. The mean ones will yell at the protestors. ;) (I mean "mean" in the most respectful terms, of course.) And together we will all accomplish what we each can't do alone.

See you on the 10th, and again on the 15th,

Erin

Kathy,,,,Here Here,,,,,,"TRUE EAGLES UP NOW"

Thanks for the shot of common sense Kathy.

I Just want to take a moment and say thanks to our GOE leadership. I know this has not been an easy time for you, as individuals and as leaders. But you all were the ones willing to step up and put your name on the dotted line when few others were willing or able - and without you there would be no Eagles as such. Someone had to assume the liabilities and responsibilities, in the face of many unknowns, and the simple fact is you were the guys (and gals) who did it. Thank you.

I also want you know that I understand, and hope many others do, your reluctance to discuss operational strategy and organizational concerns on a public forum - and am perfectly willing to understand your decisions with that in mind. OPSEC isn't just for active duty folks. And supporting the troops is too important a mission to allow the luxury of devisiveness or second guessing. I have a sense that what we are doing in the next few weeks is time critical, and I don't want to find myself thinking about missed opportunities next summer. See you in D.C. ... and still proud to say Eagles Up! Ron

Kathy, I understand completely. I for one did misunderstand a new members post and took offense at it. But the new member explained their view to me and I apologized for any misunderstanding. However no one on this site is going to agree with one another about everything. I found that the private message was very important because we were able to connect with members without every moonbat under the sun getting our e-mail address and phone numbers. I have e-mail contact with members daily and have made some friends for life after meeting them. Maybe ya need to do roll-call and see what everyone is good at and what they would be comfortable doing. By doing so, you would know who will be where and who will be doing what. This would avoid spats and give folks a chance to join the group in which they will participate in September. Good luck to all of you and thank you for supporting our troops and protecting our memorials.

bama II .....You made some excellant points!

Amen Kathy.

I tried to post a suggestion on the main message board under ideas...but it didn't post...so I was going to do it again but haven't had the time. *sorry...I been working with disaster clean up from all the flooding down here...and have a neat story to share about our airforce guys from dyess later*

I was for a couple of year on the board for a 501c3 organization...which worked with and for kids...it started from a group on the internet getting together...and just grew. We still did many of our communication through that message board. On issues we wanted to share with the general public...we had a public forum. On issues we wanted to be for members only...to discuss events...argue about how to do things...and to discuss mistakes made...who made them lol...and how to fix them...we had a private forum for members only. Here we could do polls....moan and groan...grow and really fix some issues...without the whole world knowing about it...but allowing the membership to still participate and have a say. Something like that might be something to consider here.

Membership needs a voice....but none of us should have an ugly voice at each other.

Eagles Soar.

I love you Karen...that's a good idea!

MikeB in Peanut City

All excellent ideas, and Maine Yankee, you nailed it on the head... we all have different strengths and weaknesses, we all have different preferences... but there is room for all of us in this organization to do what we do best. :)

Well...goooolllllly....It is good to be loved lol.

I got one other thing to say...and then I will try to shut up (ya'll will find I am not good at that).

One thing to remember....Gathering of Eagles is a group of people who have decided to no longer be the silent majority....and I think that means anywhere lol. Gathering of Eagles is composed of strong people, with strong opinions and of those not afraid to stand up for what they believe. The members are also smart people who stay informed. We need to keep these people...and understand that they are going to question, speak their minds and fight for what they believe in.

Eagles Soar

Kathy,Thank You so much.What a difference a day and a forum post can make.This will be a day we can get back to Joe66 and all the others that are serving this country with Honor,Pride and Commitment.God protect you MEN & WOMEN IN uniform.Thank you and your families for your sacrifice and never doubt that there are those that will stand the line when you cannot, speak to America in your defense and welcome you home when you return.May GOD hold you in his loving hands until you can return home and be held by the ones that love you.

Excellent post, Karen! The part about the internet is spot on! heck, even when I'm speaking to a person face to face what I really mean doesn't always come out like it sounds in my head. I'm with Maine Yankee - I don't do the "explaining" part very well. I write better than I speak. And I still have trouble with that. I'm great at research but lousy at public speaking. But I'm in this for the troops and that gives me the ooomph needed to do what I have to do. If we each personally use our strengths (and everyone has different ones), we'll continue to be a force to reckon with. Do what you can do; someone else will probably be able to do what you don't feel you can. And together it will all get done

I believe in each and every Veteran who gave me my freedoms to tell someone to piss off if I want too.. and the Welcome home is not because it is politically corrrect now but because I comes from my heart.. and Please wear Red on Fridays for the blood our service men are losing for our protection PLEASE DO NOT FORGET RED ON FRIDAYS.. Sincerely, Marsha Jean Ledeman honorary Veteran since 1997 and Bronze Leader for DAV and I had the Washington State POW/MIA Color Guard for about 10 years and now Jeff McINtyre is taking it over for me... And I love him for that and respect his service.. as well.. Sincerely, Marsha Ledeman and WELCOME HOME TO ALL OF YOU VETERANS AND THANK YOU ALL AS WELL...

Debate is good. It is the sign that GOE is going through growing pains. But it is not good when you have those who have their own personal agendas that are contrary to the mission and goals of GOE. We are a young organization. We should stay focused on what we can achieve together and not on what individuals want to achieve just to satisfy their on egos.

Good letter Kathy; We have to be willing to give the same rights to all Eagles we demand for ourselves. I wish I could make both days in September, and the dinner too, but I just don't have the bucks. (The Lord must be okay with that because He hasn’t seen fit to change it.) Some Eagles handle artillery, some machine guns, some call in air strikes, others are riflemen and it takes all of them working together to take the objective. Remember, Eagles don’t "flock - they don’t "herd - they don’t run in "packs - they "Gather . This means they come and they go as they please because they are FREE! To have that kind of freedom, you have to give that kind of freedom! Just because someone doesn't see the same thing, the same way you do, does NOT necessarily mean that either one of you is wrong. What we are is Eagles, not Turkeys!

Rev. Ed Anthony SSGT. 65-’73 National Co-Chaplain GoE

Very good points Kathy, I'm with you on these points. I'll see you all on the 10th and hopefully on the 15th. I'm close and hopefully my health let me attend both.

We're supposed to be in this for the troops not for ourselves.

I think most Eagles understand very well the need to confront the anti-American groups, and don't listen to the detractors who may bombard the GOE site with their 'better ideas' on how to run and organize a group.

Just do what is right, and keep up the great work, and we loyal Eagles will do out best to make a success out of whatever GOE attempts.

All of you on the national and state levels are doing a great job. Keep on trucking ...

There are always those who have something to say, and then there are always those who have to say something (I borrowed that from a pastor whom I revere for his intelligence, wisdom, and spirituality!). So, you can decide which this is.

Folks, fellow Eagles, why are we even having this discussion? Because we're all Eagles! Why are we all Eagles? Because we all love this incredible experiment that "our fathers brought forth on this continent"! (Gosh, I seem to be borrowing everybody's stuff!) Anyway, when one loves something or someone, he/she uses every weapon at his/her disposal, and sometimes, on the backswing, whacks a noble ally.

We're all burning a pretty short fuse over most of the things that are coming down on our country, our President, and, worst of all, our men and women who are, have been, and soon will be "Over There" standing in the gap for us and, yes, for those who only have the guts to shout stupid slogans (that these men and wormen are defending their right to shout) and waving stupid signs. Yes, our fuses are short. And it's not really happy-happy time here in the good ol' USA, especially for those of us who have to stay here and hear about the war through the filters of many who are not 100 (10 ?) honest.

Okay, here comes the moral: Pinch the fuse. Explosions are usually omnidirectional (that means they go ever' whichaway!). They make a lot of noise and seldom hit the right target and often hurt innocent people.

There's a lot of love evident in all these comments--even the critical ones. Heck, as mentioned above, it's the patriots' love that brought us together in the first place! Now, let's put a harness on that anger that is always just around the corner--at least, for me it is.

But, like fire, anger harnessed can be a force for strength. Temper it with love, and then . . . .

GO KICK ASS, EAGLES!!!! (Figuratively speaking, of course!)

Chuck...I agree with everything you said,,,but i'm ready to GO KICK ASS( LITERALLY SPEAKING)

Eagles UUUP!!!

Regard your soldiers as your children and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look on them as your beloved sons , and they will stand by you even unto death. Sun Tzu

Here is one good reason why the Gathering of Eagles formed on March 17 2007 at the Vietnam Wall.

So long as the memory of curtin beloved friends lives in my heart. I shall say that life is good

Helen Keller

Your thoughts as to why we fight so hard to stay together.?.

Even our founding fathers disagreed sometimes... the arguement between states rights and federal lasted almost a century and took a war to resolve, so we probably will disagree from time to time, and we probably wont like every decision, but we all have a common goal to work towards, and it appears that we have our work cut out for us. :)

Cindy Sheehan will protest in Charlotte NC on July 17 at Bryant Park 1701 West Morehead St Charlotte NC The moonbats will form up at 5:00pm, I will be on site NLT 3:00pm , bring signs , flags & lots of Eagle pride & spirit.

We do not want Cindy to think we forgot her during her "Retirement".