March 17, 2007 in Washington DC


Chuck Cole of Wellfleet, Ma said,

Yes...Wash DC...March 17th.....2007........twas REAL....
We'd left Orleans at 7pm with 30 on board....we picked up another 5 enroute and drove through the edges of a New England Nor'easter......6 inches of snow in Connecticut...with most of the tractor trailers waiting it out til morning.... We had a crazy drive south....our bus driver was amazing......... in outrageous Snow/ slush/ ice conditions...
Yay! for Henry......


Our Cape Cod...(and then some)...Bus ...disembarking!!!!@ 23rd and Constitution Ave.


Noticed a LOT of Black jacketted Veterans about as Soleil and I made our way down the Washington Mall for a quick tour of the Buildings of the Capitol !!!!hmmmm a little of a "vibe", too....we headed out for a quick tourist jaunt...with flags flying!!!!!


The Lincoln Memorial at a distance..those flags at the Washington monument were "roaring"....we weren't allowed to approach , Closely....with our Peace Flags flying!!!!!


Soleil and I had a sweet jaunt towards the Capitol..a bright and sunny morning..2 miles worth!!! before we turned around amongst the older buildings of the Smithsonian Museum..and headed back toward the Lincoln Memorial....turned right in front due to a pedestrian Detour....saw Lincoln sitting in his marble chair and tried to make our way to OUR rally site.....but we were now on the inside of a maze of snow fencing that now seemed to feel more like a fish weir funnelling us toward WHERE...... we weren't sure!!! tho' those around us became more and more hostile to our Peace and Rainbow flags!!!! soon we realized that we were closing in on the end of the Vietnam Memorial visitors line....between THERE and 10,000 American Flags put up "special" for this counter demonstration!(didn't count em)......we made our way .....slowly.......on toward Constitution Ave.....


Photo by Michael Pendergrass



Try this link....Sunday's Washington Post!!! It does a great job describing what we were up against!!!!...the paragraph about the taunts being aimed at peace folks....w/kids....would be US!!!!and so on



Fleetian Marchers ....before the March......by Sara Hutchings

and so on

At the mouth of the "eagles'" "fish weir"!!

We had been on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.....and wanted to get to the "other side"...we were behind....hmmmmm...what felt like 'enemy lines'!!!twas more than VERY uncomfortable....had to navigate a purposely created "gauntlet of snow fencing" that decreased in width to barely enough for the stroller and a GATHERED EAGLE on either side!!!!!...til we realized that we were at the end of the Vietnam Memorial outramp!!!!!between THAT and the encampment of Rolling Thunder/Gathered Eagles. Imagine 10,000 American flags!!!!!...we "popped out the other side" and were on the sidewalk along Constitution Avenue....at the moment when Code Pinkers walked by..enroute to the rally site...right by....through the Gathering of Eagles..... I realize now....probably quite calculatedly....on BOTH "sides"!!!

Even so......we felt to have arrived in a circle of friendly fish...Our school...so to speak....

As it turned out.... that put us in the sights..front row center.....middle of the torrent!!!!This website makes THAT VERY clear!!!


Somewhat oblivious to the "prior build-up"........ Soleil and I were accepted as "honorary Code Pinkers" for the whole march across the bridge to the pentagon....Soleil was presented with a Code Pink pink tambourine....gloves to keep her fingers warm....and a pink and purple boa...NO...TWO of them...Medea Benjamin told her friends,cohorts and companions...when Soleil showed that she was "some scared" that "this little girl needs some 'lovin' ...girls!! Our Outer Cape Outrageous Code Pink types can be VERY proud of our littlest peace-nik....twasn't a FUN rally...though there were moments..0-:.....a GREAT experience....all-round..she'll NEVER forget it...ask me when we next meet...or even better ...ask Soleil!!!!twas a GREAT Flag day.....


A Code Pink Pow Wow with the Priests that gathered and walked to the rally from the National Cathedral where 2800 had gathered on Friday night!!!!at the start of the march across the bridge... a line of "patriots*" is out of sight but quite loud when we were there!!!

Video of pro-war guys, line of riot Police, Anti-war Folk marching to the Pentegon

* read: Angry Pro-war Veterans!!!!!


Department of Peace ...photo by Sara Hutchings

The March itself was mostly CLASSIC antiwar folks.....saying what feels IMPORTANT ...these days amd on the eve of the Four Year anniversary of Shock and Awe.......

Another video that ends with a "Peace Guy" from Paine Hollow!!!!!!


From the Washington Post...at the Arlington Cemetery side of the Bridge...I understand that many of our Cape Cod contingent were in these first few rows..with John Bangert - Carlos A. etc...


Photo by Michael Pendergrass


Soleil and I were about halfway/two thirds the way back in this photo....left of Center...so to speak! The March took a Hard LEFT before we got to the assembled "Patriots".....to walk the rest of the way to the Pentagon Parking lot....

a little PEACE ....... at the pentagon!!


The Rally on the pavement near the Pentagon was windswept and COLD.....we heard Cindy Sheehan and cheered....and made our way back through the Daffodil field to the Bus....the Bus left DC around 7pm.........we got back at 5 Sunday am......whew!!!!...


For MORE and a wrap-up....go here....and scroll down.... -and- Ted Goodnight - Afghan vet for Peace travelled from Cape Cod with his son) (words from Brian O'Malley MD... CCP&J

Veterans Speak Out after an Historic March to the Pentagon :

Towards a more Peaceful World..... Stop the War on Iraq.......


Go to Wellfleet Town Hall peeper