On April 8, the Vets For Freedom, over 450
Iraq and Afghan war veterans, blanketed Capital Hill to meet with Congressmen and Senators.
Senators McCain, Lieberman,
Graham, Inhofe and Bond, along with Congressmen Marshall and Johnson greeted them on the lawn and spoke of the importance
of our mission. (See great photos here.)
LtCol William Russell, challenger to Murtha’s
seat in Congress issued a challenge for a debate in Pennsylvania to Rep Murtha.
Then, the vets went inside. They passed
Bev Perlson, in front of the Cannon Building. Bev is the founder of Band of Mothers, an organization of moms of service members.
She was spending one of the three days she had a permit to stand there with signs in support of General Petraeus and our troops.
Inside, many – almost all Republican
– Senators and Congressmen welcomed them into their offices to get updated on events at the front from those who know
it best through experience.
John Murtha refused to meet with them. So,
as common in Congress, they tried a drop-in, and were again refused a meeting, even with a staffer.
When Bev Perlson heard about the affront,
she decided to act.
Bev Perlson writes me:
I had seen an absolute enough disappointed
Marines walk by and tell me that John Murtha did not see them and could not see them. When I asked how did it go, they all
reported pretty much the same answer “Didn’t have time for us.” Could this be the same John Murtha who had
all kinds of time to badmouth these Marines even before he was officially briefed on what occurred in Haditha?!!!
The mother and protector in me could not
let this disrespect go by. I believe these Heroes need someone to speak up for them because they cannot and I can no longer
sit and be silent. I headed down to John Murtha’s office with two mothers of Soldiers, one who’s Son currently
serves and one who’s Son has served proudly. We entered the office and I asked to see Murtha.
“Do I have an appointment?”
a young man asked. I gave him my card and told him I was outraged that several Marines had been in to see Mr. Murtha and were
refused. This young man stood up and told me that “people” cannot just come in there and expect to see the Congressman
without an appointment. I was outraged by his pompous attitude and insulted that he didn’t seem to understand that these
brave Warriors are not just “people!” I clearly saw the problem here and was so deeply offended that he didn’t
seem to understand, and I informed him that these fine Marines are not just people, THEY ARE SOLDIERS, THEY ARE HEROES, and
MR. Murtha needs to show them respect and further, he needs to apologize to everyone of them. The last thing I said was “He
is a Coward” because I believe that he is. A white haired lady asked us to leave and we did, and as we walked down the
hall, the white haired lady called us “Cowards.”
Then, returning to the front of the
building:
As I just reached the Cannon Bldg., 3 or 4 Police cars with flashing
lights pulled right up near me. I think I saw 6 or 7 Policeman around me and was asked to step aside to speak with one of
the Officers. I was asked if I had just been in the Rayburn Bldg and what was my business there. I explained to the Officer
what transpired in Mr. Murtha’s office, I was asked for my driver’s license and that was it. I did tell the nice
Policeman I was not at all sorry for what I said in Murtha’s office and that I have NEVER been arrested. I did tell
him that I was very sorry if I caused him any trouble or a lot of undue paperwork. If Mr. Murtha’s purpose in calling
the Police on me was to scare me or intimidate me, his bullish tactic did not work and I say he is lucky my father wasn’t
around! I am angry that this man, who accuses our military of using excessive force, sent 3 Police Cars and 7 Officers to
intimidate me. Had me chased down like a fugitive! I know one thing for certain: John Murtha does not respect our Soldiers
and he sure doesn’t respect their mothers. You are shameful John Murtha.
Another witness writes me:
Kristinn of Free Republic went back to Murtha’s office to get
their take on Bev’s “visit” They said she had yelled about the fact that the office would not visit with
the vets, just as Bev had stated.
He asked why they called the cops and they said she was “disruptive to the
office” [Not threatening-“disruptive.”] He asked when they called the police, they stated that they had
called after she had left. Gee- I don’t think she was disrupting the office when she wasn’t there!
Bev is the mother of Sgt. John P. White, 82nd Airborne, Bronze Star Recipient,
on his 4th deployment.
Murtha tried to kick the Haditha Marines down the stairs, and stomp their
reputation and freedom. Now, he sics the cops on a soldier’s mother. What’s next? Maybe spitting at Girl Scouts
selling cookies outside the supermarket.
