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members of “Gathering of Eagles” who assaulted gold star father Carlos Arredondo in broad daylight in Washington, D.C., on September 15, 2007, throwing him to the ground and kicking him.
Account of what happened from Arredondo’s wife By Mélida Arredondo:
Carlos Arredondo, 47 year old father of two sons, arrived in the nation’s capitol on Monday, 09/10/07 to share a memorial he has made to honor for his eldest son, Alex. Carlos has visited thirty of the United States with the traveling memorial to his son Alexander. Lcpl. Alexander S. Arredondo, USMC was killed on 08/25/04. He was 20 years and 20 days old. The memorial consists of a casket, poster- size photographs of Alex when he graduated from boot camp, before his second tour in Iraq, lying in state at his wake, and a photo of Alex with his younger brother Brian.
Saturday, September 15, 2007 consisted of first a rally, a march towards the capitol and then a die-in. Carlos pulled the memorial along the march route approaching the rotunda near the capitol building. Several of the marchers requested for him to speak about the memorial where a crowd gathered around him. After finishing, several people walked with Carlos as he pulled the memorial. Several pictures of Alex dressed in his blues were attached to the display.
As Carlos passed counter protesters, one man ripped a picture of Alex from the memorial. Carlos leaped on the man to retrieve the picture. It was at that point that approximately five others all began to attack Carlos by kicking him in the head, legs, stomach and back.
This group has a website, and while I have reservations about linking to them I feel that the depths of their hatred and ignorance must be seen to be believed and it must be beaten back. Please take the time to go look at the comments being made about Carlos at their site. No matter how enraging it may be, they must be exposed for who and what they really are.
The Capitol police bicycle patrol then appeared to break up the fight. Several officers including a female officer were engaged in breaking up the fight and were able to stop any further injuries from occurring. Hannah Jones who was walking with Carlos was also assaulted.
A bystander named Ramesh witnessed the whole encounter and also retrieved the picture of Alex for Carlos. He was quite distressed at how he watched the men follow Carlos as he pulled the memorial, purposefully yelling epiphets and eventually taking Alex’s photograph. Soon, an ambulance showed up as well as many concerned activists. The paramedics provided first aid to Carlos but he did not seek further medical attention. Carlos sustained bloody cuts on his shins. He also reported bruises all over his torso and head where he was kicked.
rd2007 even if your account is true what right did that man have to snatch a picture of this mans dead son? His actions crossed the line.
"Arredondo was bringing up the rear of the march; almost everybody was already on the Capitol lawn when he came by dragging his casket. Fred Peterson, an ex-Marine, was standing off to the side of the road. Peterson was upset, not just as a participant in the counterprotest offended by the marcher’s politics and their perceived lack of patriotism, but because he felt exploiting the death of a fallen Marine crossed a line. Fred walked out into the street and snatched the picture off of the casket."
I wasn't defending either side, I just pointed out that there was, as is almost always the case, another side to the story. He didn't have any right to do that, but from the sounds of the other posts in that other forum they seem like some seriously passionate people.. and sometimes a passion for something will make you do things you normally wouldn't..
Here is a quote from one of the moderators in the Eagle's forum and I particularly like how he pointed out who exactly sponsors and participates in these "war protests" and what their actual objective is. Once again it's the socialists and the communists. I've seen pictures and videos of their banners and their booths and it's amazing how people actually fall for this crap.. then again it's the same people that think george soros is a humanitarian instead of a socialist/communist..
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spockwasright (moderator from Gathering of Eagles Forum
This guy Carlos is a certifiable NUTCASE…PERIOD.
While I feel for any Gold Star family member. Having a son or father, sister, brother or mother killed in defense of their country AND it's way of life, does NOT give one the right to desecrate the memory of that fallen hero in furtherance of the cause of everything CONTRARY to the beliefs of said country. This guy Carlos has been co-opted by the left for their own political gains and his nationwide "road-show, street theater" makes a mockery of every other Gold Star family out there. Cindy Sheehan has made her place in history by exploiting the honorable service of her son, and our little Carlos is being PAID to do the same in his own sick twisted way throughout the country with the death of his.
Remember folks, that this guy went ballistic when the Marines came to his house with the news. He took a hammer to their van, and then tried to douse it with gasoline and light it on fire!
We as a society don't tolerate nut-jobs going whacko on people just because they're "feeling pain in their hearts". Nor should we. This guy belongs in an institution, not on the news as a poster boy for "the agony of loss". Besides, he's flat out LYING about the circumstances of his "scuffle".
How do I know this? Because the animal BIT ME! Yes, I'm the guy that he bit. This freakshow would be in jail now, were it not for the compassion of Fred Peterson, (a 61 yr old, arthritic, Viet-Nam vet) who was attacked from BEHIND, and myself not pressing charges against the nut-case for his assault on US! He attacked Fred. I pulled him off. He BIT ME! When that kind of savagery takes place…all bets should be off. But the HUMANS chose to let sleeping dogs lie…so to speak.
Here below is the account from the Eagle he attacked. You can decide who to believe…but I was there. After reading what the pathetic BITER is saying now, I wish we HAD pressed charges. Perhaps he's be singing a different tune. But I doubt it. His handlers love the lie.
From the pen of Fred Peterson: I was leaving Capitol Grounds. The activity there had just about ended with the arrest of over 600 provocateurs and agents 'anti-war' of violence. There, we Eagles had organized teams of six men - mostly veterans - to protect the safety of Gold Star Moms (and Dads) from the physical threats and insults of hard-edge left socialists, Seattle anarchists, random lefty Raggamuffins and reflexive anti-Americans who made up the ANSWER Coalition … I had spent the day in the company of an American hero - a youthful Army amputee, who wanted only to rejoin his brothers and renew his sacrifice in defense of country. It was a humbling and inspirational experience, to be in the presence of such selfless virtue in one so young and brave. It invited a camaraderie of high principle and enervated a keen sense of obligation to preserve and protect these worthy veterans from the predations of those lessers who insult their country and cause… My teams broke up at the Capitol, mission accomplished, and I was walking alone back to the Mall when I saw the photo-image of a proud young Marine in dress blues being held hostage in company not of his own choosing and affixed to a coffin not his own. The insult to his honor and disrespect to his Corps and cause by his captors was immediately obvious and intended. These same peddlers of provocation are paid to push their coffin-prop all over the country they revile. They subvert a common will and undermine the cause and country for which this hostage-Marine had sacrificed his very life. The captive Marine was not among his own. He was surrounded and outnumbered by those who shamelessly exploit his image and memory, disgrace his uniform, his brothers in arms, and his willing sacrifice. He would never choose such company. He needed a rescue… I liberated his image from the midst of the hostile crowd, intending to replace it in a position of honor Arlington, where he would rest with heroes and among his own …I respectfully carried the image of the fallen Marine and was not opposed nor confronted in any way until I has walked perhaps 25 yards down the sidewalk. There, I was attacked without warning and tackled from behind by a demonstrator who crashed into my back at a full run. I went down forward, tearing pants knees and shirt sleeve and five separate wounds requiring hospital attention. The Marine's image, along with camera and sunglasses were smashed into the pavement. Before I could respond, six or so Eagles-vets were immediately pulling me away from the anti-war attacker.
One Eagle was holding the attacker and yelling, "He's biting off my arm! I cannot believe this (A-Hole) is biting my arm!" That Eagle also went to the hospital where he was treated and given shots. Other Eagles separated the two and held the attacker/biter for the police. Police Interviews were conducted and Eagles were asked if they wanted to prefer charges… No charges were filed by Eagles, who are unaccustomed to whining about minor injuries when they stand in defense of larger principles unappreciated - uncomprehended - by their attackers. Two Gold Star Mothers who witnessed the entire episode and gave police statements said, "I am so proud of what you did! I wanted to do it myself … That coffin is such a disgrace to my son and all the others who have died to help others be free. Thank you so much! It made my day." Well, actually, - those few precious words, from one who has given the full measure of issue from her own body to the defense of our country, 'made my day' also … Semper Fidelis.
I'm sure I'll take plenty of flack for this quote from those that don't understand what honor and service to country is, but that's ok with me..
Wait, there are still ppl who think that iraq war is about defending the US?
Honor and service, sure, but for the defense of this country? Wow. Talk about exploiting . Who is really exploiting our soldiers into doing things not productive for the US.
rd2007 even if your account is true what right did that man have to snatch a picture of this mans dead son? His actions crossed the line.
Liliblu, because these are once again times of brown shirts and jack boots. The right of one man to swing his fist ends where another mans nose begins is no longer any concern as long as you can wrap it in the guise of nationalism.
whoa.. the boy was a son long before he was a member of the military... and whatever statement the father wanted to make... that is his right... whether we like it or not.. its a matter of two perspectives.. and if that isn't your son.. or your family member.. then you need to stay out of it.. the guy who took the picture was using the boy as a political statement just as much as the father was... implying that he was somehow acting out in a manner of respect for ALL of the OTHER dead military service people... it just frankly isn't anyone's place to do that.. crossing family lines.. is crossing into personal lives for the sake of trying to make a counter statement fueled by political issues... the one thing the father does have.. is the right to question the government who sent his son off to die... and if he feels it was in vain... then he should be able to express that in a protesting manner... even if YOU don't like it...
whoa.. the boy was a son long before he was a member of the military... and whatever statement the father wanted to make... that is his right... whether we like it or not.. its a matter of two perspectives.. and if that isn't your son.. or your family member.. then you need to stay out of it.. the guy who took the picture was using the boy as a political statement just as much as the father was... implying that he was somehow acting out in a manner of respect for ALL of the OTHER dead military service people... it just frankly isn't anyone's place to do that.. crossing family lines.. is crossing into personal lives for the sake of trying to make a counter statement fueled by political issues... the one thing the father does have.. is the right to question the government who sent his son off to die... and if he feels it was in vain... then he should be able to express that in a protesting manner... even if YOU don't like it...
I totally agree with you here. Peterson, whoever he was, had no right to take the photograph.
Yeah, there's two sides to every story, but somewhere there is the truth!!
Here is a quote from one of the moderators in the Eagle's forum and I particularly like how he pointed out who exactly sponsors and participates in these "war protests" and what their actual objective is. Once again it's the socialists and the communists.
'Scuse me, but if you do a little reading, you'll discover that our country doesn't exactly fit into the straight mold of "Capitalistic Democracy." There are some small socialistic issues, like the fire department? The police department? The highway system?
While we'll never be Communists, we hardly stand as poster children for Democracy OR Capitalism.
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