Veterans Rally for Obama in Fairfax

About 300 persons came to listen, talk, and eat at the Obama Rally for Veterans and their families on Saturday at the Veterans Amphitheatre in Fairfax, VA on a cool, windy, sunny, but sometimes cloudy, day.

Retired generals, captains, and a congressional candidate blistered the Bush Administration from the pulpit in expounding upon many reasons to support Barack Obama for the presidency.

Retired Colonel Larry Wilkerson who formerly served as Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell was the harshest Bush critic, calling the administration the most corrupt and incompetent that he has known, “and I am a Republican,” he thundered. The Bush team has torn the Republican Party completely asunder, he said as his words and phrases built to a crescendo.

Torture was a hot topic during the afternoon, and the speakers joined throngs everywhere, including both presidential candidates, wanting to close Guantanamo prison and send a message heard ‘round the world.

A former president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, retired Captain Paul “Bud” Bucha, was so effective a speaker one wondered why he does not run for political office.

“Only” 41% of the soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan seek counseling to help them recover from emotional injury, but 100% need it, Capt. Bucha exclaimed. “I’ve only been in counseling six months,“ he shouted to the audience, “and my doctor wanted to know why it took me 40 years!” Capt Bucha served in Vietnam and was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Nixon in 1968.

Gerry Connolly, Congressional candidate from the Eleventh District, was the first speaker. Other retired officers who spoke were Major General James Kelley, Brigadier General David McGinnis, Capt. Wesley Moore, and Capt. Angie Morgan.

Sponsors were the Fairfax County Democratic Committee and several area restaurants which provided food (not pizza !) gratis.

Tents shaded “Seniors for Obama” and “Veterans for Obama” where plentiful bumper stickers, yard signs, sign-up sheets, and political paraphernalia were available. The folding chairs were all filled during the speeches, and attendees stood and listened intently. Several retired veterans asked questions after the speeches ended, and the speakers took turns answering them.

Large and small Obama/Biden signs surrounded the amphitheatre where we initially planned to only stay an hour, but the words and passions of the military speakers hypnotized us, and we departed after the end.

Here are photos of the event taken by David Otto:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwotto/sets/72157608154992786/