For those that have become accustomed to my "blogumentary" writing style I'm going to change things up for this post. Where emotions were so high at this great event, and I met some many wonderful people that lost loved ones, I'm going to direct everyone who came here looking for pictures and videos only to the link below. My personal narrative and experiences of the day can be found below for those that are interested, but out of respect for everyone else, please just click the link below.

Protesting and confronting congressmen at their local town hall meetings in August? That's easy. Marching on the nation's capitol in September? I didn't make that one, but it sounds like a piece of cake. Even storming congressional offices after a healthcare rally in November seemed like child's play compared to the Never Forget Coalition rally in New York City on December 5th. With a temperature in the mid 30's, torrential downpours and high winds, the weather served as a testament to the resolve of those that attended. I'm proud to have stood side by side with these great patriots, and despite what I can only describe as mild hypothermia, I would do the entire day over in heartbeat.

My day started nice and early. And by that I mean as early as  possible, about 1am. I  know logistics are boring, but I had a bunch of people ask me how I got down to NYC, so I want to sum it up real quick. I drove from Boston to New Haven CT, where I ditched my car. The ride took about 2 hours. From there I hopped on the Metro-North Railroad (ticket $14/one way). The price and ease of use was great, but this train reminded me of Greyhound on rails. Luxury was right out the window. No, I won’t complain about Amtrak ever again. Anyway, about an hour and 45 minutes later I was in Grand Central. 4 hours give or take $14 for the ticket and maybe a quarter of a tank of gas.

After a quick jaunt down the subway, I was in downtown Manhattan. Immediately to my left I saw the Brooklyn Bridge. History lesson here, Al-Qaeda tried to take out that bridge in 2002-2003. This was of course dismissed by the media because the plan was still in the "aspirational" phase(like anyone would believe on September 10th that a bunch of Saudi's who went to crop dusting school could have taken over jet airliners and used them as guided missiles).

With the thought of the Brooklyn Bridge attack on my mind, I set out to ground zero. As I mentioned in a previous article I have never been to the World Trade Center site and wanted to do so to pay my respects. I've never walked around Manhattan before and definitely misjudged how close I was. While still preoccupied with the bridge attack I turned a blind corner and saw this.

I'll be honest, the sight caught me completely off guard and, the sudden wave of emotions I felt, brought me right back to September 11th. I'm not ashamed to say that I almost "lost my lunch" on the spot. The magnitude and scope of that day really hit home when I looked up at the buildings around me and imagined what those towers must have looked like. I wandered down the street and into a Burger King that had a bit of an observation deck for a better look.

If you still haven't been to New York to see this in person, I can't put into words how strongly I think you should. We've all seen the footage of September 11th on the news but, until you've been there in person, the true scope of what happened that day can't be impressed upon you. After a short while, I grabbed my pack and headed back towards Foley Square. It's needless to say that I took my time and took a meandering root. Long walks always help to clear my head, and with 5 hours until the rally started I took my time wandering around.

NOTE: If you are wondering at what point am I going to make my argument for military tribunals vs. civilian trials, I am sorry but I wont make one. This is not because I believe that civilian trails are a better course of action, nothing could be farther from the truth. After listening to the following speakers I realized that I cannot possibly make a more articulate and genuine appeal for common sense than those who spoke at the rally, and I have no intentions of trying.

After I drank about a gallon of hot coffee, people began showing  up in greater and  greater numbers. I took the time to walk around and spark up conversations with different people. While the majority of people were from the tristate area, I ran into a few people from as far away as Delaware and Pennsylvania and Virginia. I know the stereotype out there that people in New York aren't very friendly, but everyone I met in that crowd was unbelievably polite and warm. We all took turns sharing stories from different protests and rallies. I couldn't help but bring up the Barney Frank incident with my colleague Angel; people's reaction were exactly what you'd expect, reaffirming my belief that it's only the people in his gerrymandered district that can stand him.

It was when everyone started sharing their  own stories of politicians and rallies that I realized this crowd was different from any other rally/protest I've been to this year. The word cliché has too many negative connotations, but the most common thing I've heard all year was that "this is the first time I've done something like this", in regards to attending a rally. I've joked around with friends that this was the summer that average Americans found their voice, but this rally was so very different and hopefully a sign of the changing season.

 

EVERYONE I spoke with in that crowd had been to 9/12 in  Washington or, like Angel and I, went to the Nov. 5th Healthcare rally. Everyone had stories of their own local town hall meetings and tea parties from over the summer. If ever there was an upper-echelon of patriotic protesters, this crowd was it. I'm honored to have stood with them. The fact that so many showed up, when we all knew it was going to be terrible weather, was a testament to our convictions. And it was on this note the rally began...

I have to apologize for the quality of the video. Obviously the lower the quality of the video, the longer I can shoot.

(I'm not ashamed to say that when she mentioned her brother it brought a tear to my eye. I know for a fact I wasn't the only there who had a similar reaction...)

 

Please be sure to check out Tim Brown's website THE BRAVEST and be sure to read the letter that was sent on behalf of the 9/11 families. While you're there sign the petition against these civilian trials.

(You all have my apologies for the plastic bag on the camera. The rain really started coming down HARD at that point, and I was already getting the moisture warning on the screen.)

 

 



At this point I couldn't stand in the rain any longer. I dressed for warmth, not for rain, and at this point, I was completely soaked from head to toe. Nothing I had on me was waterproof; I even earlier had to get a trashbag from a local Starbucks just to protect my computer in my back pack. (You may notice the video footage becoming shakier as my shivering increased.)

I retreated back to Starbucks. I felt horrible for walking away from the stage only halfway through the rally, but it was a matter of self preservation. Someone jumped in front of me on my way to warm shelter, apparently he had been following me across the square trying to catch me. He was a man that I hadn't spoken to, but had overhead me talking about our stories of 10th Amendment campaigns, protesting in Washington and of course Congressman Frank. All he wanted was to shake my hand and thank us for what we were doing. I was completely speechless. I think I got out a "Thank you," I really hope I did. If that gentlemen ever visits this site I can't express how taken aback I was at what he said. Again, thank you so much.

Now it was at this point I made it back into Starbucks and sucked down the biggest cup of hot coffee they sold. It was standing room only as so many others were trying to warm up and dry off. I was only expecting to duck inside for a few minutes, or at least until I stopped shivering, but, within in minutes, I found  myself speaking to a very patriotic and articulate young woman who seemed to be on a first name basis with everyone who  walked through the door. Our conversation about other tea parties and protests we've attended drew the attention of other  rally attendees. Before I realized it the rally was over and I had spoken with well over a  dozen different people from all  walks of live, all united in their love of this country and  their fear that we're heading into some very dark times ahead (well,  that and the  camaraderie that comes from shared misery). EVERYONE was soaked to the bone and  freezing, which I  consider to be a good thing, it made for a great ice breaker. Again  though, I can't stress enough how fantastic the  conversations were. One gentlemen I spoke with about everything under the sun until well after everyone had left both  Starbucks and the protest. It was after our conversation ended and I was heading back out that I saw the quintessential message of the day, propped behind a trash can in of all places a Starbucks.

 

I realized heading back into Foley Square just how much I lost track of time. There were only a few workers left taking apart some fencing, and that was it.


 

New York Police Crowd Estimates were approximately 1500. From an officer I spoke with, they were expecting 5000+. I blame it on the rain.

 
The rally was fantastic, don't get me wrong. And I'm glad to have come down to show my support to the families, but it was talking with all of the attendees that really made the trip for me. (That even goes for the Yankees fans!) I'm not going to hesitate to head back down to NYC for another protest/rally and I really hope some of the great people I've met down there, who have my information, will give me the heads up next time there's something big going on.

Now, I don't want anyone to think that the importance of today's date escapes me. Sixty-eight years ago today, America was hit with another surprise attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7th 1941. The biggest difference, aside from the 626 more people that died on 9/11, is that even Franklin Delano Roosevelt (the great hero of the left) would NEVER have tried those who committed that "unprovoked and dastardly attack" in civilian trials. In fact it was he that coined the phrase "enemy combatant" (another phrase the left hates). I have been asking for a while now, and have yet to get a logical reason from anyone, why trying these men in civilian courts is a good thing for the victims or for this country. Obama? Holder? Anyone?

To those of you reading this who were there with me in that Starbucks, our temporary safehaven against the bitter elements, here was my final message to you of that night when I finally got to my car (pardon the crude and unprofessional language, but it reflects this Bostonian's raw feelings of the moment coupled with the sentiments from our matter-of-fact and blunt conversations had throughout the day):