Dear Angels,

This past weekend the Nation mourned the loss of Navy Seal Marc Lee. The memorial was held in mine and Marc’s home town of Hood River, Oregon. I have been working with the family, the press, city and county officials to help provide support to the family.

I received a phone call from the Police Department spokesman two weeks ago letting me know that the Westborough Baptist Church was coming..... So, along with Karen, SA from Milton-Freewater, we got things rolling and the family called me and told me that they were being harassed by this group and they wanted to know if SA could help? My answer was a definite, "Yes"......

The ceremony was to begin at 11AM, so prior to my family, friends and fellow SA Member Karen Locke, arrived at 8:30 and was stationed at the main front entrance with an Oregon National Guard Unit from Eastern Oregon.... Flags flying and SA and PGR posters up front and center stage...

As the day progressed the PGR from all over the US began arriving along with members from the Oregon Veterans Motorcycle Riders.... We thanked them as the proceeded through the barricades.... Then we received a phone call that the PGR was staging at the local Wal-mart parking lot and they were going to come through down town Hood River and onto our site.... So, off the PGR riders went... Flags flying.... engines roaring...

As our ears stained to hear the definite roar of engines, the most wonderful site appeared.... The entire group of PGR, one-by-one roared over the over pass and headed straight for us..... Cheers of elation from the local crowds, SA members and National Guard members roared....

Countdown, 30 minutes before the family’s arrival...... Out of the debts of darkness the protestors crawled. Unknown to me, the protestors raised a huge stink with the location that they were first given to only be escorted to a location near the top of the overpass .... They would be the very first site the family would see upon arrival to the memorial!

Karen and I could not believe what we were seeing.... So, a dear friend of mine and close friend of the family who stood with us for over 6 hours manning the front gate pulled her truck over and played the Toby Keith song, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue"... We drowned out their vile chants.....

Countdown 15 minutes before the family’s arrival..... Quickly, one of the National Guard members stationed with us had a friend who was here as a PGR member.... (PGR was stationed over one quarter mile away from us lining the entrance to the memorial with their bikes).... Called over to his friend and told him about the arrival of the protestors.... At that time, two PGR riders walked passed us and stationed themselves on the sidewalk in front of the protestors... Karen and I just looked at each other and we knew we need to stand with them! We need to block this vile group and shield the family...

As we walked towards them, holding our flags high and proud, they came closer to us .... chanting, singing, pointing their fingers... But, with me it was like God spoke to me and all I could hear was the music from the truck even as she was screaming in my ears....

The protestors were now, directly behind us about two feet away on the other side of the cement sidewalk..Continually screaming, sing and chanting... Suddenly, Karen nudged me and pointed to my right.... Goosebumps ran though me as I saw the most beautiful thing you could ever imagine.... A sea of the most beautiful colors in the world.... RED-WHITE AND BLUE coming straight for us.... the PGR has removed their flags from their bikes and they were heading directly towards us... Flags held straight to the heavens above... straight to God... Silently they slipped behind us, around us... The only sound you could hear is the soft precious whisper of the crisps flags rusting in the breeze...

We stood proudly as the PGR Ride Coordinator lead is in "Pledge of Allegiance"... PGR Riders brought their bikes over and revved their engines and the PGR bagpipe played glorious music .... Drowning out the protestors continually.

Behind Karen and I the protestors still marched back and forth... then several PGR riders positioned themselves next to the protestors and blanketed their vile signs with flags... Each step the protestors took the PGR had already anticipated their response and held tight to their positions... We formed a tight sea of color and tight sea of unity....

The family spokesperson walked over from the Event Site to thank me and the PGR/SA members personally for coming and shielding Marc's family.... She gave me a huge hug and as tears swelled in her eye's she thanked me ... I kissed her softly on her forehead and told her, "In a heart beat"...

As the family and state dignitaries proceeded past us, the vile protestors seemed to lower themselves into the ashes to which they came from.... Off the PGR went, quietly as they had come, back to the entrance of the Expo Center, back to shield the family....

Karen, I, my family and local supporters went back to manning the gate across from the protestors.... They continued to chant, point fingers, take pictures, change their vile signs trying to get a rise from us.... all pointless, all to no avail....

We watched them dance on our Flag, we watched them act like idiots... and then, they packed up and off they went escorted out of town by the local PD....

We held our position firm at the entrance, dedicated not to leave until the family did.... We stayed strong for the next 3 hours.... We laughed as we looked at each other realizing we had been standing outside for almost 6 hours in the hot sun (96 degrees) and we had "raccoon eyes" from the sun burns on our faces as we took off our glasses to wipe the sweat away!

As the event ended, we stood proudly with our flags, our SA/PGR signs and waved to each passing vehicle in attendance... There were tears in some eyes, smiles, waves and salutes..... After the attendees left, the PGR roared out of town.... As they progressed past us, we thanked each one for coming and we received "thumbs up's... waves and soft wind blown kisses upon our cheeks....

Lisa and Sherrie fellow SA Members, who attended the memorial with the family stood with us in one final salute to the PGR...... (It was wonderful meeting all of you!)

Time: The next day…. I proudly load up with my family and new recruited SA Members and we head off to the Oregon State Fair…. It is “Veteran’s Appreciation Day”……

Mission Accomplished....

Terri Hansen, Proud Soldiers' Angel
Hood River, Oregon

P.S. If you would like to see a news video of the event, please click on this website…

http://www.salem-news.com/articles/august272006/hatemongers_82706.php

Soldiers' Angels