Operation Support Our Troops
Story by SFC Jeff Clayton; Photos by Ron Siddell (OSOT) - Posted Feb, 2003
The overpass spanning Interstate 5 at exit 122 is ideal because it connects Fort Lewis, an active duty Army post, with Camp Murray, the headquarters of the Washington National Guard. Furthermore, McChord Air Force Base is just a mile north on the freeway from there.
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Old Glory was flying freely in the chill morning air, and dozens of handmade signs and banners proclaimed We Support Our Troops and God Bless America. The OSOT forces, many of whom were veterans of past wars, occupied all four ramps and the overpass bridge. There were cheerful waves and shouts to all who passed by, but particularly for those in uniform that were going about their daily duties
Of course Fort Lewis and McChord AFB are both very busy, round-the-clock military facilities, but this weekend was also drill weekend, and more than a thousand National Guardsmen were on duty at Camp Murray..
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Fort Lewis is also home to Army, Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Centers. Soldiers and Airmen from all three posts have been on deployment since the initial days of the Global War on Terrorism.
Mrs. Sheryl Sheaffer, OSOT spokesperson, explains how this whole thing got started. Her involvement in pro-military support rallys dates back to OPERATION DESERT STORM. My husband is a Vietnam veteran. We, as a family, became involved in a group called Operation Homefront during the Gulf War because we never wanted to see another generation of veterans be treated the way the vets from Vietnam were. At the time her son Scott was only 9-years old. The Sheaffers took him along. Now Scott is 21, and an Army Combat Engineer. A few weeks ago Scott called his mom and asked Where are you guys? All we're seeing are the anti-war protestors!"
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"He was very proud of his father's service during the Vietnam War," Mrs. Sheaffer says of her son. That call was all it took for his grandmother (my mother), Nadine Gulit and me to get off our butts and get something started! It has become very much a family effort with my husband, brother, aunt and uncle and two grandmothers being involved. Our first rally was on January 15th at Camp Murray and we had about 50 people show up for that one. Mrs. Sheaffer tells us that this recent rally turned out about 250 people.
"OSOT is a group of people who love our country and love our military for the sacrifices you make for all of us. Our motto is 'Land of the Free Because of the Brave.' We want all of you to know your country stands behind you and we are so proud of all of you. We are determined not to let our troops be deployed with their last image of America being that of the anti-war protestors. Going into harm's way you need to know that your country is proud of you, loves you and prays for you constantly! God Bless all of you and may he keep you in the safety of His hands!"
"We have been trying to get the national media to cover it so that our troops already deployed overseas will see that their Country is behind them all the way. We are making progress," said Mrs. Sceaffer. Well, were not national media, but the rally certainly caught the attention of the Washington National Guard.
Normally we do not post links to non-military websites, but we thought that some of our readers would like to know more about OSOT, and their rallies. The Washington National Guard is not associated with, nor can we endorse OSOT but we can say thanks.
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