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August 22, 2004

Greetings from Bruce Roemmelt

Bloggers,

Hello to all! I'm bruce roemmelt from Haymarket (about 20 miles north west of Manassas) and I'm going to be on the bus for the whole trip. I'm new to posting on blogs, but I do read a lot of them. My thoughts are that documenting this trip is a really good thing, not just for VA Democrats but also for all folks that are interested in the process.

First off our schedule is fluid and can be found along with the overview at the DNC web site here: http://www.democrats.org/news/200408210017.html

Props to Laura and Aaron for supporting our blog efforts to get the word out for our candidates, John Kerry and John Edwards. If you get some ideas for things you would like us to put up on the tour blog let us know. I'll be checking my email roemmelt@erols.com along the way and on the bus so give us a shout.

One of my thoughts was to do a profile on the Virginians on the bus. By the time we get to NYC we hope you not only know us better, but know our message better as well.

Another thing we're going to try to do is post some pictures (and captions) as we motor along. I've got my digital camera and will be sending dispatches to Aaron each day for posting.

This is really exciting for me. I'm just a sorta regular guy concerned about our country who wanted to get involved. To that end I'm running around from Alexandria to Winchester getting fire fighters involved in the election. I also write letters to the news paper and if necessary I guess I can change the tires on the bus if we get a flat!

I was also doing some election things in Prince William County and our most excellent Northern Virginia VAVictory04 office field coordinator, Peg Kugler asked me if I wanted to go on a bus ride. I jumped at the chance. To be honest I think we all hope to meet some of the national folks somewhere along the line. Most all of us are the ones in the crowd, not the ones on the stage, but to be sure we all have stories to tell - just like you all.

So why am I here? Well as a 58 year old retired fire fighter, Vet and person with several other interests and ongoing activities I want to be a part of making a change. I'm concerned about public safety and the support our first responders are getting. I still am a member of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) local union in Prince William County. Although I retired in 1993 I'm still active in the union and do lots of odds and ends there, as well as providing oral department history to the kids there now, that are continuing to provide excellent service to the community. There are a host of issues needing attention including staffing, safety, health care and the economy.

Additional I'm a Vietnam era Vet. I was in the US Navy on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid. One tour in 'Nam but no medals, purple hearts or commendations, just a profound sense that we were wrong to go there just as we are wrong to be in Iraq now. I feel so bad for those kids that are just targets now doing police work. And the untold story about the innocent Iraqi's that are not fighting, just paying a price. There is an interesting sense of karma here tho. I returned to Norfolk on my ship in February of '69. Now, all these years later I will end this bus trip in NYC where my ship was made into a museum!

Then there is health care, the economy, and the entire range of issues surrounding social and economic justice. But not to ramble?

Let's hear from you all but more importantly we need you to get involved. Volunteer. There are lots of things to do. Host a house meeting, work the phone banks, call friends, write letters, do what you can do. Make a difference.

You might have heard it before, but the quote from Margaret Mead is a really good one to end with for today, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

bruce

Posted by bruce roemmelt at August 22, 2004 06:42 PM

Comments

The American Can Do Better busses were in Lynchburg at 11 am today, August 24. I met some interesting people with sad stories to tell. The speakers were super. A couple of the reps from the bus asked us to post this message so the WONDERFUL DEMOCRATS in Berkley WVA will know the bus is arriving there about 4:30 pm today. Be sure and meet it!

Posted by: Joyce Pendleton at August 24, 2004 02:32 PM