Hello,

After much heated discussion in the thread below, we need to step back and look at the bigger picture.

With current events in the Middle East, I am truly disturbed at the relentless severe degradation of our county's leadership and military by the news media engine that attempts to brainwash us into thinking that these global threats/enemies are not real. Unfortunately 95% of this engine participates in this united assault on the very fiber of our country. We need balance. Talk radio has gotten a start. If it takes a steam locomotive to help jolt people into this realization....so be it.

Believe me, if we don't wake up soon, fussing over whether or not expending any funds (private or public) for a train to celebrate and honor veterans will be the very least of our problems!!

Let’s hope we have enough time to perhaps enjoy such an event before the whole world comes unglued! We have had it too good for too long.

Many of us did not really know what it was like when our country was gripped in dealing with a World War....perhaps Ross understands this more than most of us young bucks who were shielded from that awful mess. The UK was in denial about Hitler until Churchill was proven right. I wish we had a Churchill in the States right now. We need him.

This being said, the zenith of America's railroads were in World War II not because popularity but for survival.

Regards,

Randy Musselman

Thank you Mr.Musselman for your adroit comments. One of the main driving forces behind the YRE project is to give the American people a chance(up close&personal) to see first hand what we're up against in this GWOT and how critically important our troops are in this fight.
Failure is not an option here and you're right on target in that we're going to be in this one a LONG time.
As stated repeatedly in the other thread,I'm confident that once you learn the facts of the YRE you'll find it very supportable!
Ross Rowland

I'll withhold an opinion until Ross comes out with the facts, which one would assume would include a basic operating plan.

Assuming the plan is honor veterans of all ages, seems one could imagine a train full of interesting artifacts loaned by museums and veterans or their families... from awards to photos, to documents to military hardware. Documents from George Washington to George Bush to Audie Murphy. It should be possible to use this type of stuff to show their story. A RR related artifact I'd nominate is the French boxcar given to the US in honor of our military after WWI that's at the B&O museum.

Bob

As a 26 year Air Force vet I can only hope this project can be done in the same non-political manner as was the case with the American Freedom Train. Just how to do that will be quite a challenge.

While there will certainly be an element of politics to it due to the subject, if the project concentrates on supporting our troops, and what they've done for the country, it may work well. Whether or not you agree with our current war (and please, let's not debate that here) supporting the troops is something most folks can agree on.

My statement of support was based on the idea that this was a non-partisan project and would not push any partisan political agenda, and I suspect that would be true for many railfans.
Please understand that for many Americans support for our servicemen and women does NOT equal support for the policies that sent them into harm's way and is keeping them there.

Look, I’m former active duty Army and a reserve Captain, been-there-done-that. I collect military equipment uniforms, often drive my WW2 Jeep, and do displays and re-enactments. You’re unlikely to find someone on this thread who supports the US military more feverishly than me.
That being said, I would like to ask that we keep political discussions OUT of this forum, please!