as they had done in anti-war marches in the past

surely you have a source on this?

I don't know about the Vietnam Memorial, but I know that at the last protest in DC, they spray painted the steps to the Capitol Building.

Anti-war protesters were allowed to spray paint on part of thewest front steps of the United States Capitol building after police were ordered to break their security line by their leadership, two sources told The Hill.
According to the sources, police officers were livid when theywere told to fall back by U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Chief Phillip Morse and Deputy Chief Daniel Nichols. "They were the commanders on the scene," one source said, who requested anonymity. "It was disgusting."

After police ceded the stairs, located on the lower west front of the Capitol, the building was locked down, the source added.

A second source who witnessed the incident said that the police had the crowd stopped at Third Street, but were told to bring the police line in front of the Capitol.

Approximately 300 protesters were allowed to take the steps and began to spray paint "anarchist symbols" and phrase such as "Our capitol building" and "you can’t stop us" around the area, the source said.

30K? That's the best you could do in support of the war?

ts, 30K was 10:1 compared to the anti-war group. As reported by my neighbor who was there accidentally.

First: The Park Service doesn't do crowd-size estimates any more, and hasn't for a few years now.

Second: I'm not really clear on what crowd size means in this context. If, in fact, the Eagles group was larger--and I'm perfectly willing to stipulate that it was--what does that mean? On the basis of this one day of protest and counterprotest, are we saying that a majority of Americans actually support the war?

What I think Americans support Doc is not retreating without finishing the job. Simple.

IOW - they may not like the war, but they do not want to walk away shamefaced yet again....

And the message was for congress. Quit messin around up there. "We are listening, and yo may not like our message."

Crowd-size means that the pro-military folks were able to organize a much bigger protest than the anti-whatever folks, in much less time.

ts,

The Gathering of Eagles at the Vietnam and Lincoln Memorials were not there to provide support for the War. We were there to protect the Memorials from protesters who disrespect our Country. The Anti-War Protest started in a field just west of the Memorials and then proceeded to parade to the Pentagon where they rallied against the War. The Eagles did not care even a little about the Anti-War rally, after the protestors passed we went about cleaning up the area and visiting the Memorials. Because of the Force of Eagles, even with many thousands of antiwar protestors, the Vietnan Memorial had only a total of 5 police guarding it, and the Lincoln Memorial had a sole Park Police officer standing on its step looking bored. No protestors with malice approached that which we as patriotic Americans view as sacred. Those Vietnam Vets showed that they fought for the protestors 2nd amendment rights to protest, but they were not going to let their memorial suffer the same disrespect that they did returning from the War. I am not a Vietnam Vet, but I am proud I was there standing shoulder to shoulder with those who believe this country is great.