Just about any week is a good time to vacation in San Diego, but being able to attend an interesting radio event makes it even better. Roger Hedgecock, “San Diego’s Radio Mayor” and frequent guest host for Rush, celebrated his 20 years in broadcasting yesterday, and I was lucky to gain a pass.
From the hangar deck of the USS Midway, in gorgeous San Diego Harbor, Roger and several hundred fans listened to callers and guests offer their congratulations. The list included local personalities and political figures, congressmen, long-time sponsors, a governor called Ahnold, and a recorded message from Rush.
Also visiting were members of our armed forces. One of Roger’s initiatives is Homefront San Diego, which offers aid for families of active duty military. Roger’s efforts with this organization and the attending military personnel received some of the loudest applause of the afternoon.
One young Marine Corporal recounted to Roger her experiences during two tours in Iraq. She spoke of how the attitude of Iraqis to the soldiers has evolved over the past few years from distrust and wariness to much friendlier encounters. Roger asked her if she would be going back. Though her unit may not return there, she said she would gladly go. “The Iraqis are appreciative of what we are doing,” she explained, “More than Americans, which is sad.”
Roger’s support for great people like this Marine will continue as he begins his 21st year in radio. You can catch this show streamed from KOGO in San Diego, Monday thru Friday from 6 til 9pm Eastern time.
Okay, it wasn’t the real Janis Joplin of course. But LeAnn Rimes can pull off a damn good Joplin set, without the grittiness and drugs, although a little grittiness would be good – the drugs – well, we’ll leave it at that. Kind of ironic ending the freedom concert with music that might easily be associated with the 60’s anti-war left. Grace Slick and Janis Joplin – great music – I guess I’m a Joplin conservative. “Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose” and “When the truth is found to be lies and all the joy within you dies” Geez, what would the Move-On Loonies and conspiracy theorists think? That would have been a good leading question for Coulter who unfortunately wasn’t heard from enough during the day.
When you have a panel assembled of Ann Coulter, Mark Levin and David Limbaugh, it’s a shame for them to have only a few moments to quip about the Rehnquist resignation rumors and the all-out-war to ensue. But this was a day both for fun, and for grateful recognition of the men and women in uniform. And no one does that better than Ollie. Colonel North introduced to the crowd, both at the afternoon broadcast and the evening concert, a number of soldiers who were lucky to survive their battlefield wounds. They will battle those wounds for the rest of their lives. We owe them a lot.
Children of soldiers who have given more than anyone could ever repay are the reason for the benefit. Millions have now been raised for the scholarship fund for the children of those permanently disabled, MIA and those who cannot take to any earthly stage to tell their story. Its nice to be among a crowd who so obviously appreciates this and honors their legacy. Its the least we can do. Thank you Ollie. Thank you Sean. For giving us a way to thank them.
