West Seattle weekend scene: No, the people ‘marching’ with a flag are not protesters

(WSB photo)

Thanks for the calls/tips. Some wondered if that group of people seen walking with a flag in the Admiral/Alki area are protesting/demonstrating. No – we found out it’s the same thing that led to similar questions last December, as covered here – linked to goruck.com. As we wrote then, along with selling rucksacks and other gear, the company organizes/facilitates teambuilding-type long-distance walks; its founders include a former Green Beret, and some of its events raise money for the Green Beret Foundation.

nope September 8, 2018 (12:18 pm)

It wouldn’t surprise me that folks around here in WS see someone walking around with an American Flag automatically think its probably a “nazi” march or some other crazy thing.

Mike September 8, 2018 (1:30 pm)

Well, considering most people walking holding or driving with the American flag waving about are typically also showing a MAGA hat, Trump sticker, doing the nazi salute or all of the above (I took a photo of a guy driving his diesel rig North on I5 by the Mercer exit doing all of the above over a year ago)… ya, the first reaction is exactly that. It’s not July 4th, it’s not Memorial Day, it’s not the norm. Having the American flat waving in front of ones house, not uncommon, walking/jogging with one… pretty odd if you’re not a Boy Scout or on a military base.
- Dan September 8, 2018 (3:36 pm)
  
  Mike apparently doesn’t understand the difference between wearing a MAGA hat and or displaying a Trump bumper sticker v being a nazi sympathizer.If you like displaying the flag of your country you are some right wing nut according to this guy “because it is not the 4th of July or Memorial Day.”Not very smart thinking, Mike!
  - Kec September 8, 2018 (4:03 pm)
    
    He’s such a tolerant guy isn’t he? Generalizing people who simply have an American flag.
  - Mike September 8, 2018 (6:38 pm)
    
    Dan apparently can’t read.
    - heartless September 8, 2018 (7:40 pm)
      
      Wait until you get to Bill…
- Tim September 9, 2018 (4:25 am)
  
  That’s more than a bit extreme.Your rhetoric about “Nazis” is troubling; you’ve just described most of the country as such for seemingly trivial and common acts. Calm down, it was only an election. Even if you believe that such people are more common than they actually are, there’s such a thing as trolling.Supporting your country and having pride in what it stands for are not Un-American values depending on which day of the year one decides is appropriate to express such virtues. Frankly, I’m more disturbed by the widespread acceptability of Communism and labeling everyone a “Nazi”.
  - CAM September 9, 2018 (11:01 am)
    
    To quote Charles de Gaulle, “Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.” The reality today is that the latter sentiment is becoming a lot more common in the US. You can twist it any way you want to but most groups of people out marching with the flag in the last couple years would probably be better described as jingoistic, xenophobic, and subscribing to extreme forms of nationalism moreso than patriotic. That is not a statement about this particular group but it does explain why people would be concerned if they saw an unknown group engaging in this behavior on a random Saturday in September.
  - CAM September 9, 2018 (11:05 am)
    
    Oh, and communism and socialism are two very different systems. Sure there are communists around but most recent growth would be in the number of people describing themselves as endorsing socialist principles. And FYI, there is nothing about socialism that would make it incompatible with our current system of government. In fact, out government already uses the socialist model in several ways to provide services to citizens.
- Andrew September 10, 2018 (10:54 am)
  
  Mike, to some of us every day is the 4th of July

Bill September 8, 2018 (4:17 pm)

Mike-what if a Trump supporter doesn’t have a Maga hat? Does that make him/her a Nazi?

Felix Grounds September 11, 2018 (8:27 am)

Let’s not beat around the bush here…Trump tolerates white supremacists/neo nazis/kkk as part of his base…no conspiracy, it’s right out there in the open.That being said, this story has nothing to do with that.I might suggest folks spend a bit of time observing, maybe even stopping and asking what’s up before jumping to conclusions.You know what they say about assuming….

Friend O'Dinghus September 8, 2018 (4:37 pm)

Kinda seems like Amway for survivalists, preppers, and/or sovereign nation types. Maybe it’s just pyramid marketing masquerading behind the flag? Wouldn’t be the first time.Sure. Great. No worries, as that is very much your right, and I love seeing the flag. Please just don’t insinuate your views are more righteous than someone else’s who sees things a bit more skeptically than you yourself. Patriotism comes in every flavor.

Perd September 10, 2018 (10:39 am)

Oh that looks like fun, actually. But I don’t have a team to put together.
- Chris September 10, 2018 (12:10 pm)
  
  your “team” are people who show up to the event, you don’t need put together one. Generally speaking, some of the best events are where no one knows each other.I highly recommend you signing up, Seattle has several events throughout the year and the GORUCK community here is solid.
  - Lis September 10, 2018 (2:48 pm)
    
    Agreed Chris! I’ve met some of my best friends under a log at a GORUCK event.
Friendo September 10, 2018 (10:53 am)

GoRuck does an amazing job at promoting teamwork across many communities. Be it civilian, military, law enforcement, political spectrum or anything else. The Cadre are compassionate and motivating and do not stand for division within an event. Things run smoother if people are smiling, laughing, and cracking jokes amongst each other. Arguing can amongst each other leads to some harsh lessons on teamwork and community. They are wonderful people :)

Fed up September 8, 2018 (9:46 pm)

I wish people would do more researching and less ASSUMING/BLAMING/TROLLING. If it were required ti out you picture and address to posts and social media I bet a lot more people would post differently. What have we become????

Mapanggulo September 10, 2018 (11:09 am)

Sounds to me like the Seattle area needs more people to get out and fly the American flag. There is nothing wrong with running, walking or rucking with it beyond the 4th of July, Memorial day or any other day that is what is considered the “norm”. Last time I checked Patriotism doesn’t really have a side of the political fence, doesn’t have specific days that you can display such thing, and doesn’t say you can’t show your patriotism whenever you want. Also carrying the American flag while running, walking or rucking shouldn’t and doesn’t mean your automatically on one side or the other of the political fence. Within the GORUCK community there are plenty of people on both sides of the political spectrum (and in between). Read a little bit more, be a little bit more tolerant of fellow American’s views/opinions and maybe we can show future generations that we can not be so divided or narrow minded.

Batcrazy September 10, 2018 (12:06 pm)

Goruck events are all about building better Americans. All the Cadre are ex or even current special forces who teach team building as well as love of country and appreciation for the sacrifices that have kept this country free. The skills they teach in these events are something that someone from any political view can use, whether it be being tactically fit to save a life or working better as a group and as an individual within a team. As part of the event, each team has to come up with a service project which makes the community better as a whole.

LEGALImmigrantProudAmerican September 10, 2018 (12:30 pm)

West Seattle, y’all are always fun. Keep being you, SkippyApologies for my incoherent writing, I’m a bit tired. That’s T-I-D-E tide as the Late Albert Collins would sayFrom one of those (let’s see if I can get them all in, I’m a tad tired after 65 or so miles with a 40ish lb ruck and only 10 minutes of sleep in uhhh 63? hrs…) Amway survivalist, nazi, prepper, sovreign nation types, jingoistic, xenophobic, extreme nationalistic, right wing nuts marching with the flag on a RANDOM Saturday:Saturday Sept 8… hmmm what could be a significant event in our history somewhat close to this wknd that might possibly inspire a group of Americans, uhh and 1 Canadian, 1 LEGAL immigrant, to do a (brutal) 24 hr 40+ mile physical endeavor (followed by a 2 hr break and another 13 to 14hr ruck march, then a couple hours until a final 5 plus hr capper). Oops ADHD digression.Love the pic by the way. I believe we were working our way down Admiralty? at the time, as a team, but tied together in 3 person units.9/8…hmmmmHINT: During the first 24 hr part, we did 3000 burpees (recognizing approx 3000 lives lost) and 1980 stairs twice recognizing the 1980 stairs of …wait for it…1980 stairs in each of the twin towers. In our tribute/remembrance of the 9/11 attack on our country, our people, our world, we carried a 40ish lb wood replica of the twin towers with the names of all those lost that day. Our group was made up of retired military vets, law enforcement members, firefighters, software engineers, a minister, a Disney animator, an Active Duty Coast Guard officer, a retired British Royal Navy lawyer, and all kinds of other occupations and backgrounds, aged from 26 to a ripe old 53. I can assure you we do not all have the same political or religious views. Heck we couldn’t even agree on movies or music although most agreed that Nickelback sucks. and the Yankees. and the 49ers.So, yeah, it was a protest. A protest against complacency. A protest against forgetting the most significant event in our lifetimes. A protest against politics and pettiness, intolerance and extremism, nationalism instead of patriotism, and hate. Oh, and the cadre, the leaders of our merry band of smelly, exhausted, but determined protesters? One is a retired US Army Special Forces Officer now a college Professor of History AND Computer Information Science, the other a retired Special Forces Warrant Officer now a firefighter with Puget Sound Fire (aka Kent FD). Real subversive types. Must be on tons of watch lists. One is so dangerous, he’s trained Secret Service agents…As a part of our community service project, which we do for all GORUCK events, we provided gifts, toys, commemorative patches etc a couple of large rucks to carry some.of the stuff and (the final tally is not in) roughly $1500 for the kids of Diego Moreno, the Kent PD officer recently killed during the pursuit of a felon. Yeah West Seattle, we were protesting on a random Saturday, the weekend before the 17th anniversary of the 9/11/2001 terror attacks. Sorry if we triggered some of y’all. NO, NO I’m not. Oh, and the flag flies in front of my house. 24/7. Illuminated at night. It triggers me every morning and every time I come home. I’d invite y’all to come talk about any of this and to see my flag, but Stay Off My Lawn. God Bless America.

LEGALImmigrantProudAmerican September 10, 2018 (1:41 pm)

Oops, I swear I used paragraph breaks on my phone. sorry for the endless stream of consciousness run on sentence visual

AngeDC September 10, 2018 (6:27 pm)

This is group of people participating in a Goruck Heavy in honor of 9/11. This is one of events Goruck put on this weekend in Seattle. 7 of these people in this photo did all 3 events. These events are lead by Cadre who have been in special forces. They believe in “building better Americans.” Each event has service project requirement (https://www.goruck.com/heavy/). All 3 events this weekend collected toys for the children of a local police officer who was killed in line of duty. On eve of 9/11, we all were united as Americans that day 17 years ago. It should not ever take an event like 9/11 for us to feel that way again.

LEGALImmigrantProudAmerican September 11, 2018 (9:31 am)

Here’s the pic of the Magnificent Seven protesters and the two cadre after all was done. Be so very grateful that this is not a scratch and sniff photo. We were fragrant

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