Drum laid down a different beat last night, and truth was jamming center stage.

Speeches were not uttered by a single one of us, yet the message could not have been clearer.

The house of troops, some fired up, some visibly nervous, understood one thing: Soldiers, you're not alone.

Which we must thank Ryan Harvey for singing out to the crowd gathered round his guitar as the evening drew to a close.

Of course, Son of Nun and Head Roc brought the house down.

But what touched us the most was the Soldiers left at the end of the night after the music stopped playing.

There's an unquenchable thirst for justice in our military communities, and none reveal it better than the troops who know the score. One servicemember demanding constitutional accountability is more powerful than an entire bandwagon of pundits and politicians.

One of our members' old platoon sergeant showed up, and blew us all away. His account of his experiences, his perspective, it captured everyone in the room. His memories of our member who served under his leadership, it drove home to everyone that IVAW is in the ranks, and silent sufferers need be silent no more. We're thrilled getting to know these folks, and we can't wait to introduce them to more.

We unite around service to our nation, and the perils inherent in occupation. Our lives are not the policies we serve, and we find strength to protect the State of our Union now in the same manner we did in uniform. In solidarity, with brothers and sisters who march in our boots.

We welcome our two newest members with open arms and look forward to the BBQ today. Thank you to the Watertown Daily News and North Country Public Radio for getting the story out. More thanks to the Different Drummer Café which has kept a fire burning for peace and justice all these years.

The bar has been set high, and we're only two days out of the gate! So much is yet to come.

Peace and Solidarity,

The Crew