It’s not often you get to experience Arkansas with a group full of veterans on a forty-five foot tour bus – but that’s exactly how I started off the Veterans for American Power Bus Tour earlier today.  The southern leg of the Operation FREE tour got off to a fantastic start in Pine Bluff, AR early this morning with a solid crowd turnout—despite the overcast skies and drizzling rain.   All four vets on the bus–George “Ed” May, Chuck Tyler, Matt Victoriano, and Marilyn Weakley–addressed the assembled crowd and discussed the importance of clean, American-based energy sources in reducing our dependence on foreign fuels.  After a quick breakfast and a few short interviews with the local paper, the bus was on its way to Little Rock for an event with General Wesley Clark and Congressman Vic Snyder at the MacArthur Military Museum.  General Clark made the issue blazingly clear – we can not, he said, begin a discussion about national security without first acknowledging this country’s excessive dependence on foreign fuel.  The American lives our service members fight abroad to protect are threatened daily by our inability to pass legislation on climate change.  As Congressman Snyder said when he spoke at the podium, “We ignore complicated issues at our own peril.”  Chuck put it best when he said, “Clean energy is something we need, right now.”

Chuck and his fellow veterans are tackling this issue in a way that few others can – they understand first hand the foreign and domestic policy implications of wars fought over oil.  They make the ultimate sacrifice because of policy failures that if remedied, would slow climate change, provide more (green!) jobs, and most importantly, take our national interests out of the hands of our enemies and place them back in the hands of the American people.  I’ve got to say, after a day of these events, it’s been pretty amazing to hear them stand up and make tell there powerful stories in every city.

Our full day finished up with short stops in Russellville (we couldn’t pass up a quick meal at local hot spot, Whataburger) and Fort Smith.  All in all, we accomplished what we set out to do – Ed, Chuck, Matt, and Marilyn got to talk to folks across the state about their own personal motivation to act now on climate change.  And in true Arkansas style, we rounded out almost every event with great local food.

Look out for more updates, pictures, and video tomorrow as we make one last stop in Arkansas before crossing the border into Missouri.   And be sure to check out http://www.operationfree.net/on-the-bus/ for up-to-date information on tour stops included in both legs of the tour.   We’ve got 20 states to go and we’re not slowing down any time soon.

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