Thank you Wish list and Eddie

Hello!
I am new to the message pit, my name is Mercedes and I live in Chicago.
I'm not exactly sure where to start, I feel like I have to much to share, but I'll try stick to my topic :-)

A few weeks ago when Eddie did the last 2 shows of his tour here in Chicago the Wish list foundation donated to Iraq Veterans Against the War.
I had the pleasure of working the IVAW table and meet some amazing folks (Foxy mop, Evil Monkey...something or other :-) that helped out with the Wish list table.
My fiancee is a soldier in the National Guard who has applied for Conscientious Objector status, which basically means requesting a discharge based on the fact that he could not kill anyone and his decision to join was completely wrong.
A junior in High School and 17 years old at the time, he was romanticized with the idea of helping people and travel, not really understanding what signing away 8 years of your life meant at that time.
Lucky for us, he is almost out and by a miracle mistake just missed a deployment to Afghanistan.
A good friend of ours got us tickets at the last minute for the Thursday show on 8/21. We were sooooo thankful to even be there.
As we made our way up the 5 flights of stairs to our balcony seats a stranger pulled us aside and asked if we wanted an upgrade. We said, "sure!" thinking maybe we would get moved down a floor. This man had no idea who we were and after giving us tickets I thanked him and told him we were with the IVAW and had just met the Wish List folks. He said I work for Ed, enjoy!
We started making our way down and down and down.....all the way to FRONT ROW CENTER!!!! I still can't believe it, we couldn't believe it.
We didn't even know that could happen...that there ticket fairies in the crowd :-)
We've never had front row anything! I've been listening to the band since I was 12 in 1992. I am still in shock.
Our friend Tomas was there and we were really excited because we saw him trying to clap and move both arms, just a week before he could only move one since the stroke.
We've been visiting him while he's here in Chicago, he's been incredible inspiration to Tyler and myself and a constant reminder of why need to do our part.
Needless to say it was beyond amazing and we cried the whole way thru No War. Especially since just less than 24hours before that Tyler would have been on his way to Afghanistan.

Sorry I just went on a rant but I just wanted to share how amazing the whole experience was.

My reason for thanking Wish List and the band is that all the money that was raised was used for getting myself and many other Veterans to the "Veterans for Peace" convention in Minneapolis last week.
We were able to bring other folks that were not in Chicago and pay for food, hotel and transportation. We couldn't have done it without you!!!
The convention was powerful, I had to pleasure to meet many Vietnam Veterans, men and women. I met other families that have been affected by this war, mothers, wives, children, sisters, brothers.
There was a very strong police presence there. Everyday of the convention about 20 or 30 police officers in full gear, guns, handcuffs, billy clubs and mace continuously did walk thrus. We didn't even so much as march or protest..and they still hounded us.
I was able to teach a couple of Yoga classes which was great since it was the first of it's kind at this event.
The last Yoga class scheduled was canceled because once again the police surrounded our hotel after the veterans stepped outside for a group photo.
The class was scheduled outside, but after 4 or so squad cars surrounded the area we decided to go back inside. Nobody did anything but be friendly to them, I guess they just really wanted us to know they were there.
Regardless, it was a very healing experience for myself and many other people.
The fund raiser couldn't have came at a better time.
Again, Thank you!!
All of you who came out, those of you there in spirit, the band.. everybody.
Thank you~
You truly are making a difference!
Peace
Mercedes