Jobless man, pregnant wife and two dogs hit the road looking for work
Pocono Record Writer
July 17, 2009
BRODHEADSVILLE — There was no work in Frank Knight's home state of Vermont, but he had a sure-fire job waiting for him in Florida by the fall.
The only problem was he didn't have a car. Or money for plane or train tickets for him and his wife, Terrie, who is three months pregnant. Or family to help out.
A bus was out of the question — if they traveled that way, he'd have to leave behind his two young Siberian huskies, Maya and Sweetie.
"I'd die before I left these dogs behind," Frank Knight, 43, said.
"So would I," Terrie Knight, 45, agreed.
So they did the only thing they could do.
They started walking.
Two weeks after the couple left Burlington, Vt., they've made about 500 miles, both on foot and picking up rides. They and their two dogs finally rested Wednesday and Thursday nights at the Silver Valley Campsite near Brodheadsville.
Frank Knight, who works as a migrant farm worker, said they travel anywhere from 30 to 70 miles a day, hoping to make it to Florida by mid-September for the citrus-picking season.
"That's all we can do, is walk to the work," he said. "People forget, in the old days, in the Old West, in the Great Depression, this is what people did. And it's what we have to do."
Things have gone from bad to worse for the couple this year. Frank had been employed by a carnival company, but he was laid off in February when the company was traveling through Maryland.
He was forced to go back home to Vermont — only the carnival company had a rule to take back laid off employees to the state where they were hired, so they were taken to Florida.
They walked much of the Appalachian Trail back to Vermont for two months, only to find out the farming jobs in Vermont — including one he had been promised — had dried up because he couldn't get back in time.
Then he got the work offer in Florida, so he and his wife started back out on the road, again on foot, hoping a car or two along the way will help out with a ride.
"As much as this is to get work, it's also a test," Frank Knight said. "I want to see how nice people still are out there."
They haven't been terribly lucky so far in Pennsylvania, which, along with New York, he said are the two hardest states to walk through because there are so few side roads that lead anywhere, and they can't walk on interstates.
They've only been picked up for rides twice so far after getting seven rides through New York.
Terrie has developed some nasty blisters on her feet, but said she's able to "wrap them up and keep going."
Plus, they've lost their traveling companions, two friends who also were making the walking trip with them, but took off in Honesdale while the Knights were sleeping in a tent next to them.
"So if you see a couple walking along the road with an orange tent on their backs and they don't have two dogs," Terrie said, "that's probably them."
Money is an issue. Frank Knight says they live day-by-day, and everything they own is on their backs.
Actually, it's only on Frank's back. He doesn't allow his pregnant wife to carry anything other than dog food.
The money for the campsite was provided by workers at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Brodheadsville, where the couple wandered into Wednesday looking for help, according to church officials.
Workers at the campsite then took the couple grocery shopping Thursday morning.
The two don't have family they could contact because of arguments on both of their sides of the families.
"This trip is by the grace of God," Frank Knight said. "It depends on the kindness of people along the way. Sometimes we have it, sometimes we don't."
There is still another 1,100 miles to go. One way or the other, Frank Knight said, they're going to get there.
"I know people think we're insane," he said. "A teacher who picked us up in New York said that to us, but said 'I admire you, at least you're not sitting around feeling sorry for yourself.' This is all we can do, so we have to do it."
FIRST OFF, NO! I AM NOT CALLING ANYONE "STUPID" BY ANY MEANS, ITS JUST A PHRASE THAT LEADS TO A POINT I WANT TO MAKE.
A PART OF WHAT BARACK OBAMA MAKE A LEAP FROM "LEAST LIKELY" TO WIN THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION, TO "FRONT RUNNER" AND NOW POTENTIALLY OUR PRESIDENT IS THE BASICS.
WHAT DO I MEAN BY THE BASICS?.
IN THE PRIMARIES, WHEN OBAMA STARTED TO USE THE PHRASE, OVER AND OVER, "YES WE CAN", AND "WE ARE ONE". AMONG OTHER COMMENTS, I DO NOT NEED TO LIST THEM ALL, JUST LOOK AT ALL OF THE "INSPIRATIONAL OBAMA VIDEOS" ON YOUTUBE.
WHEN OBAMA STARTED THE "YES WE CAN" THEME. DID OTHERS NOTICE AS I DID THAT IT "TURNED HEADS". MANY, INCLUDING MYSELF, HAD NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN POLITICS. THEN I HEARD THE INCREDIBLY INSPIRATIONAL SPEECHS, WORDS AND CHANTS THROUGH THE RALLIES. ALL YELLING A THUNDEROUS, "YES-WE-CAN".
IN THE FINAL STRETCH, PLEASE BARACK, GO BACK TO THE BASICS OF WHAT BROUGHT US HERE. READ AGAIN YOUR SPEECH FROM THE 2004 DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION THAT REACHED AND TOUCHED SO MANY. SAY THE WORDS THAT INSPIRE. "ONE VOICE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD", "YES WE CAN", "WE ARE THE ONES WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR".
PRESS THE FACT, AS YOU SAID IN THE DEMOCRATIC 2004 CONVENTION. "NOT THIS TIME, NOT THIS YEAR". JUST AS YOU STATED. THE OLD POLITICS OF HATE AND DIVISION AND SPIN ARE RUNNING WILD WITH MCCAIN AND PALIN LEADING THE WAY. SAME AS WHAT BUSH DID IN 2000 AND 2004.
YOUR WORDS BARACK, INSPIRED MILLIONS, AND CAN NOW, TODAY AND OVER THE NEXT 9 DAYS CARRY US INTO THE WHITE HOUSE.
SAY "CHOOSE HOPE OVER FEAR". THE LAST WAVE OF ABSOLUTE MOTIVATION, HOPE, INSPIRATION AND CHANGE CANNOT BE MATCHED BY OUR OPPONENT.
SO. K.I.S.S. - KEEP IT SIMPLE AND GO BACK TO THE BASICS FOR THE FINAL 9 DAYS. THAT WILL GET MORE YOUTH VOTE AND MORE PEOPLE ENERGIZED AND INSPIRED TO VOTE INSTEAD OF SPEAKING POLICY ONLY.
PLEASE. BACK TO "YES WE CAN", SAY IT BARACK, TODAY AND EVERY DAY THROUGH NOV. 4TH AND NOVEMBER 5TH LETS SAY, "YES WE DID AND NOW WERE "FIRED UP AND READY TO GO"
PLEASE PASS THIS THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN TO HOPEFULLY GET TO BARACKS HANDS.
LEE WILCOX
MONROE, CONNECTICUT
LEEWILCOX7@AOL.COM
Just last night at the dinner time hour I heard on all of the cable networks of the Joe Biden comments. I must say. My immediate reaction was, just how close is the love and friendship of Joe Biden and John McCain? Just as we are trying to "close the deal" and win this hard fought election his comments are absolutely toxic. Then, Biden takes the day off yesterday. Then, today all over cable news hourly are the Biden comments and McCain's rallies getting all wired up about what Biden said.
I am wondering. Are we going to get a response and a apology from Biden. It is known that he is a "Gaff Machine" but this to me is beyond that. There was no reason to make the comments he made about Barack and add to the argument McCain is trying to make of Obama.
As a campaign we need a response! Immediately. Before this causes any more damage. And I would love to understand what Biden is doing. Is he trying to lose this election for Barack? I just dont and cant understand the comments made and what he was attempting to do in making them. PLEASE RESPOND CAMPAIGN......
And NOT WHAT YOU THINK IM MAD ABOUT....
Throughout the area I reside in, everywhere I go, I see McCain - Palin signs. It is a great way to lose weight as whenever I see a sign of theirs I lose my appetite.
But really, does anyone in the area have signs for Obama - Biden. In travels just today, I counted and saw about 25 McCain signs and saw 2 Obama signs. This is in a heavily populated area in Connecticut. RTE. 25 - Monroe/ Newtown, Rte. 111 - Monroe - Shelton.
If anyone has signs I will spend hours and anyone who wants to join me to go put up them and stake claim to Connecticut and this area.
Anyone willing to help and does anyone have signs????
Lee Wilcox
203-695-5470
Fact: ACORN has implemented the most sophisticated quality-control system in the voter engagement field, but in almost every state we are required to turn in ALL completed applications, even the ones we know to be problematic.
Fact: ACORN flags incomplete, problem, or suspicious cards when we turn them in, but these warnings are often ignored by election officials. Often these same officials then come back weeks or months later and accuse us of deliberately turning in phony cards.
Fact: Our canvassers are paid by the hour, not by the card, so there is NO incentive for them to falsify cards. ACORN has a zero-tolerance policy for deliberately falsifying registrations, and in the relatively rare cases where our internal quality controls have identified this happening we have fired the workers involved and turned them in to election officials and law-enforcement.
Fact: No charges have ever been brought against ACORN itself. Convictions against individual former ACORN workers have been accomplished with our full cooperation, using the evidence obtained through our quality control and verification processes.
Fact: Voter fraud by individuals is extremely rare, and incredibly difficult. There has never been a single proven case of anyone, anywhere, casting an illegal vote as a result of a phony voter registration. Even if someone wanted to influence the election this way, it would not work.
Fact: Most election officials have recognized ACORN's good work and praised our quality control systems. Even in the cities where election officials have complained about ACORN, the applications in question represent less than 1% of the thousands and thousands of registrations ACORN has collected.
Fact: Our accusers not only fail to provide any evidence, they fail to suggest a motive: there is virtually no chance anyone would be able to vote fraudulently, so there is no reason to deliberately submit phony registrations. ACORN is committed to ensuring that the greatest possible numbers of people are registered and allowed to vote, so there is also NO incentive to "disrupt the system" with phony cards.
Fact: Similar accusations were made, and attacks launched, against ACORN and other voter registration organizations in 2004 and 2006. These attacks were not only groundless, they have since been exposed as part of the U.S. Attorneygate scandal and revealed to be part of a systematic partisan agenda of voter suppression.
These are the facts, and the truth is that a relatively small group of political operatives are trying to orchestrate hysteria about "voter fraud" and manufacture public outrage that they can use to further suppress the votes of millions of low-income and minority Americans.
These tactics are nothing new, and history has shown that they will come to nothing. We'll continue to weather the storm, as we've done for years, and we'll continue to share the truth about our work and express pride about our accomplishments.Most importantly, we want to assure you that this good work continues, unabated and undeterred. ACORN will not be intimidated, we will not be provoked, and in this important moment in history we will not allow anyone to distract us from these vital efforts to empower our constituencies and our communities to speak for themselves. If the partisan political machines are afraid of low-income and minority voters, they're going to have to do a lot better than coming after ACORN.
After all, there are now at least 1.3 million more of them, and they will not be silenced. They're taking an interest, and taking a stand, and they'll be taking their concerns to the voting booth in November.
And ACORN will be here, to make sure that the voices of these Americans are heard, on Election Day and for every day to come.
I have family and friends that are republicans but I have been working on them to vote for Obama. Any time I make head way they tend to watch Fox News and are brainwashed that they are "Fair and Balanced" when we all know they are completely in the tank for McCain.
I have emailed Hannity, OReilly, Greta, etc, etc... all of their characters. I watch them at times just to know what the enemy is saying, planning and proding.
Has anyone had any success in reaching FOX or call we cause a huge wave to FOX NEWS that they are NOT fair and balanced. Any idea's????
But what about John McCain's health care plan? Some people may be aware that McCain wants to tax health insurance benefits but I think that most people don't understand just how bad John McCain's plans on health care are. We are talking health insurance anarchy....
I am of the belief, with only 55 days left in the race, that Barack needs to bring back the Intensity and Inspiration that attracted most of us to him in the first place. You see on cable, Palin and McCain have huge crowds of thousands where ever they go, they are doing what Obama used to do on a daily basis. Inspriring American and creating a momentum and wave of spirit all over the country.
If you see YouTube, watch some of the rallies and gatherings Obama was doing in the Primaries. LETS GET BACK TO THE BASICS THAT BROUGHT US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY. Tommorrow and every single day until the election, we must bring back "YES WE CAN". "HOPE" "CHANGE".
What the McCain campaign cannot compete with is bringing back our Inspiration of thousands chanting YES WE CAN. The McCain attacks are exactly what Barack said we would face. The same old Republican scare tactics, multiple ads running every day, playing same old Politics games.
What we all loved about Obama is that his campaign is built on us, the people, and changing the ways of the dirty politics. The way he needs to come back is to bring back the INSPIRATION OF CHANGE and fight against this typical Republican attack machine that we all have been warned about. Just stop for a second and think, as the McCain machine keeps rolling over us, he is sitting in his "Straight Talk Express" just laughing and smiling as he "makes fun" of Obama, smears him, jumps on every word he says. When, who he is really making fun of is US, as this campaign is built by the people.
So, how Obama says "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH", as the American People that have brought us to where we are today, lets all get out and fight for our leader who is the true canidate of change. John McCain will not be laughing and smiling any longer if Obama starts massive rallies every day and bringing back the inspiration of Hope, Change and YES WE CAN. Day by Day the excitement will continue to build and build and we will be able to drown out the excitement of McCain-Palin. Going and talking in small venues, libraries or companies, is not going to bring back the momentum.
The HQ Team should right now be coordinating and planning huge rallies every day and Barack should go back to his Inspiring Messages he stated that brought all of us onto his team in the 1st place.
Help me to get this message around so we can change the momentum. BACK TO BASICS of what got us here is what will help us WIN. WE MUST. DO NOT GIVE UP!!!!!! WE CAN GET IT BACK.
YES WE CAN, YES WE MUST!
REMEMBER - FIRED UP - READY TO GO!!!
BRING BACK THE FIRE - IGNOR MCCAIN-PALIN. YOU ARE PLAYING RIGHT INTO THEIR GAME. WHAT "WILL" KNOCK THEM BACK ON THEIR HEELS IS 20,000 PLUS ALL CHANTING "YES WE CAN". THEN 40,000 THEN 60,000..... TO THE PRESIDENCY... IF THE FIREY WORDS AND SPEECHES OF INSPIRATION AND HOPE ARE BROUGHT BACK, MCCAIN CANT COMPETE WITH THAT.
PLEASE GET THIS TO CAMPAIGN HQ AND IN THE RIGHT HANDS!!!!!!
LEE WILCOX FROM CONNECTICUT
ANYONE who reads this, if you could please pass this along and hopefully we can get the attention of HQ.
Help me to get this message around so we can change the momentum.
I have become aware over the past 7 days by listening and reviewing anything there is to know about Sarah Palin that she is a LIAR. If you see this email and know of any of her lies to the American people please respond and lets make a running tally of her lies. Not going by rumors, not being sexist, just going by the absolute facts and I am so curious as to why the issues are not being talked about on MSNBC or FOX News like it would be if it were Obama. We need to pressure the major networks to get the truth out about Sarah Palin.
1. In Palin's speech she had a "applause line" saying she "sold her plane on Ebay". It has become known that she HAD posted the plane on Ebay but it would not sell so she ended up selling the plane to a donor to her campaign for Govenor, who is a Plane Broker. So, the plane Was Not sold on Ebay. John McCain said in a speech Friday morning, "IMAGINE MY VP, SHE SOLD HER PLANE ON EBAY". We cannot allow continued Lies to the American people.
2. Bridge to Nowhere, Voted for it in 2006. Now is claiming, over and over, that she said "Thanks but No Thanks to the Bridge". That is a documented lie.
3. Palin and the McCain team have tried to Stonewall the current Abuse of Power investigation in Alaska. So the Investigators have sped up the Investigation to get results in by early October. Makes you wonder why they are trying to delay.?
4. To defend Palin from the media asking ligitmate questions they immediately claimed Sexism just like what happened with Hillary. Did everyone notice the many pins people were wearing Thursday night stating "The HOTTEST VP". Which were developed by the McCain campaign. What a contridiction.
5. Palin was put in hiding for 5 days, from the time she was introduced Friday to the time she made a speech on Wednesday night. In that time it was said by Cindy McCain, John McCain and others that she has Foreign Policy experience because "Alaska is close to Russia". She was not available for any interviews and has been "Protected" by the McCain team, only giving the American people snipets of information while she had to practice for 5 days to give her 30 minute speech.
6. The McCain team informed the press that Palin's 17 year old daughter was pregnant, then critizied the media for asking further questions. It seems McCain has Control issues and will only inform us Americans what we need to know and any questions are off limits. If Sarah Palin cannot stand up to a few questions she then cannot stand up to the Vice Presidency. She is obviously playing a Rope a Dope style with Obama. Throwing punches at Obama and being sarcastic about him and his supporters. Then if any response comes pack, she or the team claims Sexism or "Her Right to Privacy".
7. Now word is out she has gone to 6 colleges in 7 years to get her degree. What is the story behind that?, does anyone know?
Please respond to me at leewilcox7@aol.com and lets put together a running tally of what a decieving, scandal based liar, same old politics game that the McCa back in team is playing. And by the Polls, it is working!!!!
I see McCain out with Commercials constantly, new commercials sometimes every day. With what Biden said about Obama's experience, the what Hillary said, the 3 a.m. commercial, the 3 days of attacks on Obama at their Convention. Why dont WE have ADS playing in the same if not a faster pace than our opponent. There is plenty to choose from with McCain and Palin to show the country the difference between Obama and this horrible ticket we are running against.
I am located in Connecticut, in a large Media Market close to NYC. We need intensity and fire and a huge push to McCains newly created momentum. Now we seemed tied again in the polls and cannot let the new ticket catch fire and run away with this.
LETS MAKE THIS HAPPEN, HELP ME, YES WE CAN, YES WE WILL, OBAMA/ BIDEN 2008 FOR OUR FUTURE!!!!
This is a true story. It really happened. To me.
The $50,000 is gone. It's just the tiniest of fractions of one of the greatest thefts in history. And I'm one of the lucky ones.
I was in a service station in Missouri and there was this horrid man yelling racial slurs at another guy in an Obama tee shirt and then the ugly man said he was going to kill that (insert several racial slurs here) Obama SO I called him an ignorant idiot and said what he was doing was hate speech and I said I was going to turn him in to the FBI then I asked around until someone told me his name and address and I turned him in....next the sectret service called me and I told them everything AND according to his neighbor they went to his house and it was loaded with weapons.
He said he was only joking but they put him on the no fly list.....and gave him a good talking to. He was already in trouble with the local police for a weapons violation.
I am so glad the secret service is doing their job! Good work guys!
SO Everyone keep your ears open and turn those ignorant rascists in. Lets show them we won't tolerate that kind of talk anymore! :)
Does McCain really think Americans will be so shocked and upset that Obama isn't going to accept public money for his campaign?
McCain is sure grasping at straws at this one.
You know, I have been thinking all day about the latest comments from The Big HILL and it suddenly came to my thoughts. Take a moment and just think. If Barack Obama had made the same comment about R.F.K. it probably would have ended his presidential ambitions.Now, keeping in mind, this weeks claim from the Hillary camp is "we have been mistreated", playing the Woman/ Victim Card. Even through all of her statements of how strong she is, she can hang with the big boys, she is "Rocky" among all of the other comments we have seen and heard over the past 15 months. Now, that she is about to lose and has no other cards to play, now she plays the Victim Card. Now, what happened to being so strong, hanging with the men, she could handle anything?. I guess we all should forget about all that now. Plus, the fact that she has thrown the "Kitchen Sink" at Barack and our campaign has tried to take the High Road in this campaign and not stoop to the dirty old politics and spin that the Clintons are masterful at.Now, earlier in the week before I became informed of the facts I did get a bit concerned that Hillary may try and steal this from Barack. Then, as much as people are getting hyped about FL and MI, Barack has already won the Majority of Delegates and by the Rules of the Game of the DNC, The winner of the most delegates WINS the nomination. The only way Hillary can claim that she has more of Popular Vote is if ALL STATES that had a Caucus are deleted as the states with a Caucus are not determined by Popular Vote but by Delegates. So, is she going to say, I want the votes "FOR THE PEOPLE" in FL and MI and then for all Caucus States, all those Millions of Ameiricans in those states dont count.So, its over. Thank God. And there are still the desperate Hillary supporters online that keep holding on. If you ask for them to do the math on how they can win, you dont get a answer, because there is none. If you ask to justify all of the Hillary LIES, SCANDALS, CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, DIRTY POLITICS, SAY AND DO ANYTHING TO WIN TO GAIN POWER. There is no justification. Then I get in return, what does Barack have to offer and hearing the Viral Rumors the Hillary and McCain people still believe. We should be the ones playing the Victim of all of the slander, lies, mixing of words said and more. Yet, if you notice, if you contact the Hillary supporters out there and you are armed with the Facts of her History past and present and Baracks history, its quite a easy debate to win.Become involved, go to www. barackobama. com and help us in Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota, lets finish strong and then set our sights on The Angry Old Man, McBush who we will stomp in November.JOIN ME AT OBAMA NATION ON MYSPACE
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/OBAMANATION2008YES WE CAN, YES WE ARE.Believe!ONE VOICE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD - GET INVOLVED!
Politico just announced the following:
Politico.com Breaking News: --------------------------------------------------------- Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) says he has a malignant brain tumor, AP reports. For more information...http://www.politico.com
Lets UNITE and take a moment, say a quiet prayer for Kennedy and for our new Leader of HOPE AND CHANGE, Barack Obama
Join me at
www.myspace.com/obamanation2008
YES WE CAN, YES WE WILL!
