TWENTYNINE PALMS – In an effort to draw attention to the urgency of repealing the military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy against gays and lesbians serving openly, Richard Noble marched nearly 60 miles from Palm Springs reaching the Marine Air Ground Combat Center on Dec. 6.

The six day trek garnered front page coverage in newspapers here and across the county; however, it failed to win demonstrable support from LGBT communities in the Morongo Basin.

Fewer than five LGBT locals came forward to offer the 45-year-old gay activist a meal or place to lay his head. Fortunately a handful of straight allies stepped in to pick up the slack.

Unhampered by local apathy, Noble forged ahead to the main entrance to the base where he was joined by former Marine Corporal Evelyn Thomas who was discharged under DADT and now runs The Sanctuary Project which advocates for an end to the policy. Also joining Noble for the end of the march was 80-year-old Petty Officer 1st Class Mel Tips, Army/Navy retired and founder of American Veterans for Equal Rights.

The three laid a wreath as a gesture of reconciliation and reparation for the deep wounds suffered by enlisted personnel under the policy which forces LGBT service members to conceal their sexual orientation and family relationships or face discharge. They were joined by a half dozen LGBT veterans who gathered to support efforts of the triumvirate.

Earlier hopes that a representative from the base would be on hand to exchange a flag with the LGBT contingent never came to pass despite promising talks earlier in the week.

Lack of community support no doubt emboldened the decisions makers at Community Relations to shrug off plans for a symbolic exchange, opting instead to ignore the small group of assembled veterans.