• Protesters from Vietnam War era join 'Occupy' movement

    John Makely / msnbc.com

    William Johnsen, 62, of Staten Island, New York, a Vietnam veteran and a lifelong activist, at the Occupy Wall Street protest in Zucottii Park.

    Disabled Vietnam veteran William Johnsen has been attending the “Occupy Wall Street” protest for 3½ weeks. On Tuesday, he arrived there from a hospital where he receives treatment for a genetic condition that has triggered emphysema and liver disease. About the demonstrations, he said:

    “Government and our other institutions of authority are so corrupt that we cannot trust them anymore. There is a rebirth of realization that it’s in our hands.

    “As somebody who has walked thousands of miles for jobs, democracy and justice, this is the type of spirit that was lacking in so many of my walks that I’ve done alone reaching out to people.”

    Noah Addis / Noah Addis for msnbc.com

    Left to right: Gary Laison, his wife Diane Laison and Joan Kosloff, all of Philadelphia, take part in the Occupy Philadelphia protest outside of City Hall in Philadelphia on Wednesday, 10/12/2011. Amid the mix of students, laid-off middle class and blue collar workers, Vietnam-era protesters are also taking part in the "occupy" protests that are spreading across the country.

    Gary Laison, 74, said:

    "I think the kids like seeing older people there. I think the sense (that) they are not alone, that they are a part of this span of generations is important to them, and an important part of the whole process." 

    Related content:

  • Occupy Wall Street supporters demonstrate in cities from coast to coast

    NBC News and news services report:

    Washington's National Air and Space Museum was closed Saturday afternoon after sign-wielding demonstrators tried to storm the building on the National Mall.

    Jose Luis Magana / AP

    Demonstrators march through the streets of Washington on Oct. 8, as part of Occupy DC activities in Washington.

    At least one person was pepper sprayed when the crowd pinned a guard against a wall and another guard came to his rescue, Smithsonian spokesperson Linda St. Thomas told NBC station WRC.

    "You cannot bring that stuff in the museum under any circumstances," St. Thomas told WRC.

    It was not immediately clear if the protesters were affiliated with the Occupy DC protest that sprung up last week as an offshoot of the larger Occupy Wall Street movement in New York.

    Read more here and meet some of the protesters from New York and Seattle.

    Jose Luis Magana / AP

    A demonstrator lies on the ground at an entrance to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington after police pepper-sprayed a group of protestors trying to get into the museum on Oct. 8, as part of Occupy DC activities in Washington.

    Henny Ray Abrams / AP

    Occupy Wall Street protesters gather in Washington Square Park, Oct. 8, in New York. The Occupy Wall Street movement started in New York City last month and is spreading to other parts of the country.

    AP; Zuma24.com

    Left: Cherie Walters, 58, from Mount Clemens, Mich., poses for a photograph, in New York, Oct. 7. Walters, who has participated in Occupy Wall Street protests, is wearing the shirt she wore to two of the protests. Right: A protestor holds a placard with ''Middle class, Middle aged, Also Angry'' during the ''Occupy D.C.'' movement at the Freedom Plaza. Inspired by ''Occupy Wall Street'' movement in New York, activists in Washington continued the ''Occupy D.C.'' movement on its third day.

    David Kohl / AP

    Protesters march through downtown Cincinnati during the Occupy Cincinnati protest, Oct. 8. The Occupy Wall Street movement started in New York City last month and is spreading to other parts of the country.

  • Smoke pours through cracks in old building in Philadelphia

    Matt Rourke / AP

    Smoke escapes as firefighters battle a four-alarm fire in an abandoned school building Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011, in Philadelphia. The fire in the former Edison High School, also the former Julio De Burgos Middle School, was first reported just after 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, and was reportedly brought under control just after 3:30 p.m.

    Matt Rourke / AP

    A police officer looks on as firefighters battle a four-alarm fire in an abandoned school building Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011, in Philadelphia.

    By John Brecher

    The photographer noticed an interesting detail in the top image. Full story.

  • Matt Rourke / AP

    Alex Spruck tests a voting machine, May 6, 2011, in Philadelphia. A sampling of the thousands of the devices to be used in the upcoming elections were inspected by officials from Philadelphia's Committee of Seventy civic group and technicians to ensure their integrity for the upcoming municipal and judicial primary elections scheduled for May 17, 2011.

    Officials test voting machines that will be used in Philadelphia’s upcoming municipal elections

    From the Committee of Seventy website:

    The next election in the area will be the Municipal Primary scheduled for May 17, 2011. Voters in Philadelphia will cast ballots for Mayor, all 17 City Council seats, City Commissioners, Sheriff, and Register of Wills. Voters in Philadelphia will also vote for local and statewide judicial offices.

    For those of you voting in Philadelphia's election, here are the instructions for the new voting machines.

    Click here for political coverage.

  • Wrestler born without a right leg advances in NCAA championships

    By Carissa Ray

    An Arizona State wrestler born without a right leg is the No. 1 seed in the 125-pound class at the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia and two wins away from taking the championship.

    "I really don't see missing my leg as a handicap,” Robles told Philadelphia television station WPVI (click here to read their story and watch video of Robles) before the tournament. “You know, my parents raised me strong and they didn't give me any special treatment. So, I believe I can do anything I set my mind to and wrestling is something I enjoy, I love it and I'm just trying to be best at it."

    Hunter Martin / Getty Images Contributor

    Anthony Robles (L) of Arizona State University wrestles Jarrod Patterson of the University of Oklahoma in the 125 pound weight class during the NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 18, 2011 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

    Hunter Martin / Getty Images Contributor

    Anthony Robles (R) of Arizona State University wrestles Jarrod Patterson of the University of Oklahoma in the 125 pound weight class during the NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 18, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

    Hunter Martin / Getty Images Contributor

    Anthony Robles (L) of Arizona State University gets his hand raised after beating Jarrod Patterson of the University of Oklahoma in their 125 pound quarterfinal match during the NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 18, 2011 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

  • U.S. Coast Guard tall ship Barque Eagle begins 75th-anniversary tour across the Atlantic

    By Carissa Ray

    Here's some info from the U.S. Coast Guard about the ship: "It was one of three sail-training ships operated by the pre-World War II German Navy.  At the close of the war, the ship was taken as a war reparation by the U.S., re-commissioned as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle."

    And I can't wait to see photos from this reunion: "This promises to be an exciting year for Eagle and its crew with opportunities for past shipmates to visit the ship, such as Mr. Eddie Didion, who as a child was “adopted” for a time by the crew in war-torn France."

    AP

    The U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle is seen at Penn's Landing on March 18 in Philadelphia on her first stop of a world tour to celebrate its 75th anniversary. Scheduled tour stops will include London; Reykjavik, Iceland; and Hamburg, Germany, where the ship was built in 1936. It was later acquired by the U.S. through war reparations.

    AP

    Crew members of the U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle gather up the U.S. Flag on March 18 as she arrives in Philadelphia on her first stop of a world tour to celebrate her 75th anniversary.

    AP

    A passing tugboat crew member views the figurehead of the U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle as it arrives on March 18 in Philadelphia on the first stop of a world tour to celebrate its 75th anniversary.

    AP

    The U.S. Coast Guard Barque Eagle makes its way up Delaware River, in view of the Walt Whitman Bridge on March 18 in Philadelphia on the first stop of a world tour to celebrate its 75th anniversary.

  • Residents trapped in Philadelphia fire

    Matt Rourke / AP

    A resident signals to people below that they need to be evacuated from a Philadelphia Housing Authority building on fire in Philadelphia on Wednesday, March 2. Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers says some residents were trapped above the fire on the eighth floor of the building and had to be rescued after the blaze broke out before 6 a.m. Wednesday.

    Matt Rourke / AP

    A firefighter smashes a window at a fire at a Philadelphia Housing Authority building in Philadelphia on Wednesday, March 2.

    Matt Rourke / AP

    A firefighter evacuates a child from a Philadelphia Housing Authority building after an early-morning fire in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2011.

    Matt Rourke / AP

    People react at the scene of a fire at a Philadelphia Housing Authority building in Philadelphia on Wednesday, March 2.

    Matt Rourke / AP

    Residents and onlookers stand outside a Philadelphia Housing Authority building where authorities battled a fire in Philadelphia on Wednesday, March 2.

     

  • Matt Rourke / AP

    Firefighters battle a blaze in an apartment building in Philadelphia, Monday, Jan. 10. Firefighters said the building had been evacuated safely and there were no reports of injuries.

    Philadelphia apartment building fire results in no injuries

    By Meredith Birkett

    The sunset light helps make this scene look more dramatic. And I like the web of yellow fire hoses on the ground.

  • Matt Rourke / AP

    Members of the Polish American String band perform during the Mummers Parade in Philadelphia, Saturday, Jan. 1.

    Mummers Parade has ushered in New Year's for over 100 years in Philadelphia

    By Katie Cannon, Senior Multimedia Editor

    When I think of New Year's Day, the Rose Parade, which got its start in 1890, is one of the first things that comes to mind, but apparently the Mummers Parade in Philadelphia has been around for over 100 years. Read more about the Mummers Parade here.

  • Matt Slocum / AP

    A law enforcement officer chases down a fan that ran onto the field before the eighth inning of a baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the St. Louis Cardinals, Monday, May 3, 2010, in Philadelphia. St. Louis won 6-3.

    The Year in Pictures - Sports: Outtakes

    By Elena Grothe

    Shocking fan alert! I remember the surprise of seeing this image for the first time (ESPN story here). This photo was considered for our Year in Sports Pictures slideshow but excluded from the final edit.

    See which photos made the cut here: The Year in Pictures - Sports.

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