clem
Member
I went and it was great!
Today in Tucson:
Rally at Reid Park attracts 3,200 in support of U.S. troops
PAUL ALLEN
Tucson Citizen
March 29, 2003
An estimated 3,200 flag-waving, cheering, enthusiastic supporters of Allied troops deployed to the Middle East for the war with Iraq crowded the grassy knoll overlooking the Reid Park Bandshell today.
Among them was Sang Nguyen, 60, a former South Vietnamese who spent 5 1/2 years as a political prisoner of the North Vietnamese after the fall of Saigon in 1975.
"I came here to support our troops," he said. He brought with him a small South Vietnamese flag.
One of about a dozen scheduled speakers for the program, former Pima County Supervisor Ron Asta, whose son is deployed to the Middle East, said: "To the Hollywood elite, (a surge of jeers from the crowd) do they know that 9-11 wasn't a movie? (laughter).
"To all the senators and representatives from Washington, D.C., who always blame America first, to those former presidents who criticized "W" for daring to do what they didn't do: I want all of them to know I am proud to have my son led into battle by that tough-minded, courageous, principled Texas cowboy!" The declaration was met by wild cheering and flag waving.
Among those in the crowd was Taavi Honahnie, 23, a Hopi tribal member. She said, "My brother, Ian Masayesva, is over there, in the Navy on the (carrier) U.S.S. Kittyhawk.
"And I have a friend who is over there, too. I grew up with her, went to junior high with her at Tuba City. I'm just praying for her, telling everyone to be strong."
Many Tucson merchants and organizations provided free pizza, doughnuts, bottled water, soft drinks and other refreshments for the crowd.
Those in the gathering included elderly veterans wearing their battle decorations, young families with children, many of whom carried their own patriotic signs, and many people who brought their dogs along for a day in the park - many of the pets sporting red, white and blue bandanas.
Stiff gusting wind and a chill that gradually warmed as the program progressed failed to dampen the enthusiasm of those taking part.
Sgt. Jim Stoutmeyer of the Tucson Police Department's security force provided for the event, said he had been told by park officials that when the knoll overlooking the bandshell was completely filled, it was estimated to hold about 3,500 people. Looking around at the few vacant fringe areas, he estimated the crowd at about 3,200.
Stoutmeyer said to his knowledge, only two anti-war protesters showed up, but quickly left. "One guy came in and got his sign torn up. Apparently someone took it from him. I think both have left the park. They came in to make their statement, and then they chose to leave.
"We told them that they have a right to be here to protest, also."
Rally organizers directed family members of deployed military to employees of Rio Nuevo Productions, which was filming a video of the rally. The company filmed 30-second "postcards" to be included in the video, copies of which are to be provided to "every unit over there."
Representatives of United States Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl read statements from the senators, and U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe made a appearance at the rally.
Kolbe said he had just arrived from a meeting with young men and women who intend to enter the nation's military academies - "the best young men and women that our country has to offer."
He added, "I hope the media watches this (rally) carefully when we go on about all the protests against the war - that they understand that there are an awful lot of usually silent Americans. But today we're not being silent, because we do support." The comment prompted another round of cheering and flag-waving.
Among the crowd were several family members holding aloft a sign that read, "We're proud of Sgt. Tim Templeton Jr." Among them was Tim Templeton Sr., whose Army son is assigned to 6th Cavalry, with the Apache helicopter units deployed.
"He's doing a great job out there, too," said the proud parent. "That's where he wants to be, what he wants to do."
Family members had a large sign of support, and were inviting others to sign it. They intend to photograph it, and scenes from the rally, and will send them to Sgt. Templeton to boost his morale.
John Garcia, 65, a Pascua Yaqui tribal member and Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War, said he was pleased with the enthusiastic turnout, and knows what combat is about. "I lost a lot of friends over there. I had a lot of friends who didn't come back, including a cousin of mine. It's pretty nice that so many people came out. I'm glad to see all those people."
Among those at the rally was 11-year-old Clare DeLillo, with her parents. She said, "My Mom and I go to church, and she got a flyer about the rally, and we just thought it was a good idea to come."
Ray Lopez, 55, said, "I think it's great, very supportive, compared with what I've seen in the papers and on TV. This is a very good demonstration of Tucson. I didn't know this many people would turn out."
He said he has a neighbor, Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Johnson, who is deployed. "He's my good friend. I clean his front yard while he's overseas. I try to help out the families in the neighborhood who have young men overseas."
And what is great about this, is that this was all started a week or so ago by some wives and friends of service men/women who are overseas.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/breaking/3_29_03rally.html
Today in Tucson:
Rally at Reid Park attracts 3,200 in support of U.S. troops
PAUL ALLEN
Tucson Citizen
March 29, 2003
An estimated 3,200 flag-waving, cheering, enthusiastic supporters of Allied troops deployed to the Middle East for the war with Iraq crowded the grassy knoll overlooking the Reid Park Bandshell today.
Among them was Sang Nguyen, 60, a former South Vietnamese who spent 5 1/2 years as a political prisoner of the North Vietnamese after the fall of Saigon in 1975.
"I came here to support our troops," he said. He brought with him a small South Vietnamese flag.
One of about a dozen scheduled speakers for the program, former Pima County Supervisor Ron Asta, whose son is deployed to the Middle East, said: "To the Hollywood elite, (a surge of jeers from the crowd) do they know that 9-11 wasn't a movie? (laughter).
"To all the senators and representatives from Washington, D.C., who always blame America first, to those former presidents who criticized "W" for daring to do what they didn't do: I want all of them to know I am proud to have my son led into battle by that tough-minded, courageous, principled Texas cowboy!" The declaration was met by wild cheering and flag waving.
Among those in the crowd was Taavi Honahnie, 23, a Hopi tribal member. She said, "My brother, Ian Masayesva, is over there, in the Navy on the (carrier) U.S.S. Kittyhawk.
"And I have a friend who is over there, too. I grew up with her, went to junior high with her at Tuba City. I'm just praying for her, telling everyone to be strong."
Many Tucson merchants and organizations provided free pizza, doughnuts, bottled water, soft drinks and other refreshments for the crowd.
Those in the gathering included elderly veterans wearing their battle decorations, young families with children, many of whom carried their own patriotic signs, and many people who brought their dogs along for a day in the park - many of the pets sporting red, white and blue bandanas.
Stiff gusting wind and a chill that gradually warmed as the program progressed failed to dampen the enthusiasm of those taking part.
Sgt. Jim Stoutmeyer of the Tucson Police Department's security force provided for the event, said he had been told by park officials that when the knoll overlooking the bandshell was completely filled, it was estimated to hold about 3,500 people. Looking around at the few vacant fringe areas, he estimated the crowd at about 3,200.
Stoutmeyer said to his knowledge, only two anti-war protesters showed up, but quickly left. "One guy came in and got his sign torn up. Apparently someone took it from him. I think both have left the park. They came in to make their statement, and then they chose to leave.
"We told them that they have a right to be here to protest, also."
Rally organizers directed family members of deployed military to employees of Rio Nuevo Productions, which was filming a video of the rally. The company filmed 30-second "postcards" to be included in the video, copies of which are to be provided to "every unit over there."
Representatives of United States Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl read statements from the senators, and U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe made a appearance at the rally.
Kolbe said he had just arrived from a meeting with young men and women who intend to enter the nation's military academies - "the best young men and women that our country has to offer."
He added, "I hope the media watches this (rally) carefully when we go on about all the protests against the war - that they understand that there are an awful lot of usually silent Americans. But today we're not being silent, because we do support." The comment prompted another round of cheering and flag-waving.
Among the crowd were several family members holding aloft a sign that read, "We're proud of Sgt. Tim Templeton Jr." Among them was Tim Templeton Sr., whose Army son is assigned to 6th Cavalry, with the Apache helicopter units deployed.
"He's doing a great job out there, too," said the proud parent. "That's where he wants to be, what he wants to do."
Family members had a large sign of support, and were inviting others to sign it. They intend to photograph it, and scenes from the rally, and will send them to Sgt. Templeton to boost his morale.
John Garcia, 65, a Pascua Yaqui tribal member and Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War, said he was pleased with the enthusiastic turnout, and knows what combat is about. "I lost a lot of friends over there. I had a lot of friends who didn't come back, including a cousin of mine. It's pretty nice that so many people came out. I'm glad to see all those people."
Among those at the rally was 11-year-old Clare DeLillo, with her parents. She said, "My Mom and I go to church, and she got a flyer about the rally, and we just thought it was a good idea to come."
Ray Lopez, 55, said, "I think it's great, very supportive, compared with what I've seen in the papers and on TV. This is a very good demonstration of Tucson. I didn't know this many people would turn out."
He said he has a neighbor, Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua Johnson, who is deployed. "He's my good friend. I clean his front yard while he's overseas. I try to help out the families in the neighborhood who have young men overseas."
And what is great about this, is that this was all started a week or so ago by some wives and friends of service men/women who are overseas.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/breaking/3_29_03rally.html
