Posted on 04/13/2003 2:50:22 PM PDT by Diver Dave
Modesto area Patriots gather on the corner of Sisk Rd. and Standiford Ave. each Saturday morning to raise their flags, posters, and photographs of their loved ones serving in the Armed Forces.
On Saturday, April 5th, 100 + supporters came to give honor to our Armed Forces serving in the middle-east. Members of the Modesto VFW set up flags of the service branches and presented a special tribute to the fallen. A Mom shared thoughts of how proud she is of her son. A VFW member, dressed in camis and carrying a rifle, marched across the berm. He stopped before the Colors, came to present arms, then attention. He fixed his bayonnet, drove the rifle and bayonnet into the ground, removed his helmet and place it on the stock of the weapon. He then stepped back, saluted, and dropped to one knee in prayer. All the while, Amazing Grace was heard from a boom box. Next, Taps was played and everyone either saluted or place their hands over their hearts.
The response from passing motorists was overwhelming. The intersection is located just east of the Highway 99 freeway. This is a high volume intersection with access to the Vintage Faire Shopping Mall. Not a single anti-war protestor was observed by this biased embedded reporter.
A LARGE greeting card was signed by those attending the rally which was being sent to the troops. A large number of the crowd are family members of our men and women serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Family members proudly display photographs of their sons, husbands and daughters and wives.
The Modesto VFW has established a support group for the family members and held their first meeting on Thursday, April 10th. They also have been passing out red Buddy Poppies with a yellow ribbon attached to the folks as they wait for the traffic light to change.
The rally held yesterday, 4/12, was attended by a small number of folks who withstood 25 – 30 mph wind gusts. Flags were held straight out by the wind gusts. Rain threatened, but when this reporter left at 12:50, it remained dry. At one point, a gust captured my sign and down the street it went. Thankfully a young patriot chased it down for me.
Horns honked repeatedly for our small group. Cars, trucks, buses and even an ambulance’s loud signal warmed our hearts.
As I was leaving a saying good-by to my fellow patriots, one of the mom’s sat in her car talking on her cell phone to her son serving in Iraq. Pray for the continued safety and protection of our troops. Also, pray for the families at home. Seeing these moms and dads out here every weekend has given me an insight I never saw during my time in the Navy. I never realized then the anguish and uncertainty those at home go through.
Thank you to the Modesto VFW for providing the flags, support for families, and their presence at the rallies. Salute!
From yesterday’s rally…
We had a great Support Our Troops Rally in El Cajon, CA today.
El Cajon is home to the second largest concentration of Iraqis in the USA. They were there in numbers with many speakers thanking America and her troops.
You struck a nerve when you said, "Seeing these moms and dads out here every weekend has given me an insight I never saw during my time in the Navy. I never realized then the anguish and uncertainty those at home go through."
Living in Myrtle Beach, SC at the time, we actually felt vulnerable when we drove into town with the base decal identifying who we were. Cannot remember one supportive deed a civilian did for anyone I knew, much less me personally, alone with children 5, 12 and 13.
Patriotic displays were only on base on the Fourth of July with fireworks for the community, but no proliferation of flags flying in town or rallies of any kind. We were essentially pariahs.
What was worse, I was teaching in the base school, and only one family of a fellow who had worked with my husband was supportive, having us for Thanksgiving Dinner and helping one time when I was ill.
Finally figured out the wives at school as teachers and secretaries, tec. were afraid that to talk of my status, it would become theirs, receiving orders for their husbands to go - superstition at its worst.
Furthermore, in May before his return in October, 300 of us unaccompanied wives were dumped without ceremony out of quarters - into a resort economy!
I applaud your community assistance for those struggling spouses.....
Anyway, thanks for pinging me! Keep up the great work :)
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