Posted on 10/23/2006 6:26:48 AM PDT by Jim Robinson
Edited on 10/23/2006 12:34:31 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
FReeper SoldierDad reports in a series of posts that his son has been countering the peaceniks every Saturday in Chico all alone as his brother serves in Iraq:
"I wish that people in my community would come together like these people and demonstrate their support for our troops (instead of those who stand on a corner in our down town area protesting our troops). My oldest son stands alone on a corner just down the street from these cretins holding up a sign which reads "I stand with President Bush and our Troops". He does this most Saturdays for hours, all alone. This Saturday he was screamed at with "murderer" and accosted by several of the "peace" protesters who came to his corner and got into his face. That is the level of support displayed in our city (Chico, CA). What a shame."
"Thank you. I actually have two remarkable sons. One trying to demonstrate his patriotism here at home, and one fighting the enemy in Iraq."
"Thank you for your kind words. I don't think of myself as all that remarkable. I'm just an American who loves his country and countrymen/women. My son's also have that love of country. The person who deserves the compliment of being remarkable would be my Grandfather. He fought in the trenches of France in WWI. He passed on his patriotism to all his children and grandchildren. We've had many family members in uniform, with some serving overseas during a time of conflict or war."
"Right now not only is my son serving in the war, but my brother's son is as well. My sister's son already served one tour in Baghdad and may redeploy before the end of the year. My sister's husband's niece is also in Iraq right now. All of this came from our grandfather; may God Bless his soul in Heaven."
We've decided to drive up to Chico this coming Saturday to stand with this young patriot and his family in support of our president and our troops. We'd welcome all FReepers and Lurkers in the area to join us. Let's go to Chico and stand tall for our troops!
More from SoldierDad:
"The street location for the rally is W. 2nd Street and Main Street. There is a two story parking structure between W. 3rd and W 4th Streets on Salem Street. There is also a possible parking area at E 5th Street and Wall Street (several blocks from the rally location). You should be aware that on Saturdays there is a Farmer's Market about one block away from our Rally location. So, if anyone would be interested in browsing the Farmer's Market . . .
Rick was on his corner again today. There were three young men who left Rick a copy of Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 and ran off. He was conversing with a man and his teenage daughter who were thanking him when another man came up and tried to get my son to go see some "documentary" called "Iraq for Sale - War Profiteers". Such is the mentality of many in Chico.
We look forward to holding this Rally on Saturday the 28th with all of those who come here from Fresno or wherever they are from. Rick says he normally goes to this corner at around 12:00 noon, but whatever time you'd like to get this going is fine with us. We will be available for the whole day. And afterward we can spend time at a local restaurant. I'm not sure what type of restaurant would be preferred, but we have an Applebees, Olive Garden, Logans Road House, Red Lobster, or many other choices."
The rally will be held from noon to 3:00pm on Saturday the 28th on W. 2nd Street and Main Street in Chico and we'll have dinner afterwards at a nearby restaurant (time and place to be announced). We're coming from Fresno, Sacramento, Santa Rosa and other points in Central and Northern California and will be staying at the Holiday Inn a couple miles north of the rally location. Please join us if you can. Bring signs, American flags, service flags, banners and your entire family.
Hope to see you there!
Great post. Thank you very much.
Well, Chris is home. Time to load up the van for the trip to Chico. Hope to be there before midnight. See y'all tomorrow at the rally!
God bless our troops!!
Howdy everyone! We've had a late dinner and we're finally settled into our room in Chico. Looking forward to tomorrow's Freep meet!
I am anxiously awaiting photos. Wish we could have been there.
I wish you could have made our little rally too. Jim, Sheila, Chris, Ruth, my son and granddaughter and I spent around three hours standing at the corner of W. 2nd and Main streets in downtown Chico. This location is just up the street from some anti-war protesters. We had many people stop to thank us and some stayed and held signs for a while. Many people in cars honked or held up their thumbs in support. Only a small number of people had the courage to say anything against our rally. After the rally we spent time having dinner together along with syncro, who drove up from Antioc but was a bit late for the rally. We had a very wonderful time and my son and I owe a huge debt of gratitude to all who came up to Chico from such far away distances just to stand with my son and I. I hope we can do this together again. Thanks Jim, Shiela, Chris, Ruth, and Jerry for helping to make our Saturday one to remember.
We should also mention that there were some that stopped by, not only to encourage our presence on the corner, but also a few did say that they would be back on the corner to help son of SoldierDad 'Support our Troops.'
Some provided us with information on how to contact local groups that might roust out more supporters to Stand with SoldierDad and son on future 'Support the Troop' Saturdays. WhooooHoooo!!!!! : ))
WE HAD AN AWESOME TIME BEING THERE and MEETING MORE OF FR'S FRAMILY and OF COURSE FRAMILY HELPS FRAMILY, RIGHT? That's one of the things I have come to appreciate most about FR.
Jim pinged me to the after action report and photos of the rally. I recognize my good friends Syncro, Jim, Sheila, Chris and SoldiersPrayingMom. A mighty fine looking bunch of patriots you are!
SoldierDad, your little granddaughter, Megan, is a sweetheart. She and JustAmy's PrissyMissy need to get together at one of these rallies. I love to see children involved in waving the flag and supporting our military. :-)
I love these graphics! Did you create them? I especially like the little dog in the combat helmet.
Thanks for the ping, (((SPM))). Maybe this rally will become a regular thing. May our brave troops never be forgotten.
I want to thank you for your very kind words. We are hoping to get more people involved in showing support here in Chico, too. We'll work on increasing interest in doing a rally at least once per month (or more if possible).
Those who came up to Chico and stood with my son, Megan, and I are greatly appreciated. I would like for Megan and PrissyMissy to stand together showing off their support for our troops. They are both sweethearts from what I see in the picture of PrissyMissy. They look as if they should be together.
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