My Experience at the Proud to be an American Rally at Lake Eola, Orlando, Florida (Vanity)

myself | 02/33/03 | Agincourt 1415

[agincourt1415]

I found out about the planned Saturday Orlando Pro America Rally during the week.

A local Radio Station, W540 and local Radio Talk Host Shannon Burke organized and promoted the Rally. The Band Shell of Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando, Florida was the site of the Rally.

I was baby sitting my Granddaughters Amanda (8) and Bridget (5), so they were excited to come along with their tiny American Flags, Red, White, and Blue Pompoms, and their Flag T-shirts.

Just after we parked the truck and were crossing the street roughly a block from the Lake Eola Band Shell a nice looking girl came up to me and my granddaughters and introduced herself.

Turned out she was a Reporter with the local newspaper the Orlando Sentinel.

She interviewed me and the girls the whole way up the block to the band shell.

I just told her about how I felt about the need to support the President and the Troops, and that I thought the Peace Protestors were a little misguided (I was being too nice LOL).

So we got to the Band Shell and the they had a Singer on Stage, as I finished with the reporter, that started singing the Lee Greenwood song "I'm proud to be an American", I had to stop the interview because that song always chokes me up. The reporter got choked too.

There must have been about 2000 people there, the Band Shell Seating was full, and people were standing in the back and on the sides.

There were several great speeches by decorated veterans.

We had one Medal of Honor Winner (Korea Vet) and a World War II Vet that was with the Airborne Division Screaming Eagles, among others that spoke at the Rally.

I walked over to the side of the Band Shell toward the end of the Rally and their was another Veteran standing with two American Flags one with the names of all the Police and Firemen on it (in the Red and Blue Stripes) and the other with all the Civilians that lost their lives in the Twin Towers.

We both commented on how we wished we were young enough to volunteer to go back in the service, to be with our brothers.

The Singer called all the kids to the stage again to stand with some of the Veterans as he sang another patriotic Song.

I was relieved to see such support for this event and virtually no counter demonstrators visible.

There were a couple on the sidelines standing around with anti-shirts but they were REAL QUITE, around us VETS.

Unfortunately, the crowd was so big I did not have a chance to talk to any Freepers.

If anybody else was there please post your comments.

[agincourt1415]

Quilty as Charged: Deland Vote Counter, and Tallahasse Demonstration against Cancelling Absentee Ballotts (the 25,000 Seminole County Absentee Ballotts).

Election 2000 was a Battle, but the DADE County People are the Heroes. The ones that stopped the creation of votes on the 14th floor.

[Bob Ireland]

***Quilty as Charged***

hopefully not too quilty... It's getting too warm. ;-)

***Tallahasse Demonstration***

Gonzo and I were in Tallahassee... my mind is shot, I suppose... can't remember who you are. :-( [I'm adding 'gonzo's' handle to the 'TO:' line.]

[agincourt1415]

I was the guy on the Radio trying to get the front Bus to go down LEE RD (441 to Leesburge 44 to Wildwood) instead of going ALL THE WAY down to the Turnpike Entrance off 408.

I look sorta like LARRY DALE's Brother LOL.

[agincourt1415]

General Franks is now in Qatar, until the Crisis is OVER.

Fasten your Seat Belts.

[radu]

I go to the different rally threads and get a pic or two from each to send to my pen pals overseas. I think what he meant by "messages" was the report comments I send with the pics so they can see what's happening at each rally. Or he might have been referring to previous messages from the FReepers I've sent over the past several weeks. When I post the sailors' replies, some of the FReepers post replies back, which I then e-mail to the sailors.

The military serving overseas love seeing the support at these rallies. I spend over twelve hours each Sunday gathering pics and reports from all the different threads to send out. I'm out-numbered by all the rally threads! LOL! But it's worth every minute of the time spent in order to put smiles on the faces of those serving to protect the country. Seeing all the support is a big morale boost for them. Remember, they only get to see what's shown on the tv news, which is "anti". FR gives me a way to get the showing of support out to them.

I was pinged to this thread in order to get some great pics to send my pen pals overseas. Y'all had a great turnout down there and the support was greatly appreciated by them. Thank you for helping to brighten their days.

[agincourt1415]

I was wondering if the TROOPS overseas can LOGIN and post and view FREEREPUBLIC. Do they have INTERNET aboard a ship?

I had thought they did.

What you are doing is great. I'm glad the Troops are hearing about the Support.

[Bob Ireland]

***trying to get the front Bus to go down LEE RD***

gonzo and I went in his super-sled... the rest is blank. It may have been two separate demos...

Just mix me a hot toddy and cover me with a blanket... :-)

...also, thanks for getting involved... we need Americans to stand up now that the Dems have become a gang of criminals.

[Bob Ireland]

Well, thanks for all your support efforts for the troops.

I have gone to alot of threads also and found nothing new... I'm sure Gene or Dave would have posted pics, but they haven't answered my e-mails either.

I wanted to forward the pic of me to my son in Rhode Island... oh well...

***Thank you for helping to brighten their days***

It's gotta be done... and many more times...

[agincourt1415]

Stratfor is LIBERAL PAP, read this link, But get your BARF BAG ready.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/851813/posts?page=1

LIBERAL PAP about the outbreak of the ACTION, I refuse to call this a WAR.

You got to have a worthy opponent to have a WAR.

[radu]

Apparently only the higher ranking officers have internet access from the ships. And even then, it's off and on. So I do my little part in getting things to them to help keep them smiling as best I can.

Most have said when they get back to the States, they'll be checking out FR as fast as they can. I'm getting them "hooked". We all know how addictive FR can be. LOL!!

[radu]

I'll be sure to send your message from you and your granddaughters to my friends tonight. This sort of message means more to them than you might realize. I can guarantee smiles.

Thank you.

[radu]

From this thread, I sent a pic from post #57. I sent pics from the various other rally threads, too.

I've been doing this for a few weeks now and discover new rallies each week. I'm out-numbered, I tell ya! LOL! But that's good! It means LOTS of folks are getting out to show their support for America and for our troops. The more, the better. :-)

[Bob J]

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[agincourt1415]

Amanda and Bridget were excited to hear that the USS Constellation and the USS Brisbane would be reading about the Rally.

They are good girls, and Bridget wants to be a Pilot some day.

Both of them have about 20 hours of flying time in a Cessna 172 Cessna's and a Cherokee Six.

They watch Fox News too.

They love Military Aircraft and have been to several Airshows.

[PRSOrlando]

And of course, the communist Orlando Weekly chimes in on the subject:

http://www.orlandoweekly.com/news/story.asp?ID=3849

No wonder their rag is free, who would want to pay to read that crap?

[middie]

Let's get it straight, one does not "win" the Medal of Honor, it's not a contest or a competition. One is "awarded" the Medal for conduct and intrepidity in the face of the enemy and thus becomes a "recipient."
Middie