Posted on 02/23/2003 9:13:42 AM PST by Seeking the truth
I arrived at about 12:30 for the 2-4pm Proud to be an American Rally held at the bandshell at Lake Eola in downtown Orlando.
After meeting Florida Freeper "Old Glory" and a new Florida Freeper (hope he checks in as we lost him in the crowds!), I proceeded to plant our Florida Freeper "Battle Banner". As I was going to my van to get the banner + rope, I run into "Mustang" and his wife, Pat. At the same time, my cell rings and its "MatchettPI" calling from the parking garage asking where our RP (Rally Point) would be. I tell her and she relays the message to "LukeFreeman", who is also on his way to the garage. Man, cell phones are great for organizing things!
Mustang & I find a good place right by the front entrance to the bandshell. Remember, this a downtown city location so most people had to park elsewhere and then walk to the park itself.
I was concerned right from the start about the weather. There was a front moving in and the winds were really blowing. I had to already chase my hat twice. I was worried about putting up our "Battle Banner" due to the wind and sure enough, as Mustang tied one rope to a tree and myself to another, the wind tore our banner on one side.
We quickly regrouped with the aid of another bystander and wrapped it around this large electrical box, making it impervious to the winds. Mustang played around with his knots (28 years in USN served him well!) and we were in business.
break...snip... I want to get this thread started as I have to relearn the loading of photos to my web space and it is proving to take 10x longer than I thought.
Calling all Florida Freepers, jump in here and add your pics!
deja vu all over again!
Fantastic!
I'll be looking for more this evening when I check back in. Right now I have to get ready to do a little something here in DC.
;-)
The Florida Freepers, at least 25 so far are known, were happy partiscipants in a great rally with over 2,000 fellow American Patriots!
The rally itself was organized in 6-7 days time by the local Clearchannel station 540AM.
It would be wonderful if all the conservative or just love American radio show hosts across the country would do the same, in coordination, and blow out these Hate America Rallies!
Come on Rush, lead your fellow talk radio folks......Just do it, Rush!
Set a date, a time and the other local hosts can fill in the details!
Hold the line up there in DC.
I have a hunch the rest of the country is starting to reach for their muskets and powder and will start to muster and march to the sound of the cannons!
One of the original Florida Freepers, I was sure I'd see you again.
About 2,000 people turned out at an Orlando rally that featured a reading of the Gettysburg Address, while another 1,000 prayed and marched in Pensacola.
"I was so saddened to see so many in our nation not supporting our troops and our country," said Naval Warrant Officer David Wolff, a Desert Storm veteran who arrived at the Pensacola rally in uniform. "This is very uplifting."
Rallies were also held in Indianapolis and Washington state, where more than 2,000 people gathered for a pro-war rally in Bremerton, home to a naval station where the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Carl Vinson departed last month.
Anger against last weekend's protests, which drew millions worldwide, was apparent. Echoing a slogan from the 1960s, one placard in Orlando read: "America -- Love It or Leave It."
"The anti-war protesters last weekend are aiding and abetting Saddam," said Sherri Tabb, who attended that rally. "Saddam has gotten emboldened, he is not cooperating. War is the only solution."
Some who turned out at the rally did not advocate
"We don't want to have to fight," said John Newman, an Indiana National Guard member who was among 500 people rallying in Indianapolis. "But if we do, we want to let them know we love them."
Another target was France, which has stood in the way of a U.N. resolution authorizing force against Iraq. "Use your emergency duct tape to gag (French President) Jacques Chirac," said one sign at the Orlando rally.
Retired Air Force Col. George "Bud" Day received loud applause when he told Pensacola rallygoers: "Terrorists thought they could bring war on us, intimidate us and cow us. When we show them American power they'll take off like a bunch of scared rats."
It was not cold - still shorts weather - no show shovels necessary!
The front did hold off until after the rally. It started to thunder, lightning & monsoon at about 6:oopm.
I know as that was the time I left our Apres Rally Food & Drink Fest at that BBQ place.
I drove almost 4 hours in that crap to get back home.
This was the only bad thing about yesterday. The rally was great, meeting the old & new Freepers, the comraderie after the rally, recruiting some new Freepers...etc.
Yeah, you had the front following you. Ken and I drove out of it around Lakeland.
Gotta figure-out how to post the pics. Later...............FRegards
BUMP for that! $:-)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/849595/posts?page=20
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