2,000 Show support for military at Rally (Melbourne, FL)

Florida Today ^ | March 3, 2003 | Judy Berman

[Seeking the truth]

MELBOURNE -- Red, white and blue filled the corridors of the Florida Marketplace on Babcock Street Saturday as more than 2,000 people filed in to show their support for the American military.

Rain drove the Rally for America, sponsored by Clear Channel Radio Brevard, inside, but it didn't dampen spirits. The crowd joined in singing patriotic songs and listened to a number of speakers.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Valin]

Can I bump this too?

[Seeking the truth]

(Something strange happened as I was composing this post. I tried to preview what is below and I kept getting the old "this page can not be displayed" error - don't know what that was about?)

I arrived early at 12:00 in Melbourne and found the rally location, which was in a large shopping center parking lot. The radio station had chosed a corner of the lot right next to the Hibiscus & Babcock intersection.

They were just starting to setup the stage and i introduced myself to the radio people and asked them what the plans were. They pointed out the parking area outside this confined area where people would gather.

I parked my van and proceeded to help them close off the two entrances to this confined area by placing 4 "Bob'b Barricades in front of those entrances.

All the way up from Boca Raton, the sky had looked increasingly nasty and everyone was wondering if the rain in those clouds above would hold off until the rally.

BTW, they told me the rally was set for 2:00 but I know (and other early arrivals told me the same thing) that I had seen and downloaded stuff that said 1:00. No biggie - I wanted to be there early anyhow.

In addition to rallying, I hoped to have an opportunity to sell some of my 0cents Products

To be continued shortly.....

[Seeking the truth]

Sure, why not?

Great rally, inspite of the monsoon/lightning that forced us in doors just before the rally even started!

Still a great turnout!

[Alamo-Girl]

I'll see your bump and raise you one!

[Maigrey]

BTTT!

[Alamo-Girl]

Volley bttt!

[3D-JOY]

I had been hoping for an estimate of 2,000. I knew there were about 1000 there when we got rained out! The cars just kept coming and coming long after the rally started indoors!

Imagine "little" Melbourne getting 2,000 people to give up their Saturday afternoon to come and stand up for our country and troops!

[M Kehoe]

Bumpity bump bump.

5.56mm

[Seeking the truth]

Continued...

Another early arrival was a patriotically festooned lady by the name of Shirley. I started talking to her and she mentioned that she had been making signs the night before with a friend of hers at the local Republican HQ.

I asked her if her friends name was Joyce and she said yes! How did you know?

I said: "I am a Freeper, we know everthing and are everywhere! (just ask Eric Alterman - http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/854793/posts)

A couple of minutes later, Florida Freeper 3D-Joy, arrives and stakes out a good spot on the grassy knoll and proceeds to put up FreeRepublic.com signs and many other patriotic signs between two trees. I hope someone else can post a pic or two as I did not have my digital camera yesterday.

At the same time, I started to hand out the Ocents "Support Our Military" Stamps to every rally partiscipant. I had printed a total of 300 "Support Our Military Stamp Sheets (a total of 3,000 stamps), in order to stick one everyone there plus give some folks a stamp sheet to give to their friends.

Support Our Military 0cents Stamp Products

People were still just dribbling in as it was just 12:30 and other than a few early bird fools like myself, the rally was set to begin at 2:00, not 1:00!

The sky was getting uglier by the minute so I hurriedly set up my table and started to put my 0cents Tee Shirts on display - particularly the "Support Our Military" tees. I had a total of 20 different designs and they sold very quickly - for 15 minutes!

The deluge began! A very short preclude of some lightning (don't like to see that) and a few drops and then the skies opened up - monsoon like!

3D-Joy was a great help to me, not only with the many rally customers trying to buy tee shirts, license plate frames, bumper sticers...etc, all at once, but she also helped me put all my stuff back into the plastic containers.

As is typical in Florida, we pulled out umbrellas and assumed this rainstorm would pass.

It didn't. It continued well past 30 minutes and my and 3D-Joyce's cars were in the "flood zone". The water was literally ankle length and I was totally soaked to the bone when 3D-Joyce told me that the rally has been moved inside and they are broadcasting this on the radio.

Repacked table & containers back in van and moved to another parking spot as the water was well above my ankles.

Then I saw the sign that said: This parking spot is located within a flood zone - well, too late for that now!

to be continued - lots of interruptions this morning!

[Seeking the truth]

Do you know any other Florida Freepers who attended yesterday?

I understand Abenaki was there but I don't know anyone else.

If you do, can you post their handles on this thread.

Again, thanks for your help yesterday.

It was crazy but turned out really good.

[Bob J]

Great job in "inclement" conditions! 2000! WOW!

[Seeking the truth]

When I got home last night, I had to carefully remove every item in my wallet and place them between paper, with weight on top, to dry them out flat!

[Becki]

"Our hope is that the president will allow the U.N. inspectors to do their job and to avoid a war at all costs," organizer Seeta Begui said.

Not in my name!!! I do not want peace at any cost. That is not peace, that is fear.

Becki

[3D-JOY]

I too arrived early and began setting up a Free Republic Area.

Palm trees and a clothesline made a possible "laundry" of Uncle Sam windsocks, flags and a prominent Free Republic.com poster.

I had immediate help from friends and members of the Color Guard from a local VFW Post who recognized the name. We had made signs the day before and put them in a row, for distribution, and on poles for display. Thanks to family gifts I had 2 of the folding red, white and blue chairs and table to complete the "look".

I began circulating with scissors and bolts of yellow and patriotic striped ribbon to give many of the participants who wanted to add to their already colorful outfits! Over 100 fancy gift bags were distributed. Each one had Free Republic.com lettered on the outside!( Yes, a little writers cramp the night before!)

Seeking the Truth was setting up his display at the time and we made a nice FR presence.

A huge ( 12' X 100'?) banner was rolled out on the parking lot and as everyone was writing special messages to the troops...the sky turned dark and rain, not sprinkles, soon chased everyone to the cars. Floridians are familiar with these short lived outbursts which overflow our pools, and flood our streets, within minutes.

The decision was made to go inside and since all this was live on the local radio station, the crowds continued to come to the site. Finally the rain slowed and in ankle deep water we removed our carefully planned, now soggy, displays.

The mall was filled beyond capacity at the main entrance and many people were directed by the Fire Marshal to walk to the opposite end of the mall to gain entry. This is a T shaped mall and still had lots of room inside. Long after the program began the people kept coming. That mall has never had so many cars in the surrounding lots. They overflowed the four sides into restaurants and even across the main street to other retail businesses and restaurants.

I passed out all the signs I could save to those entering and listened to the start of the program.

I was so totally soaked, I went to the car and listened to the remainder of the rally . It was amazing how many other people had chosen to do the same thing!

Several of our FR signs and slogans were read to the home audience during breaks from entertainment, speeches and even a bagpipes solo. Vocalists and a band added to the foot stomping fun. Political references were minimal. There were salutes to our wonderful troops and prayers for our President, leaders, veterans, and local Air Force Base. The overwhelming message was Pride in America and our freedom.

The Master of Ceremonies, at the closing, asked everyone present to take their signs to the highway and greet the passing traffic with their message. The sun shone on this activity for about a half hour. Then soft rain returned and ended the program.

Thanks friends and all the many well wishers here at FR for your encouragement. The local Clear Channel Station was the sponsor, but two thousand more people are aware of the "Free Republic.com" today!

[nutmeg]

2,000?! Wow... way to go! :-)

[JoysKid]

Wish I was there, to help!! Sounds like an excellent turnout, and I can see all the cars in the parking lot, too!! Like a huge sale, and you have to get there early!! Too bad it rained, but you are used to it!! Will be waiting to see any pictures that are posted!! I will check back later in the day!!

[Guenevere]

I was there, but arrived just as the rain started, and immediately went into the mall.

It was a huge crowd.....I was there with my husband, daughter & her hubby....and saw several folks from church and around town.
This is my town, and I'm so proud of the large turnout.

Everyone was sooo colorful in their red/white/blue.

I had chillbumps for the National Anthem .....the singing by that large crowd was beautiful and passionate!!!

[cake_crumb]

Gee...now I WONDER why THOUSANDS gathering in SUPPORT of our troops and our president isn't eh top story on every wire service in the world...could it be MEDIA BIAS??