Demonstrations Support Troops, Peace: Manchester Rally to Support The Troops

Demonstrations Support Troops, Peace March 9, 2003 By TINA A. BROWN, Courant Staff Writer Concerned that the discord between America's leaders and allies might dishearten U.S. soldiers getting ready for war with Iraq, families and friends of American troops rallied in Manchester Saturday. "We support our troops no matter what," said Sara Reid, of Vernon, whose son, Joe, left for the Middle East in January. "I pray for peace everyday," she said as she gripped an American flag. Reid was among about 300 men, women and children gathered in the parking lot at the VFW Anderson Shea Post No. 2046 in Manchester. The mood there was initially somber as demonstrators held up photographs of their loved ones abroad. But the event grew electric once the group began chanting, "U.S.A., U.S.A. U.S.A." and passing motorists honked horns in support. Those in the parking lot on the warm winter day, raised the flags higher. Many said they were there to send a positive message to the troops abroad. The event was reminiscent of the way Americans tied yellow bows to trees in support of troops a decade ago in Operation Desert Storm and of the abundance of American flags hanging from car radio antennas during the initial days of the war in Afghanistan after the terrorist attacks Sept. 11, 2001. Saturday's pro-troops rally was the brainchild of Manchester veterans who said the voices of those who support the troops had been drowned out by anti-war rallies around the world. As the group rallied in Manchester, hundreds of women marched for peace from Hartford's West End to West Hartford Center. Dubbed Code Pink or Pre-emptive Strike for Peace, the group's objective was to draw attention to a peace agenda. The local "pink" march coincided with demonstrations in Washington, D.C., and other cities where thousands of women used International Women's Day to protest a war against Iraq. An anti-war demonstration took place in Tokyo as the Japanese government sent its support to President George W. Bush. Organizers of the Manchester rally said they hoped their event would spark a movement to openly show support for U.S. troops. "We aren't promoting war," said John Robotto, a World War II Navy veteran and organizer of the rally. "We are saying, if we go in, we support our commander in chief. No veteran likes to go to war." Sending a positive message to troops abroad is important, Robotto said. Otherwise, they may get depressed if they think the folks back home aren't backing them. "From the troops' perspective they need to hear from us." Others in the group were more forceful about what America needs to do, with or without the support of the country's allies. "With all the peace activists and the discord in the United Nations we could have Vietnam all over again. We can't have that," said Susan Holmes, of Manchester, whose son is a Marine. "We'll only have peace if we show strength," she told the group. Among the group were 11 new Army recruits. One of them, Luis Mulero, 22, of Hartford, said the rally gave him hope. "It's great that people are getting together. I'm here learning about history," Mulero said. Army recruiter Sgt. 1st Class George Hurdle said the Army's Manchester office generally accepts about six applicants a month. That number nearly doubled in February, but the recruits may not see battle in Iraq. "They will be training for at least a year," Hurdle said. A Desert Storm veteran, Hurdle said he brought the 11 young men and women to the rally to give them a boost. He said he left the rally energized. "In Vietnam, we were spit upon. In Desert Storm, we had parades. This could be a part of history. I'm proud to see the unity," Hurdle said. Julia Rosenblatt, one of the organizers of the Hartford-West Hartford march, said marchers wore pink to poke fun at government officials who use codes to alert the public about possible terrorist attacks. Saturday's march, which attracted 400 people, was intended to say that women are nurturing, Rosenblatt said. "It was a cry for being nothing but caring around the world." An Associated Press report was included in this story.

Demonstrations Support Troops, Peace March 9, 2003
By TINA A. BROWN, Courant Staff Writer

Concerned that the discord between America's leaders and allies might dishearten U.S. soldiers getting ready for war with Iraq, families and friends of American troops rallied in Manchester Saturday. "We support our troops no matter what," said Sara Reid, of Vernon, whose son, Joe, left for the Middle East in January. "I pray for peace everyday," she said as she gripped an American flag.

Reid was among about 300 men, women and children gathered in the parking lot at the VFW Anderson Shea Post No. 2046 in Manchester. The mood there was initially somber as demonstrators held up photographs of their loved ones abroad. But the event grew electric once the group began chanting, "U.S.A., U.S.A. U.S.A." and passing motorists honked horns in support. Those in the parking lot on the warm winter day, raised the flags higher.

Many said they were there to send a positive message to the troops abroad. The event was reminiscent of the way Americans tied yellow bows to trees in support of troops a decade ago in Operation Desert Storm and of the abundance of American flags hanging from car radio antennas during the initial days of the war in Afghanistan after the terrorist attacks Sept. 11, 2001.

Saturday's pro-troops rally was the brainchild of Manchester veterans who said the voices of those who support the troops had been drowned out by anti-war rallies around the world.

As the group rallied in Manchester, ........

An anti-war demonstration took place in Tokyo as the Japanese government sent its support to President George W. Bush.

Organizers of the Manchester rally said they hoped their event would spark a movement to openly show support for U.S. troops. "We aren't promoting war," said John Robotto, a World War II Navy veteran and organizer of the rally. "We are saying, if we go in, we support our commander in chief. No veteran likes to go to war." Sending a positive message to troops abroad is important, Robotto said. Otherwise, they may get depressed if they think the folks back home aren't backing them. "From the troops' perspective they need to hear from us."

Others in the group were more forceful about what America needs to do, with or without the support of the country's allies. "With all the peace activists and the discord in the United Nations we could have Vietnam all over again. We can't have that," said Susan Holmes, of Manchester, whose son is a Marine. "We'll only have peace if we show strength," she told the group.

Among the group were 11 new Army recruits. One of them, Luis Mulero, 22, of Hartford, said the rally gave him hope. "It's great that people are getting together. I'm here learning about history," Mulero said. Army recruiter Sgt. 1st Class George Hurdle said the Army's Manchester office generally accepts about six applicants a month. That number nearly doubled in February, but the recruits may not see battle in Iraq. "They will be training for at least a year," Hurdle said. A Desert Storm veteran, Hurdle said he brought the 11 young men and women to the rally to give them a boost. He said he left the rally energized. "In Vietnam, we were spit upon. In Desert Storm, we had parades. This could be a part of history. I'm proud to see the unity," Hurdle said.

Julia Rosenblatt, one of the organizers of the Hartford-West Hartford march, said marchers wore pink to ....

The mood there was initially somber as demonstrators held up photographs of their loved ones abroad. But the event grew electric once the group began chanting, "U.S.A., U.S.A. U.S.A." and passing motorists honked horns in support. Those in the parking lot on the warm winter day, raised the flags higher.

And just who was it who started that "U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A.!" chant... which really brought everyone's spirits UP? None other than our own RaceBannon! Race, you gave an excellent speech up there on that podium Saturday! Ya made us proud, as always. I think informing the people gathered for the rally (the vast majority of them non-FReepers) about what the "peace" movement nationwide is really all about was a stroke of genius... people need to be informed about these commies and terrorist-supporters. You just know the average small town CT resident is not going to get this information from ABCNBCCBSCNNMSNBC... or from the damn Hartford Courant either.

Among the group were 11 new Army recruits. One of them, Luis Mulero, 22, of Hartford, said the rally gave him hope. "It's great that people are getting together. I'm here learning about history," Mulero said. Army recruiter Sgt. 1st Class George Hurdle... A Desert Storm veteran... said he brought the 11 young men and women to the rally to give them a boost. He said he left the rally energized. "In Vietnam, we were spit upon. In Desert Storm, we had parades. This could be a part of history. I'm proud to see the unity," Hurdle said.

The sight of these young men and women being introduced at our rally as "the future of America", then seeing them drive off when the rally was over in their big airport-limo type vehicle -- all of them waving American flags out the windows -- was one of the most heartwarming and gratifying events of the rally Saturday. We sent them off with a big chorus of cheers and waving American flags. God Bless them!

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