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Demonstrations Support Troops, Peace: Manchester Rally to Support The Troops
Hartford Courant ^
| March 9, 2003
| Tina Brown
Posted on 03/09/2003 5:13:39 AM PST by RaceBannon
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at ctnow.com ...
TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Connecticut; US: Massachusetts; US: New Jersey; US: New York; US: Rhode Island
KEYWORDS: manchester; march8report; rally; support; vfw
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This reporter is the one who asked me the dumb question.
At least she did a positive article!
To: RaceBannon; #1CTYankee; .303 Brit; AGBRUHN; always vigilant; Andonius_99; antienvironmentalist; ...
Ok, the auto excerpt took out the auto-format...(sigh)
To: RaceBannon
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 ....
To: RaceBannon
Thanks for posting this!
To: RaceBannon; Cacique; firebrand
Thanks for the bump....Can we look foward to Rally photos and FReeper honor roll?? Great to see everyone there!!
5
posted on
03/09/2003 6:56:03 AM PST
by
Dutchy
To: Dutchy
Sorry I missed you Dutchy. To busy jaw-jagging with Little Bill.
6
posted on
03/09/2003 7:27:21 AM PST
by
eternity
(From here to...)
To: RaceBannon
Nice going, Race & Co.
It changes the media climate, at least in your area.
FreeRepublic, one neighborhood at a time...
To: RaceBannon
Congrats to you and all that attended! I had a funeral and couldn't make it but was there in spirit.
Any pictures?
8
posted on
03/09/2003 9:40:01 AM PST
by
LisaFab
(Free Miguel Estrada!)
To: LisaFab
To: Dutchy
To: RaceBannon
Oops! Saw this after I replied. Great job as usual. Any plans in the area for 3/22?
11
posted on
03/09/2003 10:58:52 AM PST
by
LisaFab
(Free Miguel Estrada!)
To: RaceBannon
Thank You VFW, Thank You Patriots! Colorado FReeper Bump.
Keep it up!
12
posted on
03/09/2003 7:58:52 PM PST
by
Trteamer
(Drill A.N.W.R., Eat Meat, Wear Fur, Drive an S.U.V., Own Guns, Vote, FReep Leftists.)
To: RaceBannon; firebrand; Dutchy; Cacique; jwalsh07; kphockey2; monafelice; grb; eternity
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.
13
posted on
03/09/2003 9:09:53 PM PST
by
nutmeg
(Liberate Iraq - Support Our Troops!)
To: RaceBannon
How are you feeling? Luckily we were fine for the rally, but regressed to feeling lousy again as soon as we left the restaurant Saturday! I'm afraid I won't be up until the wee hours on FR tonight as usual...
14
posted on
03/09/2003 9:12:21 PM PST
by
nutmeg
(Liberate Iraq - Support Our Troops!)
To: RaceBannon
i was at the rally , and it made me damn proud to be an american......very insiring
15
posted on
03/10/2003 3:26:13 AM PST
by
saxxa
To: saxxa
To: RaceBannon
This was my first Freep rally...and boy was it good. Hope to do it again sometime. Next time, maybe I'll bring my significant other (and a camera) to show her how REAL Americans hold rallies...:-) We definitely did better than the "peace-marchers" here at UKonn. BTW, your speech at the end of the rally gave me more info about these "protestors." Thanks, I'll be sure to use it when it comes time for another debate with my lady.
To: Andonius_99; grb; eternity; saxxa
I am so sorry we didn't "hook up"... I would've loved to have met you all in person. I was with some other FReepers (and non-FReepers) "working the street", and didn't really budge from my spot there. Hope we can all meet soon at another rally similar to this one. It was fantastic, wasn't it? :-)
18
posted on
03/10/2003 10:17:22 PM PST
by
nutmeg
(Liberate Iraq - Support Our Troops!)
To: RaceBannon; firebrand; Dutchy; Cacique; Little Bill; kphockey2; monafelice
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!
19
posted on
03/10/2003 10:28:16 PM PST
by
nutmeg
(Liberate Iraq - Support Our Troops!)
To: RaceBannon
Great job Race and friends... It's always wonderful to see our patriots leading the way in defense of our values... and finally getting some recognition for doing it... and from kneepad Tina Brown no less...quite a day!
20
posted on
03/10/2003 10:58:54 PM PST
by
carlo3b
(Screw Hollywood, and the friggin UN!?)
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