Thousands Rally for Troops at Valley Forge

Philly.com ^ | 3/16/03 | Patrick Walters AP

[Dr. Scarpetta]

VALLEY FORGE - With the clock ticking on an expected U.S. military strike on Iraq, thousands of people rallied in Valley Forge today to show support for American troops.

The "Rally for America" - held on a field near Valley Forge National Historical Park - was the latest in a series of pro-troop rallies organized by syndicated radio host Glenn Beck.

Police said this one attracted about 6,000 people, many of them waving flags and holding signs.

Rally-goers sang patriotic songs and helped to raise a gigantic American flag before reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Rick Moody, 57, and his wife Martha, 58, of Souderton, said they hope that American troops preparing for war with Iraq will get more public appreciation and support than troops did during the protest-filled Vietnam War.

The couple's son, Todd, is serving with the Army reserves in Bosnia - and they said they'll support him and other troops wherever they go.

"If and when hostilities start, we should be unified as a country," Rick Moody said. "And we're the most anti-war people you can get."

Anthony D'Alterio, 58, who served as a combat medic in the Vietnam War, said that public opposition to Vietnam in the 1960s and 1970s caused resentment among soldiers.

"We're trying to keep all of that under our hats," said D'Alterio, of Brookhaven. "There's a bigger cause. That cause is freedom."

Many objected to the anti-war rhetoric of celebrities including actress Susan Sarandon and singer Sheryl Crow. "Hollywood does not speak for me," one sign read.

Another sign took aim at the United Nations' lack of support for military action, saying: "The U.N. is irrelevant; Iraq needs to go."

Martin Zak, of Collegeville, said he thinks a war is needed to liberate the Iraqi people. "Their people are suffering," he said.

Anti-war protesters also made their voices heard today. In Pittsburgh, several hundred people gathered in a park near the city's two colleges to protest any military strike on Iraq.

Sixteen-year-old Jen Martinsen - who wore a black gas mask and an Uncle Sam T-shirt that said, "I Want You To Mobilize for Peace" - said she doubted the protesters would have much influence on whether there will be a war.

But "somebody's got to say something. George (Bush) may not listen. He doesn't seem like he's going to. We can't be silent," said Martinsen, of Mount Lebanon.

Dave Balint, 54, who was an Air Force linguist during the Vietnam era and whose son is an Air Force mechanic, ridiculed Bush with a sign that said: "Like a rock only dumber."

"Bush can't even get nine votes on the Security Council. Are we supposed to believe the rest of the world is wrong?" he said.

In Lancaster, peace demonstrators planned to gather on the courthouse steps Sunday night to take part in a global candlelight vigil.

"I think we're making a mistake," said Mary Ries, a 42-year-old print company employee and mother of four who planned to attend.

[solzhenitsyn]

Thanks for the post, Dr. Scarpetta. Valley Forge! What a perfect location to gather to show support for our troops!

[Happy2BMe]

America's Finest - The SpearTip of Freedom. (Photos of our deploying troops - share yours)

"The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors; they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men." Samuel Adams

An air cushion landing craft passes an American flag as it carries U.S. Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit to waiting ships from Onslow Beach in Camp Lejeune, N.C., Wednesday March 5, 2003. More than 2,300 Marines and sailors deployed Wednesday.

[SAMWolf]

Current Military News
Rally For America - Valley Forge

Martha Moody, of Souderton, Pa., reacts during a rally in support of the troops in the Persian Gulf at the Freedom Foundation in Valley Forge, Pa., Sunday, March 16, 2003. Moody's son Todd is a Marine serving in Bosnia. Thousands gathered for the rally supporting the troops. (AP Photo/Chris Gardner)


The crowd reacts as they listen to a speaker at a support the troops rally at the Freedom Foundation in Valley Forge, Pa., Sunday, March 16, 2003. Thousands gathered for the two hour support rally. (AP Photo/Chris Gardner)


Thousands of U.S. troop supporters rally at the Freedom Foundation in Valley Forge, Pa., Sunday, March 16, 2003. (AP Photo/Chris Gardner)

[Dr. Scarpetta]

*Ping

Valley Forge! What a perfect location to gather to show support for our troops!

A beautiful day too.

[Poser]

It's sad that almost half of the article is about a few hundred anti-US protestors when there were thousands of pro-US people. I assume this is a liberal rag.

[x1stcav]

Glen Beck is doing a lot of good. I think this may be the 3rd or 4th rally he's instigated/supported.

[Doc Savage]

Freedom Foundation is a relatively small area which lies between the Valley Forge National Historical Park and Phoenixville. The intervening road is Route 23 which at that juncture is a two-lane road with no shoulders. Morning rush hour traffic is always backed up for at least 5-10 miles heading toward the park. I can only imagine the difficulty people had in getting there today. It's a shame they couldn't have held it in one of the local sports stadiums where more people could have attended.

My brother was married in the Chapel at Freedom Foundation, and my father (U.S. Army) is buried in the Valley Forge cemetary. I'm sure he was proud of everyone who attended.

[baseballmom]

Wasn't it great?? Glenn Beck's website is saying 10,000+ were there today.

We put up a thread of pictures

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/866294/posts

[mickie]

It is.
Stopped buying The Philadelphia Inquirer a long time ago.

[baseballmom]

The traffic was horrible. I got there @11:00 am so it wasn't too bad at that hour. But they had already taken over several busloads of people from the American Baptist Convention site to the Freedom Foundation.

Freedom Foundation is a beautiful site, but I don't think the organizers had any idea of how great a turnout it would be.

[fatima]

Hi Dr. Scarpetta,I read the report and was happy to hear of the turnout.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Michael Smerconish (sp) was on CNN, and he said there were over 6,000. CNN reported on this rally and other pro-Bush rallies around the country. CNN seemed stunned by Bush's favorable polls.

[Doctor Raoul]

AP had to mention the anti-war pukes in an article about a "Support The Troops" rally. Funny how they never feel the need to mention anything when it's the other way around.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

AP had to mention the anti-war pukes in an article about a "Support The Troops" rally. Funny how they never feel the need to mention anything when it's the other way around.

How right you are.

[Tribune7]

I love it. The Philadelphia Inquirer has to go to Pittsburgh and dig up "several hundred" anti-war protestors.

The 6,000 figure at Valley Forge -- by the way -- while not unfair, only takes into account the amphitheater -- not the thousands who were turned away -- which police would have confirmed -- or the several thousand who held a secondary rally at the Baptist Church from which the shuttle buses came when told they would not be able to get into the main one.

Philly.com is crap.

[GailA]

There are 30 Stand Up for America, Support Our Troops rallies listed for this weekend or next.

[End Times Sentinel]

Thanks for the Ping Dr. S! 

 

We very much wanted to attend, but my daughter was running a 104+ temp, so discretion stopped us.

 

I'm glad to see we got a fine turn out of Patriotic Americans though!

 

Owl_Eagle

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