Des Moines State Capitol Rally - Sunshine and Patriots - Lots of them!

3-22-03 | EternalVigilance

[EternalVigilance]

Des Moines Rally for America - 3-22-03

[idkfa]

Here I am with future freepers.

[EternalVigilance]

Truly awesome!

Thank you so much!

[EternalVigilance]

That is excellent!

I expect a whole bunch of great photos to end up here in the next day or so...I saw cameras everywhere, and specifically asked people to send them here for that very purpose.

Thanks for what you are doing!

[EternalVigilance]

;-)

Interesting historical tidbit: Iowa contributed a higher percentage, per capita, of soldiers to the Union effort than any other State.

Of course, the State was not even 2 decades old at the outbreak of the war, so the population was pretty low as yet.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Looks really great, EV.

[EternalVigilance]

Those are really, really good pictures...and gotta love those future FReepers! ;-)

It was great to see so many young people there today. It gives a guy alot of hope for the future, you know? :-)

[EternalVigilance]

Thank you very, very kindly, maam.

[EternalVigilance]

Here is the speech:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/872754/posts

Thanks for participating, and for your kind words.

[TheMidnightPoet]

You do know that all of those flags from the Confederacy in that link you posted were captured, don't you? Iowa had no companies in the Confederate Army. They probably did have some individual soldiers, though. I think all of the states were probably represented in both armies.

One of those First National Confederate flags was apparently captured in Cairo, Illinois down at the bottom of Egypt. It's still pretty well Southern down there. Illinois is a very long state. It runs from the equivalent latitudes of Boston, Massachusetts to Portsmouth, VA. Cairo, Illinois is south of Richmond, VA where the capitol of the Confederacy was. Illinois definitely had native sons on both sides of the war.

[EternalVigilance]

Yes Illinois did; but Iowa much less so.

Now Missouri? They were a hotbed of rebels...

[TheMidnightPoet]

I believe you've misspelled the name of that state. Last I checked, it was, "Misery."

[EternalVigilance]

If'n yer from there--it's 'MizurUH'...

[FlashBack]

Are there more "Rallies" scheduled in the future????

[garandgal]

EV, you did a GREAT job! I was thrilled to see such a large crowd, and so much red, white, and blue! Oh, and the weather that you ordered was exactly right!

Several people mentioned that they had loved ones serving in the 101st...I sure thought about them with the news later in the day.

[EternalVigilance]

Not at the moment...better let me take a deep breath! ;-)

[EternalVigilance]

Thank you!

The turnout and the weather couldn't have been better, could it... :-)

Several people mentioned that they had loved ones serving in the 101st...I sure thought about them with the news later in the day.

I was thinking the same thing. :-(

[Iowa Granny]

Outstanding work!

[Iowa Granny]

Hawkeye State Rally for the Troops. It was an absolutely beautiful day, weatherwise. The soloist was totally stunning.

Family members of those on Active Duty were segregated, facing the crowd, seated on the Capitol Steps. During one portion of the program the M C moved thru this group with a portable mike. Each family was allowed to rise and identify their family member/branch of service/specialty and where they were serving. It was just very moving.

As the soloist lead the group in singing "I'm Proud to be an American", even the hard core cynics had tears rolling down their cheeks.

[leadpenny]

Looks like you had a great time in the heartland. Wish you could be with us on the Mall today.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

This is really great to see. I'm glad the pro-America rallies are picking up steam. Got to drown out those leftists.