Millington Rally for America Pics

self | 3-23-03 | genew

[genew]

The rally was instigated by Freeper gaila, whom you will be seeing shortly and several times.

A couple of weeks ago, Gail decided that if there were going to be rallies across America this weekend in support of our troops, that we should have one here in the Memphis area.

So she enlisted the American Legion Millington Post 252 and Col. Tony Lopez, USAF (Ret.) to her cause. Together, they brought WREC 600AM talk radio hosts Mike Fleming and Craig Robbins aboard and it took way off.

WREC and its sister station 990 KWAM (I bet you guessed from the picture) did some great PSAs for the event. Sean Hannity was featured in many of them.

The venue was the USA Baseball Stadium in Millington, 20 miles north of Memphis. That's where the USA Amateur baseball team used to call home.

The stadium was packed today. The rally had to be postponed about 45 minutes because at noon, start time, incoming traffic was backed up a mile and a half in both directions.

The speakers were one civilian and six veterans who have defended our Freedom in the past, and no candidates for elected office.

Pre-Rally

gaila with Tony and Mrs. Lopez

gaila and flag

Andy Byrne and his colleagues from the Harley Owners Group of Memphis came to the rally, along with about 200 or so bikers from the Southern Cruisers and other organisations as far away as Nashville.

Is this the right sign?

This one?

With the parking lot full, traffic was diverted to an adjacent field.

Two Marines: George Berthelson (one of our speakers), and Mannie Saldana

This is the JROTC Color Guard from Millington Central High School. You will see them again.

Graig Robbins interviewing Gail pryor to the rally

Setting up their flag

Saluting up their flag

The Rally

Craig Robbins and Mike Fleming kick off the festivities as Carolyn Mathis signs for the hard of hearing.

The Colors are presented.

Gail, the first speaker, represented our petriotic civilians.

Jesse Vowell, USN (Ret.), represented our World War II veterans.

Walter Hollyfield, USAF & USN (Ret.), represented our Korean War veterans.

George Berthelson, USMC (Ret.), represented our Vietnam veterans.

Cheryl Abel, USA, represented our Gulf War veterans.

Brian Styer, USN (Ret.), represented our disabled veterans.

The last speaker was Col. Lopez.

The Crowd

Some fetching sailor caps modeled by two adorable girls!

Behind home plate

Can you tell we're 20 miles north of Memphis?

Behind home plate

Right field bleachers

Left field bleachers

From center field

There were hundreds of flags.

Marine Lance Corporal Brandon Thornton's Mother, Melinda is interviewed by a local TV news crew.

I'd say Corporal Thornton is a lucky Grunt!

A better shot of Melinda's sign

Freeper mainframe65 was there with the Missus.

A shot of the American Legion table

Retiring the Colors

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Comments welcome

[genew]

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[GailA]

Can you email me pics of the speakers, DK was not where he could get clear shots, and we sure didn't have the lens power you have. GREAT PHOTOS..in fact email me lots of them so we can put them on CD. We can do zip files.

[Interesting Times]

Awesome.

Something appears to be happening out there in flyover country.

[genew]

The images in this thread are tiny jpegs and won't print well at all. I have the original .tif images, but they're much too big to e-mail.

I can put them on a CD for you, if you like.

[genew]

Something appears to be happening out there in flyover country.

You got that right!

And Thanks!

[weldgophardline]

GREAT JOB from the Colorado FReepers.

[GailA]

Yes please.....pretty please. And thank you.........bunches.

[genew]

Shameless

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[HighRoadToChina]

You guys ROCK!!!!

What was the estimate of attendees?

In Santa Rosa, CA--heart of Lalaland--we had over 2,500 show up in support of our troops!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/868622/posts

[oyez]

Great show!

The Commercial Appeal says 6,000 people showed. I'd guess more. Also CA claimed about 500 the drug addled middle school drop outs hels some sort of rally in mid town. Why the CA had to give that much space to an unsignificant rabble is beyound me.

LET'S ROLL!

[gg188]

If the CA said 6,000, that supports Gail's estimate of 7,500.

[genew]

The Commercial Appeal says 6,000 people showed. I'd guess more.

I agree. I'd put the number closer to 8,000.

As much as I hate to do it, I've got to give the CA credit for putting the Rally for America on the front page.

[oyez]

Afterall, they could have put the reprobates on page one.

If the CA is going to survive they are going to have to change a hell of lot of journalistic and editorial policies.

[kellynla]

Millington, home of the largest inland Naval base. Semper Fi

[genew]

There was a steady flyover of Military cargo planes. It may have been weekend maneuvers, or it may have been something with a more important purpose.

[GailA]

The Commie Appeaser says 6,000+..the stadium manager who is the EXPERT on what his stadium seats says there were 7,500 in side the stadium and another 500 milling about at the tables set up at the stadium entrance. That makes about 8,000.

[genew]

Having played to some large crowds, I agree with the manager's estimate.

[HighRoadToChina]

Our Commie Press DemocRAT said 500 for our Rally for America. We have over 2,000 signatures!!! Our finally count is over 2,500 showing up in support of our troops and America in the "heart of lalaland"--Santa Rosa, CA.

[Rugratkeeper58]

I have a few picutres I took with my digital camera on Saturday at the rally in Millington. I had wanted to know if there was somewhere I could post them?
I had a great time and I was smart and got there around 10am when there were maybe 100 people there!! Hwy 51 looked awesome from behind home plate...lined up for miles trying to get in!!! We were blessed with wonderful weather!! You did a great job!!