Rally in support of our troops and our president

I was wondering about setting up a East Bay (Fremont California) Support our Troops Rally. How do you go about getting the word out, and how far in advance should I start organizing? Thanks for any help.

I organized a Rally for America in the New Orleans, Louisiana area last Friday. The rally was very successful. We had a terrific crowd, great speakers and entertainment.

First, find a suitable place to have the rally. My rally was in a park in Kenner, LA, a suburb of New Orleans. If you could get a few other people to help with the arrangements, that would be a big help.

Start spreading the word on radio talk shows, with vets groups, ROTC, Republican groups, etc. If you have a formal rally, you will need an emcee and speakers. A local conservatiave radio talk show host is usually a good emcee. Try to have a military hero as a speaker (I had a retired general who won the Congressional Medal of Honor). Politicians including your local Congressman, state senator, state rep, mayor, etc.

Local entertainers are often anxious to help the cause and might be able to provide a sound system for the event. Also, patriotic CD's, contemporary and traditional, can be played.

I have a flyer which I made which is beautiful. Since I have a color copier, I made my flyers in color with flags and stars adorning it. Try to get businesses to put them in their establishments, and fax copies to everyone you can think of. Copy or attach the flyer to email and ask others to spread the word.

Send press releases about the rally to every TV station, local radio stations and local newspapers. Free Republic even has a recommended format for Press Releases. Check www.FReeper.org. Send these out twice. First, up to a week before the event, and then send another a day or so before the rally. You should mention that this is part of a national effort through FreeRepublic. Spread the word in every way that you can. We had an automatic caller with a message about the rally, but most people don't have that available.

Be sure to urge people to wear patriotic attire and to bring flags.

You can check my website: members.aol.com/margbaird to see a copy of my flyer (minus flags and stars, which were attached externally). Also, an account of the rally by newslady is on the website. We are in the process of putting pictures from the rally on the site also.

With the nation at war, there will be many people who really want to have a rally. I cannot tell you how many wives or parents of troops overseas told me how much this rally meant to them Good luck!! If there is anything else that I can do, please let me know. My email address is: margbaird@aol.com. I am "patriot1" in FreeRepublic.

We just did a large San Jose rally, so hopefully you can start a Fremont one. Some of the people today's rally came from many cities (I personally know one from Hayward), so some would be eager to do something closer to home.

During the Bush/Gore post-election debacle, rallies were held at the corner of Mowry Ave and Fremont Blvd. That would be one choice location to do pro-America rallies. If you'd like another location, that's up to you. Try to pick a major intersection, preferably with adequate parking nearby.

Start a thread, like you did here with a chosen time and location and people should come. Other Bay Area rallies will cross-promote your rally as well. We have Bay Area "ping" lists.

Also try hooking up with local GOP, college Republicans, veteran organizations, whoever might be receptive to these kinds of rallies.

Hello everyone,

this is my first post. I have been longing to go to a pro war/Bush/suppport our troops rally but have not been able to find one. I live in the East Bay and I happened to come across this site so I was excited that someone was planning one in Fremont. That is a little more accessible to me if there was to be a rally in the future.

Patriot gives some great tips, especially radio stations. Don't count out Wild 94.9 either. I know, hip hop generation, etc. etc. But don't forget they are owned by Clear Channel Communications, an organization clearly in support of our troops, and DJ's on that station have expressed their support for the troops. It would be nice to see some young people at the rally also.

Anyways, best of luck and if there's anything I can do let me know. Thanks.

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