Posted on 03/30/2003 6:22:43 PM PST by JulieRNR21
Sunday in the Sunshine State on the Suncoast dawned dreary, cloudy with a forecast of storms and increasing winds.
Despite the gloomy skies we can report: Mission Accomplished!!! We gathered on the 4 corners of the busiest intersection in Venice, FL. and we got on local comcast SNN6 TV station!
About 30 Patriots led by 2 Freepers, Joe Brower & your reporter waved signs & flags for almost 3 hours at Rte 41 Bypass & Venice Ave. while passing cars honked, cheered and gave 'thumbs up' signs to show their approval.
I had collected email addresses of people who attend last Sunday's Support Our Troops Rally sponsored by the Venice & Sarasota Veterans Council and who expressed a desire to again demonstrate their appreciation of our brave military serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom!
In attendance were several WW2, Korean War, Vietnam & Desert Storm Veterans. We were joined by some passing tourists from the northland as well as local residents.
Also with us was a young mother with a toddler in a stroller. She is married to a Marine who is now in training and could be deployed in the near future.
The family of a retired NYPD, Mom, Dad & three teens drove from Punta Gorda to join us. They had a CD of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" playing loudly on their car stereo!
Several times we received applause from passing motorists & shouts "So glad to see you doing this" and "Thank You". Two veterans of Desert Storm came over to say "What you are doing means a lot to those troops who are in Iraq."
The rains held off with just a few sprinkles; but it got steadily windier & cooler for Florida. We had to hold on tight to our hats, signs & flags in the gusts of 25-30 mph.
I made a call via cellphone to SNN6 and reported a 'war demonstration' on 41 & Venice Ave. Said they might want to send a camera crew & reporter to cover it for their news reports.
The TV station took my bait & came.....lesson learned....don't say you are 'support our troops'....just 'war rally' and the media responds. The reporter/camera gal shot quite a bit of tape of us & asked me for an interview....I said that we expect to be there every Sunday at 1PM to show our support & that we pray for our troops every day.
www.heraldtribune.com
then clicking on SNN on the top of the page.
The word is given. I sent ya an email almost two hours ago -- you really must get rid of AO-Hell! $;-)
Pix are at URLS:
http://www.joebrower.com/JULIERNR21/030330_Venice_FL_01.jpg
...through...
http://www.joebrower.com/JULIERNR21/030330_Venice_FL_14.jpg
This is my personal favorite, even though I'm mortified that I let the flag touch the ground. I think I was too busy worrying about losing my hat in that awesome wind:
Yes, a good time was had by all. And I have the whole SNN piece on video tape. Woohoo! Looking forward to the next rally!
One Corner of Rte 41 & Venice Ave.
I'm bushed (pun intended!). Have a good night and again, Julie, well done! We did good!
Family of NYPD who was at Ground Zero...and drove from Punta Gorda! Signs read: 'It's time to make martyrs...Let's Roll!, A War on EVIL now; gives me a secure future' and 'Support our Troops, not Hollywood's limosine lefties!'
Retired Veteran; JulieRNR21 and local resident who joined us.
Retired Veteran & Tourist from Ohio who held my sign for over an hour while her daughter took pictures of us for a school project.
Another corner occupied by Patriots....husband of JulieRNR21, and two Venice residents!
This smiling lady used her umbrella as a wind shield! She had a yellow ribbon on her sign to show her support for the troops!
Here's the wife of a Marine, her children,her mother & unidentified lady with Korean War Veteran Bill whom I met at the Sarasota Rally last Saturday.
Husband of Juliernr21, visiting tourist, WW2 Veteran& wife; Vietnam Veterans.
Joe Brower, JulieRNR21 and retired Veteran.The wind was so strong that Joe almost went sailing!
Proud Americans Rally in Support of Our Brave Military!
"I made a call via cellphone to SNN6 and reported a 'war demonstration'"
Made me laugh out loud with that, you sly one...:)))
Appreciate the Action Report.
Beautiful color poster held by Joe Brower says:
1778-1943....Americans will always fight for liberty.
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