Oceanside, CA Rally For Troops (Pics included)

None | 3-30-2003 | Bug

[Bug]

Local rally at the Oceanside CA ampitheater, just outside Camp Pendleton, home of the 1st MEF currently driving toward Baghdad. Many of those in attendance were wives, girlfriends, and family members of deployed marines.

[NEWwoman]

Proud to see so many good people in California!

[apackof2]

Those "My dad is a hero" signs always get to me.

Prayers for all your dads!

[SamAdams76]

Thank you for the pictures! Especially the second one down. It's been a long time since I saw that pier in Oceanside! (I was stationed at Camp Pendleton from 1983-85). I really have to get back out there someday.

[blam]

Excellent Bug!!

[BossLady]

Beautiful Bump for Cali!!!!!

[dolander2002]

Great to see that my old stomping grounds are still host to freedom loving people.

I grew up in the city south of Oceanside. Have always been close to the military. Worked at Camp Pendleton during some of the Viet Nam years.

Thanks for the pictures!

[jwfiv]

Excellent work, FRiend...thank you.

[dsutah]

Are you talking about Buccaneer Beach? I lived in Oceanside, CA, many years ago. My dad was stationed at C.Pendeleton at the time. I believe there are a couple of beaches, actually. But the one we visited the most, and was closest to our home, was the Buccaneer. It had one of the longest piers, and was quite old.

In about the mid-80s, I and my 2 daughters (then just little), went with my folks to California. We went to Disneyland, and to Sea World. We had rented a car; and took a drive along the coast through some sea-side towns. Of course, we visited Oceanside, and the beach I mentioned above. They were renovating the old pier, and fixing up the beach.

They put a small park across the road by the same name as the beach. This beach really looks like Buccaneer. That pier looks like the one that was there. I'ts wonderful to see it, if that's what it is! And it's wonderful that one of Oceanside's beaches are the scene of one of our Pro-troop rallies; even if not the one I remembered!

[dsutah]

I know the feeling! Being a military brat (Dad was Marine, stepdad was Air Force), and living near a military base, made me feel oddly protected, and safe! With all the machinery there, it could be daunting to some, but made me feel strangely safe!

[RightField]

This is the main pier, at the end of Mission Avenue. Buccaneer beach is a mile or so to the south.

I completely missed the announcement of this, dang it. I was just home all day (in nearby Vista) cleaning the garage and helping my son with homework. I'll try to make the next one.

[bethelgrad]

boy that place brings back memories. i remember sitting on one of the benches of to the side of the theatre and this guy starts preaching on the stage at the top of his lungs. now i'm not against preaching, but there wasn't anyone there!!! the bleachers were completly empty!!

i used to hang out on that beach too.

[abigail2]

Thanks for the post and pics. We're proud of your dads too!

[GailA]

crowd estimate?

[usnusmcret]

I felt the anxiety on those faces all the way from Tennessee! I was stationed at Camp Pendleton from '82-'88. It was good to see the old Oceanside Pier again. Thank you for your efforts. I have sent this to my buds "over there."

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

BEAUTIFUL! Tears.

[NetSurfer]

Incredible pictures, Bug! I have looked all over FR for a report on our rally, here in San Clemente yesterday...can't find a report. Over 1,000 of us supporting our troops, the Register said it was the largest rally in Orange County thus far. It was organized by the wives of Camp Pendleton troops living here in San Clemente. My husband and I had a hard time holding back the tears when we saw signs carried by kids that said, "My Daddy is My Hero" and "Please Pray for My Daddy". Amazing! Hope this image loads

[NetSurfer]

Here's a link to the Register's story:

http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/article.do?id=32583&section=LOCAL&subsection=LOCAL&year=2003&month=3&day=31