FINALLY, PHOTOS of Queens, NYC, SUPPORT THE TROOPS Rally of 3/30/03

WomanofStandard's Photos of Rally, Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, NYC | 4/7/03 | self

[WomanofStandard]

I have tried with no success to get these photos on this thread so I am, instead, posting the links to webpages on which the photos are displayed. If anyone else wants to put the actual photos on this thread, I'd be thrilled.

Support the Troops Rally Photos

Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, NYC-3/30/03

Sponsored by Coucilmen James Genarro, Mark Weprin and others...

Kew Gardens Hills Support Our Troops Rally Photos Page 1

Kew Gardens Hills Support Our Troops Rally Photos Page 2

Kew Gardens Hills Support Our Troops Rally Photos Page 3

[WomanofStandard]

Thanks for the ping, photos, and for you and your son being there in your moment of grief. My prayers are with your family.

It was my pleasure to share them. I felt it is the least I could do when families of our servicemen and women are grieving over the loss of their young spouses and children. At least my Mom got to live a long, full life. Being among a group of America loving, troop supporting people is one of the best feelings a person can get...like a real buzz! Especially in NYC where we are in the minority!!!

[My2Cents]

These guys look like the Blues Brothers:

[max epr]

Please accept my condolences for your mother and thanks for the great pix. Is there a Freeper in North Jersey who can come to a "Support Our Troops" family pancake breakfast on April 27 at Nutley AMVETS and send photo e-mails to our troops?? We'd also love to have pix on Free Republic.
Ciao,
Max

[eleni121]

Inspiring and inspirational...my condolences to you.

It's good to see New Yorkers supporting our nation. Thanks.

[Coleus]

you never answered my freep mail.

[WomanofStandard]

Don't know if anyone here will look at this thread again or if it matters all that much but I have a correction in regard to what I posted in the into to these photos.

The first name of Councilman Weprin is David, NOT Mark. Mark Weprin is his brother, a NYS Assemblyman who did not attend this rally.

[WomanofStandard]

Your welcome for the photos and thank you for the condolences. Have you tried posting your request on the NJ State Locale board?

[janetgreen]

Hillary should hide, the sight of her makes many people sick! I got a call today from the NRA. They wanted members and contributors to know that Hillary and Chuckie Schumer are sponsoring a bill, Senate bill 22, and it's a gun-grabbing, anti-second amendment bill. She is shameless.

[WomanofStandard]

This article is out of the Queens Village Times, Queens, NYC, the print version. I tried looking it up on the Times-Ledger website and though they seemed to have many of the articles on their site that I found in the printed paper, this one was not there so I'm typing it up here. It's a report on this rally.

Kew Gardens Hills Rally Shows Support for Troops by Alex Davidson

From the Boro In Wartime Section, 4/3/03 Issue

Tom Henderson, a U.S.Marine and Vietnam War veteran, came out to the Kew Gardens Hills Library Sunday to take part in a rally supporting American troops fighting in Iraq and, most importantly, his son-in-law, Pedro Quintana.

"He's right in there," said Henderson, who was joined by his daughter Jennifer whose sister is six-months pregnant with Quintana's child. ""We're here to show support for him and for the president--we're there to stop a dictator."

The Hendersons were joined by a crowd of at least 200 other people, including borough legislators and veterans, who turned out during a rainy and cold afternoon to voice their approval for the U.S.-led conflict. The crowed waved American, Israeli and military flags and yelled out thanks to the armed forces of in the Gulf region.

The legislators attending the event, run by City Councilman Jim Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows), included council members Melinda Katz (D-Forest Hills), John Liu (D-Flushing), and David Weprin (D-Hollis); state assembly member Brian McLaughlin (D-Flushing), Mark Weprin (D-Bayside), and Nettie Mayersohn (D-Flushing); and state Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Whitestone). U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Kew Gardens) also took part in the event.

"We didn't even have to say please fot them to go over and protect us," said Gennaro, who along with the Jewish groupo Vaad Harabonim of Queens and the Queens Jewish Community Council organized this rally. "The sons and daughters of Queens are there so that we and the rest of the world can be free."

Maria Trovato said she came to the rally to support the troops and especially her stepson who is in an Air Force unit stationed in Iraq. She said she keeps in touch with him through emails and regularly checks in on her son to make sure he is safe.

"As an American citizen, I support my government in all the ways I can," Trovato said. "We are (in Iraq) because we belong there."

Pat Toro, president of the Vietnam Veterans of American, Queens Chapter 32, said he and other members of his organiztion participated in the rally because they wanted to ensure troops returning from the conflict were not mistreated. He said he wants to create a postitive enviroment for the veterans and make sure they know there is support for the war in Iraq.

"We know what it's like to have the protesting--you have to support the troops," said Toro, who believes anti-war protestors are detrimental to the soldiers' morale. "the fact that (the protestors) are allowed to say what they say is what we fought for."

Other borough legislators said they were at the rally as a show of solidarity with the American troops. McLaughlin, speaking to the crowd as cars passed by and honked in support of the gathering, said he cam to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with soldiers in the Persian Gulf.

Pearl Gedanke, a Jewish immigrant from Germany and borough resident, echoed McLaughlin's comments.

"I'm all for the war and happy to be here," she said. "If the president said this will do good for the country, we should follow him because he's our commander-in-chief."

Reach reporter Alex Davidson by email at TimesLedger@aol.com or by phone at 1-718-229-0300, Ext. 156

[WomanofStandard]

After reading this article I stand corrected in part anyway. Assemblyman Mark Weprin WAS at this rally, but the one in the photos with Councilman Gennaro is Councilman David Weprin of Queens.

[Cacique]

Good pics

A couple of us FReepers were involved in campaigning against Mark Weprin at election time. However, I am glad he and his brother are supporting our troops.

[WomanofStandard]

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of him either...but, I did call his office to thank him for coming to the Times Square Rally FR and others sponsored a few weeks ago. He is the ONLY NYC Councilman who did attend.

[LibertyLight]

Thanks...
I assume 'Ping' means a CC or is it 'Dittos' or both? As you can see I am new here...
God Bless the Light of America and her Freedom!

[firebrand]

Let's not give him THAT much credit--none of the others were invited, and a friend invited Weprin without my knowing about it! LOL (I don't want our Republican councilmen, and the other Dems who voted against the antiwar resolution, to feel neglected.)

Great photos, WoS. Hope you and your family are recovering. Looks like a good rally.

[arielb]

the interesting thing about this rally is the number of Democrats and labor unions that have co-sponsored it. Including Congressman Gary Ackerman. That shows that the anti-war goons are just so far out of the mainstream

[WomanofStandard]

firebrand....I'm not about to go overboard with giving credit, LOL. You know, it seems how Weprin ended up at the Times Square rally, better than I would. I guess the credit I give him is showing up when other dems did not. I don't think it's beyond city councilmembers to "check" with each other often about who's attending such events and whatnot. If he checked, he must have known he would be the lone dem among conservatives! Beyond that, I've not seen councilman Weprin do anything to impress me.

arielb, as for these dems joining in the support of the troops...well, I think it's a twofold thing. First off, when Weprin took the time to show up at the Times Square rally I called his office the following day and told them he did the right thing to come to it. As for how this rally here came about with all the dems and unions...one one count you are right. With 70% of the country and in some polls even more being for this war, there have to be a lot of dems in favor of it so these politicians are reaching out to their base I think. Also, I happened to rib a local dem who works nearby about his not being at the rally in Times Square. Next thing I knew, this rally was planned and the date set. I don't know exactly what motivated them, but for the sake of our troops, I'm glad they did it. Since there didn't seem to be any republicans there, I suspect they didn't bother inviting them. Had I known about this particular rally sooner than 2 days before hand, I would have made sure the few elected republicans in this area were notified and encouraged to come, but alas, I did not know till last minute!

[WomanofStandard]

I thought you might like to see these photos...