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RICHARD MICHAEL PRUITT
Patrick Browning and other members of the Seagoville High School ROTC provided the color guard during the "I Love America Pro-Military Rally" in Dallas on Saturday.Posted on 05/18/2003 5:28:13 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
Sense of obligation drives military rally
Gatherers in Dallas unanimous in support for Iraq invasion
05/18/2003
The "I Love America Pro-Military Rally" drew about a hundred people, including Kurdish immigrants, to the Old Red Courthouse on Saturday to honor past and present war veterans.
The event coincided with Armed Forces Day.
"We have people here today who shed blood for you, and thank God for them," said event organizer Charles Lingerfelt, a Dallas businessman who put together a similar rally to honor the military in March.
The previous event drew 500 people, who stood in pouring rain outside the historic courthouse. Just a few months ago, times were more intense as the war escalated.
Mr. Lingerfelt asked the smaller yet patriotic audience Saturday: "Do you have a question as to whether we needed to go to Iraq or not?"
RICHARD MICHAEL PRUITT Patrick Browning and other members of the Seagoville High School ROTC provided the color guard during the "I Love America Pro-Military Rally" in Dallas on Saturday. |
"No," they said.
Mr. Lingerfelt asked whether any war protesters were in the crowd, as there were at the previous event. He saw none.
Meanwhile at the rally, children and adults waved American and Kurdish flags. The event featured patriotic songs, prayers, short speeches from political and religious leaders and a Kurdish dance.
A speech by Gen. Tommy Franks, who led U.S. forces in Iraq, was read by his cousin, David Foster from Midland, which said in part: "The people of Texas should take pride in sons and daughters in uniform – they have given Iraq a future."
Mike Kuklenski, a Vietnam veteran who lives in Rowlett, attended the rally to support the troops. "I don't feel like there is anything more noble than you can do in life than to serve your country," said Mr. Kuklenski, a former Marine corpsman who received the Silver Star.
Claudette Gallagher, who lives in Farmers Branch, was a military wife whose late husband served in World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars. "I just really think that the general public in the time of war, they support the military men and women. But when war is over, they forget to fly the flag and forget about our servicemen and women because there are still some over there," she said.
Barry and Jan Stehman traveled from Lindale for the rally. Their son is a lieutenant commander in the naval reserves stationed in Bahrain.
"Our freedom depends on the military. That's what America has been about all along," Mrs. Stehman said.
"We Vietnam veterans did not get support like this at all," Mr. Stehman said. "As a citizen, I feel it is our obligation to support our country, whoever's in politics, whether they are right or wrong. And if we don't, we'll lose our freedom."
Issa S. Shini, an immigrant from Kurdistan who lives in Plano, expressed gratitude for the United States and its military.
"We want to thank President Bush for what he has done and all the American people, and also we want to thank all the American soldiers who stepped into the country to liberate it," he said.
Mr. Shini escaped Iraq six years ago. He lives in Plano with his wife and children and intends to become a naturalized U.S. citizen.
"America for me is the land of opportunity," he said. "You cannot get freedom anywhere else. America is the top of democracy."
E-mail chbell@dallasnews.com
PHOTOS from Dallas "I Love America" Rally, May 17
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