Posted on 04/25/2005 12:00:02 AM PDT by North Coast Conservative
The 2005 Rally for the Troops, Cleveland is now history, and I have spent enough time beside the fire at home that I am thawed out enough to report that it was a cold, wet, drizzly SUCCESS for every veteran, active duty military personnel, or parent of same that turned out on the late winter day on the North Coast of America.
Free Republic's own Nikki Mendicino was there with Mark Mix, a 33 year old soldier from Columbus Ohio who was recently paralyzed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and is confined to a wheelchair. Nikki got a great reception from the local crowd even after it was announced that she was from the Pittsburgh area. It was great to meet the young FReeper who is every veteran's kid sister and one of the biggest advocates for the men and women in uniform.
I walked through the crowd with my flags rolled, (no one wants to get slapped by a wet, cold flag), receiving updates on who's child or grandchild is stationed where around the world. Even though the late season winter storm, (or was it the first of the coming winter), ruined the ride-in of bikers from spots around the city spirits were high among the attendees. Many other Vietnam Vets told me that they had been wet before, will probably be wet again, so "what's the problem?"
The capstone of the short rally was the reading of the names of the 48 men who have given their lives in the War on Terro, and a 21 gun salute in their honor.
The cold and snow kept the attendance down this year, there were probably no more than 400-500 people on the square. That probably kept donations down for boxes for the troops, (collections were made by the USO of Northern Ohio), but the enthusiasm of the people there kept your mind off the fact that you were cold and wet, and that your glasses were spotty with slush. *VBG*
Many thanks to Jim Mantel of WGAR who MC'd the event, Monica Robins of WKYC who sang a fantastic National Anthem; and representatives of the USO of Northern Ohio, Cuyahoga Veterans Service Commission, American Red Cross and the Ohio National Guard.
It would be great if all the men and women were home by this time next year, and we wouldn't have to hold the 4th Annual Rally for the Troops, Cleveland. But if we are still engaged, I'm sure that John C.(Kiks) Kikol will be organizing again.
In God We Trust…..Semper Fi!
Call Dawn at 440 967 0613, Jerry at 440 322 3504 or email sunrise1017@adelphia.net.
They are also raffling off a Harly 2005 Classic Road King. If I win, I will be there for sure.
I walked through the rally on the way to and from getting lunch. It was a miserable day weather-wise. I wish they would have rescheduled it so that the troops that were there who were recently back from overseas could have seen even more people there than were last year. God bless our troops and the USA.
Good job. Wish I could have made it.
Great job PG and Nikki!
Yeah, the weather definately did keep the numbers down. Many thanks to those who braved the elements to join us. Even I wimped out and sat in my co-USO Volunteer's warm, dry van collecting donations. Nikki did indeed give a wonderful speech that was interrupted more than once by applause. THANK YOU for being there Nikki!! The event broke up before I had a chance to talk to anyone in the crowd. No doubt everyone was in a hurry to thaw out. I intend to be at the sign-up station for the Poker Run so maybe I'll see some fellow FReepers there. One more thing, keep in mind that May is National Military Appreciation month [http://www.nmam.org]. Maybe next year the Rally should be in May; then again considering northeast Ohio weather, who knows if it will be much warmer then. THANKS AGAIN to those of you who made it!!
Thanks for the report.
Who'd a thunk it that the end of April we'd have cold snowy weather?
Congrats Nikki for yet another job well done.
It was cold, it was very wet, it was extremely windy; but Nikki warmed our hearts.
OLA
Sorry I couldn't be there. Hope to see you sometime soon.
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