Posted on 09/25/2005 5:09:56 PM PDT by mdittmar
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2005 – Their message was simple: "We support our troops," said rally organizer Kristinn Taylor. "We love them and we support their mission."
"We know that what they are doing is just and noble," he added. "We remember what happened on Sept. 11. We know that it's because of the sacrifices that they are making day in and day out, night and day, that we have not had another terrorist attack on our soil."
"Keep doing what you're doing," agreed Kevin Bush of Reston, Va. "We all love you; we all support you; and it's worth it."
Kevin's Mom, Jan Bush of south New Jersey, echoed that sentiment: "Hi, guys! Don't give up," she said. "We're with you; we're backing you; and we know that you're going to succeed."
"How could you not be here?" asked Ann Baish of McLean, Va, as she fought back tears. "They're our troops. And we need to stand by them and let them know over there how much we do support them. ... There are just so many Americans that are proud of our troops," she explained, "and we just came out because we want them to know it."
In fact, rally participants were united in their belief that the media give too much attention to critics of the war, while deliberately downplaying the deep reservoir of public support that U.S. troops -- and their mission -- actually enjoy.
"Overall, Americans support our troops no matter what," said John Wroblewski, whose son, Marine Corps Lt. John Thomas Wroblewski, died in Ramadi, Iraq, April 6, 2004.
Yet, according to Debby Argel Bastion, "the news seems to, for some reason or other, sensationalize, I think, the very few people who really don't have an understanding of what's going on over there, and who oppose what we're doing" in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Her son, 28-year-old Air Force Capt. Derek Argel, died May 30, 2005, when his plane crashed in eastern Diyala province. He and his special tactics squadron were training the Iraqi air force and identifying for them emergency landing sites. Argel, three other U.S. military personnel, and one Iraqi officer, 34-year-old old Capt. Ali Abass, were buried in Arlington National Cemetery in August.
Those who support the troops "are quiet and silent types," said 21-year-old Air Force Airman Ryne Regan. "So you don't hear a lot from us, but we're out there in big numbers. That's why a rally like this is so important: to let our guys know we're behind them." Regan, who waved a large American flag, said he is deploying to Iraq in two weeks.
Gold Star family members said that older, full-time soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are unfazed by the negative media coverage of Iraq and Afghanistan. "They're professionals, and they stay focused on the mission," Wroblewski explained. But according to Bastion, "for the younger men that are over there and maybe struggling a little bit -- maybe it's their first time over there - Derek would say, 'It is just terrible for their morale.'"
Argel told his mom that "we have to focus on telling them that that is not the way that the general public feels. The general public loves us and loves what we're doing."
For that reason, advised Reed, "Don't pay attention to what's going on in the media. Pay attention to what's coming to you in the care packages and the letters and the e-mails. That's the sentiment of the American people, not what you see in the media today."
Some Iraq war veterans at the rally cautioned, though, that that's easier said than done.
"You know, when we were in Iraq and saw the people back home protesting us, it killed us, you know. It took away from it a little bit," said 28-year-old former Army Spc. Ryan Bowman, who served 12 months in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division, from February 2003 to February 2004.
Bowman, who hails from Philadelphia, attended the rally with his friend and fellow Iraq war veteran, 27-year-old former Army Sgt. Michael Lilli, also of the 101st. Bowman and Lilli are no longer active-duty soldiers.
Bowman was married two days ago. However, Bowman postponed his honeymoon to attend the rally, because, he said, "I've got to be there. My wife knows why; she knows the reasons. She couldn't' come, but ... our friends are over there now; and I've got to be here to support them."
Lilli, who hails from Baltimore, choked up and fought back tears as he recounted a particularly poignant moment in Mosul, Iraq. He and his team were clearing a series of hard-fought city blocks, he said, when a young Iraqi boy who spoke English fairly well volunteered his services as a translator.
"He was with me and my team as we were clearing one of these buildings," Lilli said, "and he asked me if he could take a picture of Saddam off the wall. And I said, 'Sure, go ahead.' And he put it on the ground and he started stomping on it."
Lilli had to pause to regain his composure. The memory of that moment clearly stirred in him great emotion. But the Iraqi child was stomping on the picture "because Saddam had his family killed," Lilli said. "And I saw in him why we were there. ... They need us to be there. And you'll never see that on the news."
Diane Von Ibbotson lost her son, Army Cpl. Forest Jostes, in Iraq. He had been setting up a medical evacuation point for fellow soldiers who were wounded and were trapped in an abandoned building in Sadr City. "We're here for our troops," she said. "They have our back over there and we have their backs right here."
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America Supports You
I just wanted to say thank you.
DC Chapter ping!
Enough is enough, Damn the Liberals, may they wallow in their eternal misery. I believe they have a deep down hatred for themselves and America will prevail in spite of them.
I watched the whole rally on C-Span today--and was so very proud of all who participated.
Thank you for posting this...I appreciate it.
I believe as well that the majority of our citizens are pulling for the troops and for good things to happen to the mission in the Middle East.
I ache for them, and God willing there shall be no more gold stars.
Pictures soon
Great! I'm waiting --feverishly! You guys are great.
Gold star parents love their Sons, Daughters and Country so much. And all the MSM wants to do is belittle them and put "Stuck on Stupid Cindy" on a pedestal... MSM are a sick bunch of $@@!#$
The DC Chapter thinks you are the greatest. Love You
God bless our troops and their wonderful and supportive families.
While I have not hear much about turnout I fear the worst in the numbers posted by the scum of the left lead by Sheehan and others. With their large ralley recently they push more and more to focus on them and their flawed world view.
As a current member of the armed forces on active duty I shudder to think about the implications of a political defeat for our President on the issue of the Iraq war.
I want not only completion, but utter and total succes in defeat of the terrorist enemies we have, in expansion of democracy in an area of the world so desperately needing it and in total destruction of the fringe lunatic political left who has done more to harm my rights at home as they stand up for our enemies than they have ever helped.
I was great to freep with you again. See you in NC sometime.
You do your job, and we will continue to do ours. Hold out hope in good people the world over. We will prevail.
God bless you.
Let there be no doubt to the true agenda of the America-haters in DC this weekend
"I fear the worst in the numbers posted"
Don't worry......ANSWER sponsored "their" rally....they had one congresswoman show up....even the democrats don't want to be associated with ANSWER. Mention ANSWER every time and it drives the dems nuts!
We need to call this the ANSWER rally because that's what it was....it wasn't only anti-war...it was ANSWER which is ANTI AMERICA.
The D.C. chapter continues to deliver big time, consistently. Good on you folks!
Thanks so much...I often can not even prove that I was there!
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