Posted on 03/22/2003 1:29:09 PM PST by netmilsmom
I just got back from the rally....My Darling Husband will put pictures up on the official site for Photos once he downloads them off the camera!
*Click here to Iraqi Woman prayer answered *
http://images.radcity.net/5149/359372.mp3
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Now you know the rest of the story, why this woman is praying for Mr Bush.
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According to the Captiol Director, we had 500 people there. If we use peacenik/Million Mom math, that means we had 2500. There were no peaceniks there either, outside of a couple of scouts that didn't speak up.
It was a great event, and unlike a peacenik rally, it's a place where kids could attend. No shouting matches, violence, and stuff like that. This rally WAS peaceful. Our dogs were better than their dogs as well. :)
The songs weren't Pete Seeger. They were patriotic and were tributes to all branches of our Armed Forces.
State Sen. Valde Garcia(Livingston, Shiawasse, part of SE Ingham Counties) spoke at our rally and he's started a network to help our troopsand State Rep Jack Brandenberg(St Clair Shores area) attended our rally.
Kevin Fobbs, vice Chair of the Michigan GOP and Lisa Sarrach also spoke at our rally. They run a program that also helps our troops - Celebration of American Life. They also talked about Hollywood Hero which has a hall of fame and shame.
Special thanks to apackof2 for leading the way on this rally.
And thanks to all of those that helped out and attended this rally. Not everyone around here is a piecenik. In fact, most aren't.
By AMY F. BAILEY
The Associated Press
3/22/03 3:24 PM
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- After days of anti-war demonstrations in Michigan and across the country, hundreds of supporters of the U.S.-led attack against Iraq gathered Saturday in front of the state Capitol.
Many at the "Rally for America" carried American flags and signs that said: "God Bless America" and "Support Bush." Patriotic songs were played and the crowd chanted "U-S-A" several times during the hour-long event.
The rally came a week after hundreds of anti-war demonstrators gathered at the state Capitol and a handful of cities across the state to protest an eventual attack against Iraq.
Several people who attended Saturday's rally said they wanted to respond to anti-war demonstrations.
Dawn Connor, a small business owner from Grand Rapids, held a sign that said "Anti-warPro-Saddam."
"Mainstream America is getting tired of the anti-war protests," said Connor, 38. "They're devastating to us and they're devastating to our troops."
There were no anti-war demonstrators around for Saturday's rally, which was attended by about 500 people, said Jerry Lawler, Capitol facilities director.
Bob MacPherson, a retired Navy chief warrant officer, said he didn't want to be anywhere else on Saturday. He said it was important for people to see demonstrators supporting U.S. troops.
Anti-war demonstrations "aren't being held at the right time," said MacPherson, of Youngstown, Ohio.
Tom Soule, 50, of Holt, said he's disheartened by anti-war protests.
"They're being discouraging to our troops, which is something they don't need right now," Soule said.
Eighteen-year-old Tony Cena of Holt said he plans to enlist in the U.S. Army when he graduates from high school in a few months. Although the United States' military action in Iraq may be over by the time Cena enlists, he said he's excited about a future in the military.
"I think it will be a great experience," he said, holding an American flag. "There's still a lot of peaceful stuff that needs to be done."
Instead of an American flag, Laurence Bates held a British flag to show support for the British troops serving with the American military in Iraq. Bates, a computer engineer at Michigan State University, is from Britain and became an American citizen five years ago.
Bates, 53, said he agrees with recent opinion polls that have suggested that Britons are increasingly rallying around Prime Minister Tony Blair.
"I think he's excellent," Bates said about Blair. "I like the logicality of his actions. It's a mature position."
Bates said U.S. and British casualties in the first days of the war shouldn't deter support of the effort to take weapons of mass destruction out of Iraq.
"No one said this was going to be a cake walk," he said.
Megan Fauser, a 17-year-old high school student, held up a picture of her brother Christopher who is a Marine stationed in Kuwait during the rally.
"I don't like that my brother is over there," said Fauser, of Rives Junction in Jackson County. "But I'm proud of him."
Sergio DiMartino, who works for a Lansing area security company, said he helped organize the rally to show support of the U.S. troops in Iraq.
"When you turn on the TV all you see is the anti," said DiMartino, 26. "We just wanted to show the world where we really stand."
I have some images to post for photogirl taken at the Lansing rally- is this the after action report ? I am a little puzzled by the title's ending (not official site)
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