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This was my first Freep! It was very cool meeting other Freepers in person, and being there actively supporting our troops, our president, and our freedom. Many fine Americans, complete with flags and signs attended (My favorite was "Daschle for President...of France"). The Harley drivebys were way cool. It was nice to see Patrick O'Malley(R) (former IL senator/IL Governor candidate/a true conservative) there. Iraqi-Assyrian group was there testifying to the masses the evils of Saddam Huessien and how they are glad that the USA will liberate Iraqis people; I was glad other people got to hear that. RedWing, unspun, justshutupandtakeit, and TheRightGuy should be commended for their fine comments. chicagolady was a gracious host at the "press" table. Freepers ROCK! Count me in for future Chicagoland Freeps, and don't be afraid to ask for my help!

Thank you two, especially and TheRightGuy(s) and ALL, ALL, ALL... and BillyBoy for the great technical and promo work!

RW9, the more I think about it (and see the news reports on CLTV, MS-NBC, and so on) the more I wonder if the reason the press wanted to pressure you to be at Federal Plaza early, was in part, to get pictures with few Ralliers for America there.

CLTV just reported something like "the Anti-War protestors rallied again [downtown] but this was the first time their protest was met by protestors supporting the war in Iraq..." I wonder if the reason that someone in the media started spreading around that the rally was to begin at 9:30am instead of 11:30am was to get the media out while our Ralliers were sparce.

What do *you* think?

I've seen numerous pictures on TV, but none that show the organized rally (with podium and speakers... and loudspeakers) that it was.

Wonderful job. Superb. Something to make an electronic scrapbook of, and to send to our troops!!! Hey, did you say something about an application to the Free Republic Network, today? Tell us about it (again)!!!

Well, what a success! I'm relieved that it is over, but yet happy that it can happen again and it won't feel so, so, so, so.... I don't have a word...

TheRightGuy, TheRightGuy'sWife and I met up at just about 9a to start our press coverage off with an interview with NBC and CLTV. We then headed over the rally site and started to set up.

Within 30 minutes people began to show up, not many, but they were almost 2 hours early, so no matter. About 10:30 I took some video that showed less than 100 people there. Then they started to arrive, and they were many.

By the time we started at 11:30, promptly just like W., there were easily 2000 people there. The last large anti-war rally I countered was estimated by the news to be 2000 (it was no where near that) and at the beginning we were more packed and in a larger group than that rally! News reports are all over the place, but it is safe to say, 2000 we were not, 4000 WE WERE!!!!

I am amazed, happy, bewildered, to name a few objectives. To stand on our Soap Box and see that see of Red, White and Blue, was AMAZING, SOBERING, and finally HEARTENING. There is a real America out there.

Johnny Stone, morning radio personality from 106.7 The Fish did a great job of emceeing, we thank him greatly for his work. Johnny opened us up and then we were treated to the singing of the National Anthem by a Navy Veteran named Nicole whose boyfriend is overseas right now. We recited the Pledge of Allegiance and then Patrick O'Malley spoke.

At this point, feeling nervous and anxious I wandered the group thanking everyone for appearing. I was up next and I had to get acquainted with the crowd or I would have been a blubbering fool :o). I had prepared remarks, I used them more as an outline, because seeing all those people there it was easy to let it flow and speak to them as an American, a FReeper, and a Patriot.

We continued with speeches by State Senator Chris Lauzen,GRRRRR, TheRightGuy, Syrians and Iraqis, justshutupandtakeit, a double purple heart medal winner, and finally our own unspun. Each of them added splendidly to our Rally.

After cleaning up, we retired to the Berghoff for some fine foods, further discussion, cheering of other folks who were wearing patriotic clothing and turning our backs on some "No War" button wearing < insert favorite adjective here >

. I want to thank facedown and sistergoldenhair who manned the FR while we were downtown. I've seen the thread and it was great to be able to have that going at the same time.

Thank you E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E for everything!

P.S. I was asked at least 30 times when the next one is... {patience - stupid question coming.....} Shall we????