Hyannis event honors U.S. troops: Liberal Mass shows the Red, White and Blue for REAL!

Cape Cod Times ^ | May 29, 2006 | By ERIC GERSHON

[RaceBannon]

The actions of a 13 year old boy once again showed up the adults in Cape Cod when it comes to supporting he troops!!

A 13 year old Boy Scout that I met last week organized and made happen an event to raise money for items to be sent to the 25th Marines in Iraaq this last weekend, and even got active duty and Reserve personnel from all services to represent their respective fellow men.

The story is below:

[RaceBannon]

May 29, 2006

Hyannis event honors U.S. troops By ERIC GERSHON STAFF WRITER

HYANNIS - What goes around, comes around - that's why 13-year-old Dylan DeSilva has a scrapbook full of thank-you notes from war zones.

If you go

When: Through noon today (Monday, May 29, 2006)

Where: Capetown Plaza, near Kmart, Route 132, Hyannis

Why: To honor the troops and raise money for care packages

Since 2004, when Dylan's Brewster Boy Scout troop mailed a care package to an alumnus-turned-Marine serving in Iraq, Dylan has sent more than 700 similar packages overseas, mainly to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

''Dylan didn't want to stop,'' said his mother, Michelle.

In the coming year, he plans to send another 700 packages of toothpaste and tube socks, candy and DVDs.

Yesterday, he began rounding up the donations to do it.

He had help from friends like Lt. Col. Cyril Rourke of the Air Force Reserve.

At noon, Rourke, 56, who last year served six months in the Middle East, stationed himself upright on a flatbed trailer parked at Capetown Plaza, near Kmart, facing Route 132.

Four other men followed close behind, each in the uniform of his rank and service. They stood at attention for an hour, five abreast, facing the sun, unflinching, it seemed, as passing cars beeped in support.

More than 30 servicemen and women were scheduled to relieve them hourly through the night in a tribute and fundraiser billed as ''The 2nd Annual Troops in the Spotlight.''

Come dusk, organizers planned to illuminate the sentries from below.

A smaller-scale version of the event raised $6,000 last year.

Dylan, a Tenderfoot with Boy Scout Troop 73 of Brewster, is scheduled to stand watch for the final hour, from 11 to noon today, ''just to honor our troops, past and present,'' he said.

The group that formed around Dylan to serve his cause, Cape Cod Cares for Our Troops, hopes to raise $10,000 from visitors to put toward the next round of care packages. Among yesterday's donors were schoolchildren from Hyannis East Elementary School, who presented the group with $675 converted from penny contributions and about $800 overall.

Schooled at home by his mother, who said Dylan's grandfathers served in the military but neither parent and none of his three siblings did, Dylan hopes to attend a technical high school, then join the Marines.

Michelle DeSilva anticipates that day with pride and fear.

''Of course, as a mother - this is my baby - it scares me,'' she said. ''But I admire him. He's always had a goal.''

From the letters in his scrapbook, Dylan might glimpse a bit of what could be in store for him.

Wrote one soldier, ''Being in Iraq is very different from being at home.''

Eric Gershon can be reached at egershon@capecodonline.com.

(Published: May 29, 2006)

[RaceBannon]

Among the events was a standing watch of all services for a 24 hour period of attention.

These men took 1 hour shifts, including reservists, active duty, and retired Marines like FREEPER FLightline.

[singfreedom]

This sounds like a wonderful way to call attention to our troops on Memorial Day! Kudos to young Dylan. I'm sure he'll be a wonderful Marine.

Thanks, Flightline, for your part in this, too!

[RaceBannon]

Him and Alan Burgess have done wonders, while most adults just sat back and watched!

[metesky]

In Bangor yesterday, our parade featured a Cub Scout Den carrying signs saying, "We Remember".

Made my old heart glad.

We also had fly-overs from a helicopter unit and a huge transport jet. Got everybody goin' real good!

[Coop]

Great stuff, Race! Thanks for sharing with us.

[rockabyebaby]

Stunning, absolutely stunning. There are two young men who attend King Phillip High School in Wrentham MA, these two young men, TWO young men, have been accepted into West Point, however, the superintendent and the principle will NOT allow the military to attend the graduation ceremony tomorrow evening to present the scholorships to these young men. The policy is that no colleges are allowed in because the school does not want to "lose control" of the ceremony. The school is lumping West Point in with all other colleges. The principle and the superintendent will NOT take calls from the local talk radio station. The talkshow host is planning on giving out phone numbers to the school, good radio! Kennedy and Kerry had a hand in getting these two men the appointment to West Point and now Kennedy/Kerry will not return phone calls to the young men to help them.

[spikeytx86]

It's nice to see there are some patriots in cape cod. I spent July 4th of 03' on a camping trip with my dad on the cape and we went through one town on the way to woods hole and I saw this guy dressed up like uncle sam walking through town harassing families yelling at kids and spouting off anti-american rhetoric. Why is it that so many beautiful areas are populated with Nimrods? Kudos to this kid.

[demkicker]

The policy is that no colleges are allowed in because the school does not want to "lose control" of the ceremony.

That's leftist b.s. code for not wanting to acknowlege and celebrate individual success, especially for young genuine patriots who truly love their country and might dare become a positive influence to their peers.

Love your tag line, btw.

[sono]

Folks should also remember that Orca is an outlier - both JFK and Joseph P Jr served with distinction in WW2, Joseph paying the ultimate price.

[Old Student]

When I returned from the first Persian Gulf War, 26 March 1991, we landed in Bangor at about 3am, and had over 200 people there to meet us. I got kissed so many times I lost count, had my hand about shaken off, and left without a hat or dogtag or any other small souvenier of Desert Storm, as I'd handed them out to as many of the children as I could, but truly at ease as an Airman in my own country for the first time since I enlisted during the war in Vietnam. You live in a very nice place, FRiend. God bless you and yours.

[metesky]

What amazes me about Bangor is the combination of patriotic fervor and Democratic voting patterns. I don't get it.

But they're hard to beat for the most part!

Thanks for your service, O.S.

[Mr. Silverback]

Folks should also remember that Orca is an outlier - both JFK and Joseph P Jr served with distinction in WW2, Joseph paying the ultimate price.

People who quibble with the official version of the PT-109 story (and the official version is crap) should keep in mind that JFK volunteered for just about the most dangerous duty in the Navy that would get him into the fight in any reasonable amount of time. He put his butt squarely on the line, and so did Joseph. Bobby also ent Navy, but he got out of college in '48 and they didn't really need him.

[Romanov]

Kids like Dylan give me hope for our future!

[flightline]

hey guy's, there is some life and hope in this blue spot near the ocean! these kids our the best,there family's and friends have more feelings and patriotism,then I could ever explain to you.The branches of service that represented the 24 hours did it with pride and made it spread by there presents.It was hot and sunny and not one faltered in any hour that was spent at attention!!and let me tell ya,it showed,If you stayed long enough with the sun, blue or not they all left Red.......Semper Fi...Flight line

[Little Bill]

You should get in contact with RaceBannon. The Boy's on the Cape are very active, he can put you and hubby in contact.

[Little Bill]

I know how you feel.

[JulieRNR21]

Falmouth had an inspiring Memorial Day Parade & Ceremonies including the 1774 Militia, Bagpies, Brownies, Boy Scouts; HS Band; US Coast Guard; Police, Firefighters, and a helicopter flyover with a huge crowd in attendance on the library grounds.

ONe of the highlights was this

Jerry Ross of the Falmouth Minutemen fires a round near the Falmouth Public Library in a ceremony after the town parade.

[SandRat]