5,000+ show support for U.S. at USA Stadium in Millington

The Commercial Appeal ^ | 3/22/03 | Wood Baird

[GailA]

The War Room

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

The year I spent in Millington was the longest decade of my life.

Is that RA-5 still out in front of Edson Hall?

[GailA]

Not sure, the base has changed a lot, Mud Flats is gone, lots of things are closed or moved when they went from a training base to a Support base.

[GailA]

My crew..that's Col Lopez with his arm on my shoulder

[GailA]

Right hand bleacher section

[WVNan]

Wow Gail, can I steal your speech? Also I've gleaned lots of good ideas from your report. Bikers, color guard, bagpipes.....fantastic sounding rally. You really did go all out. Thank you for all your hard work.

[GailA]

Hit up your locsl American Legion & radio station

[GailA]

GOD made this one happen. I started out 2 weeks ago Monday with the idea of a rally, approached the Shelby Co GOP biggie in my area he's over some state spot. I'm to busy, my plate is full. Go see the VFW..well their plate was full too.

Went to talk to another FReeper who owns a local computer repair/printing business. We kicked around some ideas. He thought maybe Mr Howard who owns the stadium would let me have the use of it. NOW Babe is a died in the wool Dem, but he is a WW2 Vet. Said to call his manager out at the stadium. Called and left a message for him. BUT GOD kept prompting call the Col. I told him what I'd accomplished so far. Told him I had the will and spirit, but not experience. That I did good GRUNT work. He said let me make some calls. He called me back Tue and said it could be done. We started hammering out details by Wed we had locked in Day and place and time. Thursday they starting promoing it on the WREC 600 and KWAM 990 and Rock 103. By Monday Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck had recorded promos for it. By Wed Ch 24 & 30 mentioned it nightly (they are part of Clear Channel's system).

GOD's handy work right down to a PERFECT day. About 65, sunny, and just enough breeze to make Old Glory flutter nicely.

[GailA]

Permission granted, I didn't get to use all of it, as I got told to cut it a little.......got 95% of it delivered. I loved the ending when I said God Bless America, God Bless our Troops and God Bless GW......crowd went WILD.

[daisyscarlett]

Outstanding, Gail....Your speech was terrific and the work you did to make this rally happen is inspiring. Thanks for the great report and photos, too.

[GailA]

[GailA]

[A Navy Vet]

Great job! Got the photos.

[GailA]

[A Navy Vet]

Neat shot of the kids on the field. Got 'em all.

[GailA]

[GailA]

The pic above this was our WWII vet speaker

Off to the left but not full in pic is our disabled Gulf War Vet, AM Legion Chaplain, Gulf War vet fixing to deploy to Iraq, me, Korean Vet, Vietnam vet, WWII vet, Anthem singer on far right.

[GailA]

[GailA]

Dansangel helped me polish it up so it sounded good. Thanks Dansy.

[GailA]

From my friend John, as a CC to one of his Marine buddies

I am sure you will know by the time you read this that we had a rally today for you and the other men an women "over there" at the USA Stadium. Highway 51 was snarled in both directions at Babe Howard Blvd. Suddenly, I heard the "whop-whop-whop" of police sirens. Traveling north on 51 (in the southbound lane) were two Millington police cruisers escorting nearly a hundred bikers... all with American and POW/MIA flags flapping in the breeze. It was wonderful. I even got an email from my cousin in NYC stating that Millington made the news. This was the first time I was stuck in traffic and didn't try to rip the steering wheel off... Praise the Lord!!!!!

I love you brother.

John