Posted on 4/7/2003, 3:03:20 AM by kattracks
The Mineola Rally, sponsored by the Young Republicans of L.I. started at 2:00 pm. About 200 hundred people attended.I made my way through the crowd looking for signs with www.freerepublic.com on them, and I soon found one.
Funny, how when you come across another FReeper you approach them as though they were long lost friends. And you are, in turn, greeted in the same fashion.
The owner of the sign was FReeper katnip, who pointed out her son and his friends, who had come with her to the Rally. Her son was dressed as Uncle Sam, top hat and all. He was in demand for photo ops all through the Rally.
katnip mentioned that she had met another FReeper, and sure enough, we were soon joined by FReeper LibertyLight. I later had a conversation with LibertyLight and her husband, and you know how it is when you meet another FReeper, we talked about the media, their bias, FR, etc. It's a wonderful experience to talk about these things without being met with a blank stare, or first having to explain what the true situation is.
There were many veterans in attendance, from WW11 to Korea, Vietnam, and GulfWar1, and they were given their due respect for their service. I'm happy to say that the Vietnam vets got the loudest applause.
There was one feisty speaker, who had immigrated to this country from Europe right before WW11. He told of being here for two years before WW11 began , and recalled thinking he had only been free for two years and now that freedom was being threatened, He promptly enlisted in the Army.
The Young Republicans are just that. Young, and very dedicated. It was heartwarming to see those young enthusiastic faces. Don't believe all the trash the lamestream media lays on us. They will never tell you about the young adults such as these. There is definitely hope for our country, with young, right thinking people like this.
The Rally ended just in time to make tracks for the second Rally, which was being held in Bethpage.
There was a larger, much more boisterous crowd at this Rally. [My kind of people :o)]
I searched and soon found katnip, and another FReeper, Yankee, and we proceeded to listen to the speakers, and the music and joined in with the numerous cheers, and chants of USA, USA, USA!
I'm sorry to say that I don't know who organized this Rally, but they did one heck of a job.
There were volunteers circulating through the crowd handing out little American flags. No one was empty handed. There were also some great signs.
Yankee and I were talking about the war, saying we both had someone serving, when a man tapped Yankee on the shoulder to ask him some questions. Seems this man was a reporter from Newsday, a LI newspaper and had heard Yankee mention that someone close to him was a pilot of a Black Hawk and how distressed he was when he heard of the Black Hawk that went down. They spoke for a few minutes, and as the reporter was turning away, I told him we were from FreeRepublic. He didn't quite understand, so I told him www.freerepublic.com.. Hopefully he got that and will put it in his report. I'm going to check later.
During the Rally one of the speakers asked for anyone in the audience who had someone serving in the Armed Services to raise our hands, We did so, and there were quite a number of us. I'd venture a guess at 75 to a hundred people.
He told us he had plans for us, and sure enough, a short time later, we were all asked to form a line to the right of the stage, and one by one, we went up on the stage to a mike, and proudly spoke the names of our family members and friends, and their branch of service. Mine was Lance Cpl. Steven ......, USMC, Somewhere in Iraq, SEMPER FI!.
It was truly a beautiful and touching moment.
The speeches continued and the crowd never lost their enthusiasm.
The end of the Rally was approaching with some closing comments, when the man speaking told us there was one more speaker we might want to hear before we left. Boy, was he ever right.
A man approached the stage, and we all went wild when we saw that red beret. It was Curtis Sliwa, and if you haven't heard him speak. you have really missed something.
Mr. Sliwa gave a rousing speech that had all of us cheering for the entire time he spoke. It was wonderful. He mentioned some of our favorite (NOT) news readers and really let them have it..
If you want to hear it told like it is I strongly urge you to listen to The Curtis and Kuby Show Weekdays: 5:00 AM - 10:00 AM (EST) - http://www.wabcradio.com/showdj.asp?DJID=1726.
The Rally ended a short time later, with prayers for our troops and their mission.
God Bless Our Troops, and God Bless America.
Any sighting of your state Reps or Senators? hehe
My kind of people too and I was so proud to be among this awesome group of patriots. Excellent report kattracks. I am so sorry that I didn't get to meet other Freepers there. Was happy to meet Curtis and get his autograph, told him I was a freeper. Great photos katnip, your children are so cute! I think Yankee walked right in front of our group.
I also went up to the podium, I was very emotional. Was so proud to say Brian Heslin 1st Lt US Marines Iraq. I was up there with my sign and with 3 young ones. My sis said I was loud and my voice quivered, ah nerves :-) It was a great rally! I have a few photos I will post.
Your photos are great.
Thanks for your great photos, and I envy your Curtis Sliwa autograph.
It would be great to get the whole crew together and go to a rally in either Connecticut or New York :-)
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