It's time to rally 'round the troops
Published on April 2nd, 2003
STONEHAM, MA - American Legion Post 115 will sponsor a support-the-troops rally this Sunday, April 5, on the Stoneham Town Common from 2 PM to 4 PM.
Although anyone can attend the rally in support of American troops stationed overseas, the event's planners hope that people can leave behind their politics. While American flags and banners with messages of thanks to troops and their families are encouraged, any placard with anti or pro-war slogans shouldn't be brought.
"What we're doing is a non-political support the troops rally," said Mike Flynn, an American Legion member who will preside over the gathering. "I don't want any political viewpoints. I don't care if you're for the war and I don't care if you're against it," Flynn added.
Event organizers decided to keep the rally non-political for several reasons. Most importantly, the veteran's group wants soldiers fighting overseas and the families awaiting their safe return to realize that citizens support them regardless of their thoughts about the morality of the Iraqi conflict. According to Flynn, that common support for American soldiers often gets overlooked in a politically charged atmosphere.
"I just want the troops to know that regardless of the political views here, there's a group of people who support them no matter what...The object of the game is to just get some more positive messages out there. The troops already hear and deal with enough negative stuff," said Flynn.
Planners also hope that those at the rally would honor the political prohibitions out of respect for military families who will attend the event. Because military families must cope with the absence of a loved one, Flynn believes they need just as much comfort and support as the troops.
"I think family members of troops need to see some support," said Flynn. "I just want this to be a positive thing. If families do show up, we don't want protesters heckling them. It's just not fair," he argued.
Co-sponsored by the Stoneham Elks Lodge 2211, the event will feature several other veterans and military groups, including the American Legion honor guard, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Legion and VFW ladies auxiliaries. The US Naval Band Northeast, a twenty-piece military band out of Newport, RI, will also attend the event.
American Legion members will sell tee shirts at the event for $10 that read, "Stoneham Cares About Our Troops". Part of the proceeds from those profits will be used to purchase care packages for troops stationed at Ganci Air Force Base in Kyrgystan. Event organizers also encourage citizens to donate items for the care packages as well. Specifically, planners are looking for dry snacks, small hairbrushes, gum, sun-lotion, personal items, Kool-Aid and other powdered drinks, hard candy, and eye-drops.
Although the rally's architects haven't yet received permission from officials to use Stoneham Town Hall, planners intend to use the building for the event if poor weather prevents a gathering at the town common.
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