Eugene rallies show support for troops
Eugene residents, including
friends and family of National
Guard soldiers, rallied
Saturday to support troops
Roman Gokhman and Jan Montry
Staff Writers
While Sheila Robertson might not
agree with every reason the Bush
administration has given in defense
of war with Iraq, she has no doubt
of her support for American troops.
Her husband Jeremy, who has been
in the Army National Guard for 10
years, is currently stationed at Fort
Carson in Colorado, awaiting de
ployment to Kuwait.
To show support for her husband
and other local National Guard sol
diers at Fort Carson, Robertson and
70 other friends and family mem
bers gathered Saturday afternoon
near the Ferry Street Bridge to wave
flags and voice their opinions.
The gathering was organized by
the Alpha Family Support Croup,
which was formed in January to
provide assistance to families of sol
diers. It was one of two rallies held
Saturday to support troops.
"He's patriotic,; and he
believes in this country.
He believes that they
are doing the right
thing, and I do too"
Alma Beck
rally attendee
“The soldiers at Fort Carson are
grateful,” Robertson said. “(This is)
to let them know we’re OK and
doing fine.”
Robertson added that her hus
band is ready to be deployed to the
Middle East to fight alongside his
fellow soldiers.
“He’s excited that he finally gets to
use all the training he learned in the
past 10 years, but he wishes he was
with his family,” she said, adding
that the rally was meant to support
troops — not to promote war.
“For me, this has nothing to do
with the war,” she said. “I have
enough to worry about with my
husband being gone.”
Other rally attendees, such as
At the rally at
Eugene Armory
on Saturday,
Amalia Jennings
shows support
for her father
Michael
Jennings, who is
in the infantry.
"He fights for
our freedom,"
she said.
Roman Gokhman
Emerald
Alma Beck, agreed with the U.S.
government’s decision to attack
Iraq. Her son, Dave Beck, is about
to be deployed.
“He’s patriotic, and he believes in
this country,” she said. “He believes
that they are doing the right thing,
and I do, too.”
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Beck said her son was married on
Feb. 10 and left Eugene for training
five days later, but that he feels
proud to defend the country. She
added that neither she nor her son
understand why anti-war protesters
don’t understand that war is some
times necessary.
“Dave said, ‘What they don’t un
derstand is that freedom is more
than the absence of war,”’ she said.
Across town at the Veterans of
Foreign Wars building on
Willamette Street, more than 400
people — veterans, reservists and
community members — also gath
ered Saturday to show support for
U.S. troops.
People held American flags and
cheered at passing cars before be
ginning a march to the Federal
Building for more events, including
a ceremony honoring troops who
have been deemed killed in action
or missing in action.
After reciting the Pledge of Alle
giance and “The Star-Spangled
Banner,” the crowd filled the right
lane of Willamette Street and pro
ceeded to the Federal Building for
a second rally, chanting “support
our troops” and waving signs.
Many cars traveling opposite the
throng showed their equal sup
port, honking and cheering as they
drove past.
Larry and Susan James, who
were among the marchers, carried
a picture of their son Ian, a Navy
soldier currently stationed on the
USS Carl Vinson. The couple also
have a nephew, Jacob James, who
is overseas.
“They are heroes,” Susan James
said. “They’ve got our backs. ...
He’s our only son, and he’s fighting
for us.”
A small crowd of about 20 anti
war protesters met the marchers
at the Federal Building, mostly
gathering across the street. Aside
from a few brief scuffles and both
groups yelling insults to each oth
er, the rally remained civil.
EPD had little presence as the day
progressed.
Camille Perezselsky, a Lane Com
munity College student among the
anti-war protesters, said she had
friends going to the Middle East on
Sunday, and she supported them
but not the war.
“I think it’s an immoral war,” she
said. “I think that all Bush and (the
military) are doing — it’s imperial
ism for the 21st Century.”
Contact the news reporter
atromangokhman@dailyemerald.com.
Contact the news editor
at janmontry@dailyemerald.com.
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