Rally shows strong troop support

Americans serving in Iraq and around the world are "the best-trained and best led military ever," The Rev. Sam Williams told a crowd of 300-400 people who turned out on a snowy Sunday afternoon in Memorial Auditorium.

Williams, a career member of the U.S. Marines and now pastor of St. Alban's Episcopal Church, was among the speakers at the Rally in the Heartland, sponsored by the McCook Daily Gazette with the assistance of the Army National Guard, McCook American Legion VFW, city of McCook and many others in the community.

Those who stay behind may have a tougher job than those who serve overseas, Cal Stratton, commander of the North Platte Veterans of Foreign Wars said.

Stratton, who served on a patrol boat in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam, said he dedicated himself to making sure modern veterans are not shunned like those of his generation.

He urged family and friends of returning veterans to "know when to be tough, and when to be fair."

"God Bless America?," Stratton asked. "We need to wake up and smell the roses, He's done a great job of blessing it over the last 230 years," he concluded, to the applause of the crowd, one of several demonstrations of support or standing ovations which punctuated the event. Flags and red, white and blue bunting festooned McCook's Memorial Auditorium, with many of those in attendance bringing hand-lettered signs.

Why hold a rally in McCook, organizer Gloria Masoner, Gazette city editor asked. "'Why not?' doesn't seem to be the answer they're looking for, so let me answer this way.

"They don't call this the Heartland of America simply because we live in the middle of the country. They call it the Heartland because of our values.We've poured our heart, our blood and our souls into our little piece of the world. We are proud of where we live, and we remember the sacrifices that have been made to get us to where we are today," she said.

"Now a new generation has been called to ensure that the freedoms and safety we've come to expect will be there for future generations of free Americans.

"These are young men and women from every walk of life who have been called away from their families and friends. They are our sons and daughters, our mothers and fathers and our friends. They are the heart of the heartland, and again, I ask, 'why not?'" she concluded.

Homespun, entertaining yet respectful Cal Siegfried served as master of ceremonies, urging the crowd to get into the spirit of the rally.

Other participants included well-received soloists Kerri Unger and Michelle Walkenshaw-Herrera with patriotic songs, and touching tunes by the Centralaires, a select choir from Central Elementary in McCook, and rousing patriotic marches from the McCook High School Band.