Residents rally for US troops

The first balmy day in southern Indiana generated a flurry of outdoor activity across Monroe County, and the scores of area citizens who gathered downtown Saturday afternoon to rally in support of American armed forces worldwide were clothed in high spirits and light jackets.\nThe rally, orchestrated by Bloomington resident Franklin Andrew, was born as a result of a similar rally Andrew recently attended in Indianapolis.\nDisappointed at the low turnout of Bloomington citizens at the Statehouse gathering, Andrew immediately began working on the rally as a way to express local support for troops and thank community members who have served in our armed forces in years past. \nAs part of the event, Monroe County Board of Commissioners President Joyce Poling and Commissioner Herb Kilmer presented to the crowd a county resolution to "extend our appreciation, our support, and our thoughts and prayers to Monroe County residents whose family members have been deployed, or will be deployed in the coming months." \nThe resolution, which was passed on Friday, seeks to recognize the men and women whose "willingness to serve, to risk, and if need be, to sacrifice all, is the foundation of our security and the chief guarantor of our freedom."\nThe throng of supporters were appreciative as local veterans stepped to the microphone to be recognized, and American flags waved proudly as attendees sang choruses in support of each branch of the armed forces.\n"There should be no disagreement anywhere in our community about supporting our troops," said Monroe County Circuit Court Judge David Welch.\nQueried about his perspective on the difference between student and county attitudes on the stationing of American troops in Kuwait and other gulf nations, Bloomington resident Jeff Ellington said: "Some people believe they have a choice to be un-American," but expressed joy that the contingent of assembled anti-war protesters had also demonstrated their support for U.S. troops stationed abroad.\nAlthough recent student rallies have commented directly on the nature and scope of American involvement in the Persian Gulf, Andrew wanted to make certain that the rally was "all about coming out and supporting our troops and recognizing the veterans in our community"