300 gather to support U.S. troops

INDIANAPOLIS -- About 300 people, including two Republican congressmen, gathered in downtown Indianapolis Saturday to show support for U.S. troops serving in Iraq.\nSome soldiers' family members held photos of loved ones serving overseas, while others waved U.S. flags or held signs with messages of support.\n"Regardless of how you feel, our troops are over there and they need our support," said Gene Wilson, a participant in the rally on Monument Circle.\nAmong the several speakers were U.S. Reps. Dan Burton and Steve Buyer, both of Indiana, who said overseas troops are protecting homeland security as well as U.S. interest overseas.\n"Because of what they're doing and the sacrifices that they're making, the chances of us having to deal with terrorist threats here in the United States is greatly reduced," Burton said.\nAbout 130,000 U.S. troops are serving in the Iraq campaign, and more than 3,000 Indiana reservists are on active duty around the world. Nearly 800 Indiana Army National Guard troops remain in Iraq and Kuwait. Eighteen Indiana soldiers have died in the Iraq war.