Supporting our Troops

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

For those who weren't aware, my apologies... I should have been all over this a few days ago.

Yesterday, a rally organized in part by CFRA Radio in Ottawa ( http://www.cfra.com ) saw estimates of 10,000 people dressed in red in support of our troops serving overseas at present, and generally speaking, in support of our Armed Forces as a whole. This was a grass-roots movement which makes me terribly proud - the average Canadian stood in red to make his voice heard; against the normal inane cacaphony generated by some politicans and most of the mainstream media, this was a heartening breath of fresh air in a country which has, for the last generation, largely ignored those who serve.

This link is to a series of three homemade videos covering some of this rally. They are worth watching:

http://cjunk.blogspot.com/2006/09/video-galore.html

...and this is an article posted on the CFRA site today. I reproduce it in case it disappears within the next few days:

Thousands Rally For Troops on Parliament Hill
Greg Hebert
Friday, September 22, 2006

What began with two women looking for ways to support Canadian troops in Afghanistan, turned into a mass of thousands Friday, for a rally on Parliament Hill.

The idea of wearing something red on Friday's in honour of Canadian troops was started by Lisa Miller and Karen Boire from CFB Petawawa, whose husbands are both serving in the Canadian Forces.

The front lawn of parliament turned red when between twelve and fifteen thousand people showed up at noon, dressed in red, to show their support for Canadian troops serving overseas.

Among the many key speakers at the rally was Prime Minister Stephen Harper who thanked the community for its support. Harper also recounted a special memory of earlier this summer, when he and his wife visited the historic First World War site at Vimy Ridge. The Prime Minister said Canada is always on standby to help countries rebuild and to help any cause that has been deemed just. Harper also renewed his pledge to rebuild Canada's armed forces.

The rally occurred on the same day that Afghan President Hamid Karzai addressed a joint session of the House of Commons. Karzai thanked Canadians for their efforts and sacrifices in his country.

There has been a movement going for a while now urging all Canadians to wear red every Friday for the same reason. This includes Americans too, incidentally, as the movement originated there, in support of their troops overseas.

Next Friday, there is yet another grass-roots effort to see a similar rally here in Toronto. It is sponsored by Joe Warmington and the Toronto Sun ( http://www.torontosun.com/News/Colum...3/1883635.html ). I will be there:

....Big or small, either way, I will be at Yonge-Dundas Square between noon and 1:30 p.m. next Friday wearing red and white and saying thank-you to the servicemen and women in Afghanistan. And thank you to those who have already died. Join me....

Please attend if you can, and if not, wear red.

Thank you, and congratulations to the people of Ottawa!

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Perhaps those of you in other cities can see if you can get something going in your neck o' the woods...

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

For those able to make it, Yonge & Dundas in Toronto at noon today. Please wear RED if you can!

Hope to see you there...

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Well, it was small, but it was nice just to see those who did make the effort to come out. I hope this continues across the country. We owe it to our lads.