Valley to show support for troops at rally

By RICH BREAULT
Valley Press Senior Staff Writer

"At least the ceremony shouldn't go any longer than that," said Larry Grooms, Runner's senior district field representative. "We want people to know it's not a long commitment if they attend the rally.

"But if people want to come early and stay late, they can. After all, it is a rally."

The rally will include patriotic songs and speakers whose loved ones are serving in the Middle East.

The Tehachapi Pipe and Drum Corps will open and end the rally with music. The emcee will be Larry Naston. Runner and state Sen. William J. "Pete" Knight will speak, as will David Thomson of Littlerock and Elizabeth Garcia of Palmdale.

Thomson and his wife, Tina, are the parents of Cory Thomson, 21, who is a light duty armor specialist with the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry in central Iraq. Garcia and her husband, Martin, are the parents of Samuel Garcia, 25, and Nicholas Garcia, 20, who are members of the 1st Marine Division, also in central Iraq.

"Samuel wanted to be a Marine ever since he was a child because his dad was in the Marines," Garcia said. "Nicholas joined at the same time (Jan. 7, 2001), but in the Marine Reserve. However, right after 9-11 he was called to active duty.

"I'm holding out OK, but that's understandable because in our 30 years of marriage, my husband was in the Marine Corps for 13 of those years. It was hard when he was gone, but it's even harder with your children gone."

Garcia said it bothers her to see anti-war protests.

"Our boys chose to go into the military, they didn't choose to go to war. That's their duty. We're 100% behind them," Garcia said. "We feel vulnerable, not being able to help our sons right now. The best way we know to help them is to support the troops in thought and prayer."

Thomson said his son wanted to be in one of the armed services ever since was a young child.

"He joined in February, after graduating in 2000 from Littlerock High," Thomson said. "We had long discussion about going into the military. I believe it's a great thing to do out of high school.

"But there is always a concern about going off to war. No matter how scared I was as a parent, then or now, I'm 100% behind him and proud that he is doing this for his country."

Vietnam veteran Bob Stambovsky, a chief warrant officer in the Marine Corps reserve who was called to active duty with Heavy Marine Helicopter Squardon 769 at Edwards Air Force base, will perform a flyover. He will fly his 1961 Shinn, which is painted in Marine Corps colors.

The Junior Air Force ROTC color guard from Lancaster High School will post the colors at the rally and the National Anthem will be sung by Krystie Kessler. The Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Lancaster Mayor Frank Roberts.

Jacob Nelson will sing Toby's Keith's "Red, White and Blue." A salute to the troops will include the playing of the anthems of each service branch.

The opening prayer will be led by Tom Pickens, pastor of Antelope Valley Christian Center. The closing prayer will be offered by Paul Chappell, pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church.

A large banner postcard for rally participants to sign was created by Kevin Sanders, owner of Creative Concepts in Lancaster and a former United States Marine who took part in the May 1980 attempted rescue of the U.S. hostages in Iran.

Rally participants are urged to wear patriotic clothing and bring American flags and signs showing support for the troops, Grooms said.

Lancaster Municipal Stadium is at 45116 Valley Central Way, near Avenue I, west of the Antelope Valley Freeway.