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Day 2: Salt Lake City

The “We Support Our Troops” Bus Tour continues on its second day with a stop in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Marine Mom Deborah Johns and Gold-Star Dad Joseph Williams appeared live on the air with KSL AM-1160 host Doug Wright before addressing a rally in front of the Salt Palace Convention Center.

Gordon Jones, of Congressman Chris Cannon’s office wanted to show his support for the troops and to relay the Congressman’s support as well.  “They [the soldiers] are going to transform the Middle East,” he said.  Jennifer McGill of Bountiful, Utah, brought her son Isaac out to sign a banner to be sent to the troops.

KSL TV (NBC Affiliate) covered the event along with many other media outlets.  Here’s a link to their coverage of the event. Also writing on the tour’s stop in Salt Lake City was the Deseret News.  CLICK HERE to read the story in the Deseret News.

Candace Chilcott and Deborah Johns

Also present was Candace Chilcott, a Blue-Star mother.  Mrs. Chilcott has two sons currently serving in Iraq, one of whom served for a year in Afghanistan.  Her son-in-law is also currently serving in Iraq, and her daughter served for a year and a half.  Fighting back tears, she said, “They do it because they love us, and I am determined to let the rest of the country know it.”

The Mondragon Children - Their father is currently serving in Iraq.

Another special attendee was the Mondragon family, Shana and her three boys, Daniel, Jacob, and Sam.  Their husband and father is currently serving a tour in Iraq and is stationed in Ramadi.  Mrs. Mondragon heard Deborah Johns on the radio and wanted to bring her children out to sign a banner.  “My children have never been to a support-the-troops rally, and I wanted to show them that people believe in what their Daddy is doing,” she said.

The tour will stay the night in Cheyenne, Wyoming and hold a rally and press conference in front of the Wyoming statehouse in the morning.  From there, it heads to Denver, Colorado and Lincoln, Nebraska.  At each stop, banners will be available to sign with messages of support for the troops.  The banners will be sent to Iraq and Afghanistan.