Posted By:
MAF Blogger Matt
Permalink

Day 5, Chicago, Illinois

Deborah Johns speaks to the Chicago news media.

The “We Support the Troops and Their Mission” Bus Tour commenced its fifth day with a press conference at the Downtown Marriott in Chicago, Illinois.  Deborah Johns and Joe Williams gave brief remarks to the gathered media before heading off for the first rally stop of the day in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Supporters showed up in spite of the early hour and downtown location.  The media received a great deal of criticism from both Johns and supporters alike.

Mary Alger, of Crystal Lake, some fifty miles distant, hopped on a 6 AM train to Chicago to offer her support.  She also brought a banner she had made which she left with Move America Forward to be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan.  Her son, Joe Alger, also served in Iraq from February 2004 to February 2005.  He served as a journalist with the 1st Infintry Division (www.1id.army.mil).  Alger questioned why the efforts of people like her son to chronicle the progress being made in Iraq go overlooked by the mainstream media.  “All they [the media] have to do is look for the 1st ID’s website.  It seems like we have to do the media’’ homework for them,"” she said.

Brian Jacobson came out in the early morning because he wanted to support the troops and feels it is very important to do so.  Mr. Jacobson runs a pro-military blog, www.FreedomFolks.com.

Judy Ott, of Oak Lawn is a Marine Mom and has a son, PFC Benjamin Kunst who is nineteen years old.  She also has another son, a 17-year old, who wants to join the Marine Corps.  “Both of my sons knew there was a war going on, and both wanted to protect their country.”

The tour will continue Friday with stops in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Cincinnati, Ohio.  After a stay in Columbus, Ohio, the tour makes its way to Shanksville, PA to pay their respects to those who brought down Flight 93 and to all those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.