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MAF Blogger Matt
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Day 5, Cincinnati

Cincinnati residents turn out to show their support for our troops.

The “We Support the Troops and Their Mission” Bus Tour concluded its fifth day with a rally in front of City Hall.  Despite the drops of rain, supporters turned out and were excited to offer their support.  “We can take this weather…the boys over in Iraq have to put up with worse,” Deborah Johns said.  Joseph Williams also addressed the crowd.

Melva Gweyn and Mary Kuhl, both of Cincinnati, braved the elements because Cindy Sheehan does not speak for them.  “Everybody should be supporting our troops.  We’re all benefitting from their efforts,” Gweyn said.  “Cindy Sheehan needs to shut up,” added Kuhl.

Leslie Ward came down because Cindy is offensive to her.  Ward’s son, daughter, nephews and husband have all served in the armed forces.  Her son went to Iraq and fought in Mosul with the 101st Airborne.  One of her nephews was in Baghdad in the opening days of the war.  Her other nephew is scheduled to leave in three weeks for Iraq along with the 101st.  Ward came with Bonnie Hines, whose son is already on his second tour, but cannot say where is currently.

Deborah Johns speaks with supporters in front of one of the pro-troop sheets being sent to our soldiers and Marines fighting overseas in the war against terrorism.

Also turning out was Peggy and Richard Gautraud, of California, Kentucky.  The Gautrauds made a banner to bring to the rally, signed by children of Calvary Christian Elementary in Taylor Mill, Kentucky.  The school’s principal is a United States Air Force chaplain and recently returned from Iraq.  Their son is a Marine, and was in Iraq during the initial invasion with the 11th Artillery in Baghdad.

The tour will stay the night in Columbus, Ohio before heading off to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, site of the crash of Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.  From Shanksville, the bus heads to Baltimore, Maryland for a stop at Johns Hopkins University and then arrives at long last in Washington, DC for the large rally scheduled for this Sunday.