Austin DUers: Caravan of Veterans for Kerry event tonight (9/28)

[VelmaD]

The Kerry Vet's Caravan is gonna be in Austin today. There's an event tonight starting at 6:30pm at Scholtz's. There's more info on that here:
http://www.austin4kerry.org/

There's also a rally this afternoon...I'll post more info on that later this morning. I'm not remembering where or when it is off the top of my head.

[VelmaD]

1. More info

There's gonna be a press conference/rally at Woolridge Park at 5:00pm before the big shindig at Scholtz's. Woolridge Park is on 9th and Guadalupe.

[el_gato]

2. Cool! I'm there!

[NoPasaran]

4. Me too

[sonias]

3. Here's the message from the Travis Dem party list

TEXAS VETERANS FOR KERRY CARAVAN COMING TO AUSTIN

Veterans from across the state of Texas are coming to Austin Tuesday, September 28, to express their support for fellow combat veteran John Kerry’s Presidential campaign.

The veterans caravan will arrive in Austin at 4 pm Tuesday at the Airport Hilton, where they will rendezvous with Austin area veterans who will escort them to Wooldridge Park at 900 Guadalupe for a 5 pm press conference. State Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos will welcome the group to Austin, and they will take questions from the media. (In case of rain, the press conference will be held at the Texas AFL-CIO building, 1106 Lavaca.)

Following the press conference, the Travis County Democratic Party will host the veterans at a major rally at Scholz Garden, 1607 San Jacinto, from 6:30 to 10 pm. Many of our local Democratic legislators and Democratic candidates will be speaking at the rally, in addition to some great live music, food, and drinks.

"Our caravan is a caravan of hope for our great country," said Rick Bolanos of El Paso, one of the organizers of the caravan. "A caravan of hope for peace in Iraq and hope for a stronger and more caring America."

In addition to other Texas veterans, Bolanos will be joined on the caravan by his three brothers ­ Louis, Ben, and Bill ­ who have the distinction of being the only family in America to have four brothers serve in Vietnam at the same time. The Bolanos brothers were cited for their patriotism by President Lyndon Johnson.

The caravan, which begins Friday, September 24, with a morning press conference in San Antonio and an evening rally in Laredo, will hold events in 15 Texas cities on its way to its final Texas rally October 2 in El Paso. From El Paso, the caravan will roll across New Mexico, Arizona, and California before its final rally next month in San Diego.

The other Texas cities holding events are McAllen, Harlingen, Kingsville, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Houston, College Station, Waco, Killeen, Dallas, Fort Worth, Abilene, and Midland. This is a grass roots caravan supported by Veterans for America, Texas Democratic Veterans, and Hispanics for America. For more information on the press conference and rally, please call Todd Phelan at 512-443-2021.


"Senator John Kerry is a true patriot who passionately and fervently loves this nation," Bolanos said. "Hundreds of thousands of us are fed up with the Bush administration’s treatment of veterans and the maligning of patriots who served with valor. We are tired of this and we must unite to stop it."
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Sonia

[drfemoe]

6. LINK?

Please! When will they be in Dallas?

[sonias]

7. It's tomorrow drfemoe for Dallas

This is their web page but they aren't putting their advance tour
info on-line.
http://www.veteransforamerica.com/

Here is the thread that WolverineDG posted the other day with dates.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=180x4301
Sept. 30: Dallas--11 AM – 2PM – Veterans Rally and lunch at selected Venue; Fort Worth--6:30 – 10 PM – Veterans Rally and Dinner at selected Venue

Contact your local Democratic party and I'm sure they have the info. Or try to contact them via the web site.

Sonia

[shaz]

5. Best political rally I have been to

I am relatively new to political activism, but this year I have been to many events here in Austin, and I have to say tonight's rally was the most inspirational one I have been to.

Thank you to the Veterans for your service and for your inspiration.

I was told they are going to Waco tomorrow.

If you are in Waco please try to show your support.

[sonias]

8. Shaz, those brothers are the best

Check out the Veterans web site. They do have some pictures up, including Austin.

http://www.veteransforamerica.com/


Sonia

[WolverineDG]

9. omg

i'm on the vets homepage!!!! laredo, middle pic, chick standing there in blue with sunglasses holding the kerry/edwards sign!!
i'm famous!! ;)

dg

[fudge stripe cookays]

10. I don't know how Rick can do that every day

on the road-- he is SOOO into it, and gets so emotional. You can tell how wrenching it is for him.

He had me in tears at the State Convention in Houston, and then again today at the Stoneleigh.

Also, hearing Roby Woolridge who's running for state rep in Arlington was very moving. Her son was formerly an ATC. He volunteered to serve in Kuwait. Now he has horrible problems from Gulf War syndrome. She made quite an impression on the vets. And on me. I said I'd get her some $. She gave me a big hug.

This was a great long lunchbreak.
:-)
FSC