Photo by Rick GunnMeagan Long, 15, of Dayton, flies her colors in front of the Capitol on Saturday afternoon during a rally to support the troops. Long, along with her mother, Maura, organized this event, which continues today in front of the Legislative Building.
Saturday's rally in support of American troops drew three members of the Long family and their friends.
Maura Long was there with her son, Michael 13, and daughter, Meagan, 15, in front of the Legislative Building holding signs as passing cars honked.
"It's a family affair," said Maura, squinting down Carson Street at her brood.
The Longs were there to show support for three family members serving in the military. They are son and brother Joshua Feliz, a U.S. Navy engineer stationed on the USS Kitty Hawk; daughter and sister U.S. Navy sailor Elizabeth Feliz-Swain and her husband, U.S. Marine Ryan Swain.
Maura Long's sign started out: "I'm very blessed to know three heroes."
Despite Joshua's proximity to fighting in Iraq she said she's not worried.
"I think the United States is number one in the military," she said. "Our guys are really well trained and prepared."
Meagan waved to cars with Power of Pride stickers on her chest and blonde braids hanging from under a blue hat from her brother's ship.
Meagan's friends Shari Hollis and Ashley Thompson, both 18, organized the rally.
"I just woke up one morning and I was like, 'Oh! We should start a rally for the troops,'" Hollis said.
She held a sign with pictures of her brother, 21-year-old U.S. Army field artillery soldier Graig Hollis. He is deployed somewhere in Iraq, she said, mostly rebuilding areas damaged by bombs.
"He's my best friend," she said of the 2001 Dayton High School graduate.
Hollis and Thompson thanked the Carson Nugget for donations.
Thompson pointed to a box of ice waters with lids and straws on the lawn while a guy headed north in a new blue Camaro hollered, "Yeah! Go U-S-A.!"
"They said we can come back anytime and get more water," she said. "And we can go back tomorrow," she added, referring to the rally going on again today.
Although he had to work today, Carson City's Terry Wingfield waved a flag in front of the Capitol on Saturday.
"My son's in the Air Force," he said. "He's not over there yet but he's trying to get over there." He said he attended the rally because he believes people need to support their troops.
Next to him Stagecoach resident and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Al Lyon agreed.
"I'm a veteran of Vietnam and we didn't have the courtesy of public support. I'm just happy for this opportunity to show support for my country and my troops."
IF YOU GO
What: Rally in support of American troops
Where: In front of the Legislative Building and Capitol along South Carson Street between Fifth and Musser streets
When: From about 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. today
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