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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 7 - 9 a.m. Set up 20 large American flags along Monona Drive 9 - 11:30 a.m. Set up stage, sound system, decorations, etc. Rally signs, etc. arrive 11:30 - Noon Be sure any parking barriers, traffic flow signs, etc. are in place and that local police, if necessary have arrived. Also dignitaries should arrive by Noon. 12 - 12:30 Band plays as ralliers arrive and assemble near the stage 12:30 PROGRAM Kristin Gilpatrick, Master of Ceremonies: I. Brief Welcome Thanks for Coming to Support our Troops Reminder this is a non-political rally Briefly introduce organizers: Lisa Nelson, Deb Hansen (on stage with Kristin) DRAFT TEXT: We want our troops to hear us loud and clear that America, Monona and Dane County support them.. I remind you that this is not a political rally, not an anit-war nor a pro-war rally. Our purpose here today is to salute those we have lost in this war, and in past wars, to honor those who have served and especially to salute those who are serving us now. 2. Moment of Silence to Personally Reflect Upon the Situation Facing our Country and our family, friends and countrymen currently in harms way 3. Pledge of Allegiance, led by Emmy Reeg 4. U.S. National Anthem led by Deb Hansen with band (Lead APPLAUSE) 5. Formal Welcome DRAFT TEXT: Let's hear it again for the country where we are free to sing the songs we want, gather here and voice our support! ..... (get ralliers excited, cheering) 6.Co-coordinators Speak 7. Back to Master of Ceremonies (KRISTIN) DRAFT TEXT: As a war history author who has interviewed hundreds of combat veterans, I have come to appreciate 10,000 fold the sacrifices American men and women have made on my behalf and for my freedoms. I know that the freedom I enjoy to write my books was bought with the blood of ordinary Americans who answered their country's call and served our country well in times of tremendous peril. ...... 8. Salute Veterans. DRAFT TEXT: Let's hear it loud and clear for the men and women before us who have ensured protected those freedoms and the American servicemen. The soldiers! (CHEER) The sailors! (CHEER) The Marines! (CHEER) who are fighting for those freedoms for us and others today! 9. Salute Families DRAFT TEXT: I also know that our veterans are not the only ones who sacrifice for our freedoms. The family and friends of our soldiers, sailors and Marines, in some ways have it hardest in times of war. For it is they who must sit and worry and wait, not knowing the safety or success of their loved ones fighting overseas. I think it appropriate that we gathered here today make special recognition of the families sacrificing the time and love of a soldier, airman, sailor or Marine so that he or she may serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom. All those with a family member participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom, please raise your hands and leave them raised. All those with a family member currently in our Armed Service, please raise your hands and leave them raised. America thanks you, and We salute you! 10. Honor Veterans DRAFT TEXT: The family and friends in Iraq and Kuwait today are fighting battles on trails blazed well before them by the Americans who protected and preserved our freedoms in generations past. We would like to take a few moments today to salute our veterans from past wars. If you have served in this country's Armed Services please raise your hands as I call your branch. Army We salute you! Marines We salute you! Navy - We salute you! Air Force - We salute you! Coast Guard - We salute you! One of our Coalition Country's forces - We salute you! Thank you all for your sacrifices Thank you all for OUR FREEDOMS! 11. HONOR THE FALLEN ... Read names of those KIA, MIA, POW in Iraq DRAFT TEXT: Now I would like to introduce to you one of the veterans here today who knows all too well what the men and women fighting in Iraq and especially those being held captive as prisoners of war are facing, fearing, enduring and triumphing -- Vietnam Veteran and former POW Don Highlig-er, one of our Dane County Board members. We have asked Mr. Highliger here today to pay tribute to the men and women of the coalition's Armed Forces who have already made the ultimate sacrifices in Operation Iraqi Freedom. 12. Introduce Don to Read Names 13. PLAY TAPS Note to Crowd prior to TAPS: Let us share a Moment of Silence in honor of those lost in this war so far: "It's appropriate at this time for servicemen and women to stand at attention and citizens to put their hands over their hearts" 14. Moment of Silence (while TAPS is played) 15. Thank the TAPS player and introduce the band. 16. Rally Crowd again with Support our Troops cheers, songs, etc. 17. Thank Sponsors DRAFT TEXT: Before we open this rally up to your thoughts and cheers, I would especially like us to thank those who helped make this event possible through their donation of materials including Fiore Company, A to Z Rental on Stoughton Road, Steve Halverson of EdwardJones Investments, Monona, Gallagher Tent and Awning, Joe Daniels Construction, Mark Idzik, St. Dennis Schools 2nd and 5th grade classes, Our volunteer band members: NAMES, Monona Chamber of Commerce, and Hero Next Door publications And thank you as well to members of the Monona Police Department who are here today, and every day, to keep citizens safe. 18. Yellow Riboons DRAFT TEXT: We would like to end the official program of this rally with a symbolic gesture for our troops. We invite each of you to step forward and tie a small piece of yellow ribbon onto a branch of one of these trees in front of us as a way to represent our servicemen overseas and the vigil of support and safe thoughts we will be sending them until they return home to us. We would invite those with family members participating in Operational Iraqi Freedom to come up first and place a ribbon on the tree. 19. PLAY SERVICE ANTHEMS DRAFT TEXT: As we tie those yellow ribbons, our volunteer band wishes to salute our troops by playing the official anthems of each of the branches of America's military. We ask if you serve or have served in a branch of the U.S. Armed services to come forward and stand at attention in front of the stage while your anthem is being played. ARMY MARINES NAVY AIR FORCE COAST GUARD Coalition forces national anthems - British, Australian 20. NOTE Information/Volunteer Table DRAFT TEXT: As we complete our ribbon tying, I would like to also point out some information tables we have set up to my LEFT. There are many ways to send things to the troops and help their families here at home. In addition, I have donated hundreds of Thank You for Your Sacrifice postcards that I invite people to send a veteran each year as part of the Operation Freedom Appreciation campaign I started 3 years ago. Please feel free to take some for the veteran you wish to thank. A. Invite DEB HANSEN to explain volunteer/support opportunities. 21. REV UP RALLY DRAFT TEXT: LET's Hear it for all those working hard to support our troops and their families!!!!! And, Let's Hear it again for our troops fighting hard today so far away from those friends and families! 22. Sing GOD BLESS AMERICA 23. OPEN MICROPHONE DRAFT TEXT: We would now like to open up this microphone so that some of those gathered here today can share their individual support of our troops and/or support of a specific soldier, sailor or Marine. Before we turn the rally over to you, however, we ask that you respectfully honor this opportunity by maintaining the focus of this rally: We are here not to shout against the war; not to shout for the war, but to shout out our support for our troops! For our Army! Our Marine Corps! Our Navy! Our Air Force and Our Coast Guard! If you would like to shout out that support to those gathered here, and to the world, please form a line by the stage and limit your remarks to 3 minutes or less. We already have some who wish to speak (HAVE THEM LINE UP). I would like to present: 24: CLOSE RALLY PROGRAM - approx. 1:30 p.m. 25. MUSIC PLAYS 26. Continue Tying Ribbons, Invite them to the street side to "Honk if You Love Freedom," etc. 27. 3 p.m. Thanks For Coming/Close Rally 28. Clean up/Take Down Flags, etc. |
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS |
Sample Rally Plan The following is the rough draft of the schedule of events for the March 29, 2003, Monona, Wis., Support Our Troops Rally. We encourage you to create your own schedule, one that best fits with your community and program ideas. Be creative. Be respectful and Salute our Troops! |
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 7 - 9 a.m. Set up 20 large American flags along Monona Drive 9 - 11:30 a.m. Set up stage, sound system, decorations, etc. Rally signs, etc. arrive 11:30 - Noon Be sure any parking barriers, traffic flow signs, etc. are in place and that local police, if necessary have arrived. Also dignitaries should arrive by Noon. 12 - 12:30 Band plays as ralliers arrive and assemble near the stage 12:30 PROGRAM Kristin Gilpatrick, Master of Ceremonies: I. Brief Welcome Thanks for Coming to Support our Troops Reminder this is a non-political rally Briefly introduce organizers: Lisa Nelson, Deb Hansen (on stage with Kristin) DRAFT TEXT: We want our troops to hear us loud and clear that America, Monona and Dane County support them.. I remind you that this is not a political rally, not an anit-war nor a pro-war rally. Our purpose here today is to salute those we have lost in this war, and in past wars, to honor those who have served and especially to salute those who are serving us now. 2. Moment of Silence to Personally Reflect Upon the Situation Facing our Country and our family, friends and countrymen currently in harms way 3. Pledge of Allegiance, led by Emmy Reeg 4. U.S. National Anthem led by Deb Hansen with band (Lead APPLAUSE) 5. Formal Welcome DRAFT TEXT: Let's hear it again for the country where we are free to sing the songs we want, gather here and voice our support! ..... (get ralliers excited, cheering) 6.Co-coordinators Speak 7. Back to Master of Ceremonies (KRISTIN) DRAFT TEXT: As a war history author who has interviewed hundreds of combat veterans, I have come to appreciate 10,000 fold the sacrifices American men and women have made on my behalf and for my freedoms. I know that the freedom I enjoy to write my books was bought with the blood of ordinary Americans who answered their country's call and served our country well in times of tremendous peril. ...... 8. Salute Veterans. DRAFT TEXT: Let's hear it loud and clear for the men and women before us who have ensured protected those freedoms and the American servicemen. The soldiers! (CHEER) The sailors! (CHEER) The Marines! (CHEER) who are fighting for those freedoms for us and others today! 9. Salute Families DRAFT TEXT: I also know that our veterans are not the only ones who sacrifice for our freedoms. The family and friends of our soldiers, sailors and Marines, in some ways have it hardest in times of war. For it is they who must sit and worry and wait, not knowing the safety or success of their loved ones fighting overseas. I think it appropriate that we gathered here today make special recognition of the families sacrificing the time and love of a soldier, airman, sailor or Marine so that he or she may serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom. All those with a family member participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom, please raise your hands and leave them raised. All those with a family member currently in our Armed Service, please raise your hands and leave them raised. America thanks you, and We salute you! 10. Honor Veterans DRAFT TEXT: The family and friends in Iraq and Kuwait today are fighting battles on trails blazed well before them by the Americans who protected and preserved our freedoms in generations past. We would like to take a few moments today to salute our veterans from past wars. If you have served in this country's Armed Services please raise your hands as I call your branch. Army We salute you! Marines We salute you! Navy - We salute you! Air Force - We salute you! Coast Guard - We salute you! One of our Coalition Country's forces - We salute you! Thank you all for your sacrifices Thank you all for OUR FREEDOMS! 11. HONOR THE FALLEN ... Read names of those KIA, MIA, POW in Iraq DRAFT TEXT: Now I would like to introduce to you one of the veterans here today who knows all too well what the men and women fighting in Iraq and especially those being held captive as prisoners of war are facing, fearing, enduring and triumphing -- Vietnam Veteran and former POW Don Highlig-er, one of our Dane County Board members. We have asked Mr. Highliger here today to pay tribute to the men and women of the coalition's Armed Forces who have already made the ultimate sacrifices in Operation Iraqi Freedom. 12. Introduce Don to Read Names 13. PLAY TAPS Note to Crowd prior to TAPS: Let us share a Moment of Silence in honor of those lost in this war so far: "It's appropriate at this time for servicemen and women to stand at attention and citizens to put their hands over their hearts" 14. Moment of Silence (while TAPS is played) 15. Thank the TAPS player and introduce the band. 16. Rally Crowd again with Support our Troops cheers, songs, etc. 17. Thank Sponsors DRAFT TEXT: Before we open this rally up to your thoughts and cheers, I would especially like us to thank those who helped make this event possible through their donation of materials including Fiore Company, A to Z Rental on Stoughton Road, Steve Halverson of EdwardJones Investments, Monona, Gallagher Tent and Awning, Joe Daniels Construction, Mark Idzik, St. Dennis Schools 2nd and 5th grade classes, Our volunteer band members: NAMES, Monona Chamber of Commerce, and Hero Next Door publications And thank you as well to members of the Monona Police Department who are here today, and every day, to keep citizens safe. 18. Yellow Riboons DRAFT TEXT: We would like to end the official program of this rally with a symbolic gesture for our troops. We invite each of you to step forward and tie a small piece of yellow ribbon onto a branch of one of these trees in front of us as a way to represent our servicemen overseas and the vigil of support and safe thoughts we will be sending them until they return home to us. We would invite those with family members participating in Operational Iraqi Freedom to come up first and place a ribbon on the tree. 19. PLAY SERVICE ANTHEMS DRAFT TEXT: As we tie those yellow ribbons, our volunteer band wishes to salute our troops by playing the official anthems of each of the branches of America's military. We ask if you serve or have served in a branch of the U.S. Armed services to come forward and stand at attention in front of the stage while your anthem is being played. ARMY MARINES NAVY AIR FORCE COAST GUARD Coalition forces national anthems - British, Australian 20. NOTE Information/Volunteer Table DRAFT TEXT: As we complete our ribbon tying, I would like to also point out some information tables we have set up to my LEFT. There are many ways to send things to the troops and help their families here at home. In addition, I have donated hundreds of Thank You for Your Sacrifice postcards that I invite people to send a veteran each year as part of the Operation Freedom Appreciation campaign I started 3 years ago. Please feel free to take some for the veteran you wish to thank. A. Invite DEB HANSEN to explain volunteer/support opportunities. 21. REV UP RALLY DRAFT TEXT: LET's Hear it for all those working hard to support our troops and their families!!!!! And, Let's Hear it again for our troops fighting hard today so far away from those friends and families! 22. Sing GOD BLESS AMERICA 23. OPEN MICROPHONE DRAFT TEXT: We would now like to open up this microphone so that some of those gathered here today can share their individual support of our troops and/or support of a specific soldier, sailor or Marine. Before we turn the rally over to you, however, we ask that you respectfully honor this opportunity by maintaining the focus of this rally: We are here not to shout against the war; not to shout for the war, but to shout out our support for our troops! For our Army! Our Marine Corps! Our Navy! Our Air Force and Our Coast Guard! If you would like to shout out that support to those gathered here, and to the world, please form a line by the stage and limit your remarks to 3 minutes or less. We already have some who wish to speak (HAVE THEM LINE UP). I would like to present: 24: CLOSE RALLY PROGRAM - approx. 1:30 p.m. 25. MUSIC PLAYS 26. Continue Tying Ribbons, Invite them to the street side to "Honk if You Love Freedom," etc. 27. 3 p.m. Thanks For Coming/Close Rally 28. Clean up/Take Down Flags, etc. |
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