Hundreds Rally on Needham Town Common to Support U.S. Troops

By Geraldine Hawkins
March 25, 2003

Needham is known for being a wealthy New England town populated largely by liberals, but over 300 people, including Lt. Governor Kerry Healy, showed up at a rally on the Town Common last Sunday to show their support for American soldiers.

"On behalf of the Governor, and as the wife of a man who grew up on military bases while his father fought in Vietnam, I want to say how much I appreciate our reservists and National Guardsmen for stepping away from their homes and families," Healy said.

"I say to you here, keep on doing what you are doing today. Keep on speaking out in support of President Bush. Fight terrorism wherever it lives. This war is 'just.'"

Bob Hall, retired Special Assistant to the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs for the State of Massachusetts and current vice president of the U.S.O., described for the crowd "the average American soldier" from Needham.

"His average age is 19 years. He is a short-haired, tight-muscled kid, half-man, half-boy. Not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country," began Hall, wearing a hat that said, "Veteran, World War II - Korea."

"He is a recent graduate of Needham High School. Back home in Needham he would sleep until noon. But now he gets up at 5 a.m. and works his butt off from 9-to-12 hours a day.

"He is 10- or 15-pounds lighter than he was back home in Needham; he has lost that weight sweating in the Iraqi desert.

"He knows how to strip a rifle in 30 seconds. He can save a life, or take it. That is his job.

"He does twice, or three times, the work of a civilian for half the pay, and can still find a certain ironic humor in it.

"He feels every word and every note of the Star Spangled Banner, even as he defends the right of people to be disrespectful of our flag, and those poor, misguided souls who rally in support of Saddam Hussein.

"Your presence here shows that you care about him and support our troops."

As a teenager in the early 1940s, Bob Hall was a lot like the young man he described.

"I was 16 when I joined the Navy," Hall told MassNews. "I lied about my age."

There were tears in the eyes of many in the crowd as the National Anthem and the theme songs for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps were sung.

"Look at all these people," Needham resident Peter Vergados said to MassNews. "Forty kids cut class to protest the war and the Needham Times put it on the front page. There are 1,340 kids enrolled in that school - I called the school and asked - and the Needham Times puts those 40 kids on the front page. It made me sick.

"I don't blame the kids," Vergados said. "I blame their parents and their teachers."

Fr. John Arens, affiliated with both St. Bartholomew's Church and St. Sebastian's School in Needham, told the crowd how valuable their efforts were.

"Those of us from the Vietnam era know what it is not to have that support. I was moved to tears here," he said.

"We pray for peace, but we cannot stand by and allow innocents to suffer. As a veteran, I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

"I am overwhelmed by the turnout," said Anna Meisner, a homemaker who works part-time in childcare, serves on the Republican Town Committee, and helped to organize the event. "It's fabulous."

Her sentiments were echoed by Kevin McGovern of West Roxbury, where he is Commander of the local VFW post. McGovern, who spent 21 years of active duty in the U.S. Army and saw action in Somalia, is especially proud of his son, who is a specialist with the Army's airborne rangers.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to support the families, reassure the families, and let them know what we are with them," said Linda Muckerheide of Needham, who organized the demonstration along with Anna Meisner.

Muckerheide tells MassNews that it is her feeling that most citizens are behind the President and the troops. She said that according to a recent poll, 75% of Americans believe President Bush has done the right thing by going into Iraq. This poll included 91% of Republicans and 50% of Democrats, according to her.

The closing prayer was offered by Fr. Scott Euvrard of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Needham.

"Good and loving God, maker and lover of peace, hear our prayers for our sons and daughters who risk their lives in service to our nation," he began. "Grant them the courage and wisdom to bring to a wounded people your gift of compassion.

"We entrust to your care those who have died in this conflict. Give the innocent people of Iraq protection from harm that they might know freedom and peace in their land.

"Make us grateful for our liberties as we address the deep causes of poverty and injustice that afflict humanity today. Hear our prayer O God, for you live and reign forever and ever. Amen."

Fr. John Arens, who served with the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps in Vietnam and spent most of that time attached to a division of Marines, echoed Fr. Euvrard's prayer.

"There is not a person who is not praying for peace, I hope," Fr. Arens told MassNews. "But those who are in harm's way need our support. Our hearts go out to those who have had death touch them.

"I know how they feel," he said. "I lost a brother in Vietnam."