Veterans Rally in Chicago

My friend and former legislative assistant Pete Castillo attended the Veterans Awareness Rally at the Daley Center on Friday.

Having waited in vain for a 79-year old veteran, Castillo caught a later train than he planned.

By the time he walked to the Daley Center, the rally was just starting.

“The Obama people dominated the event. Obama…sent a personal messenger.

“The man is Vietnam Veteran. He had all of the right words for the predominantly Democrat crowd.

“My DC marching buddies were glad to see me. That is what I like the most about veterans.

“We had a minuscule turn-out.

“We listened to several very exciting speakers.

“Lt. Governor Pat Quinn was one of them. He spoke of the Defenders of the Faith and Righteousness from the Book of Isaiah. I am sure that Gene Simes gave then a copy of the Defenders of the Faith Prayer which I sent to Congress in 2006.

“Cook County Commissioner, Tony Peraica was another very powerful speaker.

“I mentioned Peraica because he is one of the men who extended me his assistance to rally the veterans of McHenry County back in June 2005.

“Some of the people who marched with us were from the Rainbow Coalition and Jesse Jackson. This a very interesting group of veterans. Some are Repos and some are Demos. I am sure that we have Independents in the crowd.

“The speakers made it very clear that we are targeting both McCain and Obama Camps to deliver the goods on Full Mandatory Funding For Veterans Health Care should either one of them get elected president.

“One of the highlights of the Veterans Awareness Rally:

the the Willie Nelson Public Service Announcements (PSA)’s.

“Pastor King from the Methodist Church in Chicago blessed the event.

“He was awesome!

“His prayer accurately captured the importance and the significance of the event as God would have him to. Some pastors haven’t got the intestinal fortitude, the moxy, and the godly spiritual revelation to deliver on God’s Promises. Pastor King was a genuine man of God!

“I was blessed with the message, but deeply saddened by the lackadaisical way that Americans treat the military veterans of the Armed Forces of the United states of America.

“As I sat in my chair representing McHenry County Veterans and listened to Pastor King speak as well as the rest of the walking wounded, I vividly recalled those days back in 1968 when I came home to an America who hated me and my fellow soldiers. It is still troubling to remember that as we were flying into O’Hare Field that we were ordered to take-off our military Dress Greens.

“I was so proud to be coming home to my family. That chilling message from the commander on board the plane forever changed my perception of America. Some of the folks who kept looking at me as I walked to Daley Plaza reflected that ‘unwelcome attitude’ to me.
 
“God in His infinite mercy had me saluted by 3-different young men as I traveled in my American Legion uniform to Chicago.

“The first one was as I was boarding the train at the Crystal Lake Depot. I was about three steps away from the stairs on the train when a tall young man disembarked and snapped me a crisp salute. I barely had time to whip up my hand and return his salute. Boy! what a grand way to begin an adventure.

“When I arrived at Daley Plaza I was a bit hot and I decided to sit in the benches at the edge of the plaza to sip some cold water. I wasn’t there for more than  a couple of minutes, when a young soldier came up and saluted me and smiled at me. Then he extended me his hand and shook my hand as he told me that he was proud me; and thankful for my service to America. I just about burst-out in tears.

“When I was getting-off of the train in CL another young man came up to me and saluted me. He had a big bright smile on his face and his eyes gleamed with pride. He was a son of God.”

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As you might imagine, that’s Crystal Lake’s Pete Castillo in the head shot on top. If you click to enlarge the photo beneath, you can find him with other leaders of the Million Veteran March on Washington a couple of years ago.

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After I posted this Castillo sent me the following:

“We need to highlight at least a couple of very important men without which none of these events could possibly have occurred. One of them is Gene Simes and the other one is Jere Beery.

“I also believe John Monahan and his daughter…name? I will search for it.

“OFFE would like to recognize and thank the following people and organizations for their help and support on this project; Veteran’s Strike Force, Marvin Gardner, Kim Driscol, Creola Alfalileh – Veterans for Unification, John Borg – Coalition of Veterans Organizations, Bruce Parry – American Airlines Veteran’s Representative Fred Gajewski.”


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