Dear editor,
I have lived in Christiansburg for 50 years. During that time I have been a parent, coach, teacher, guidance counselor and longtime member of the Christiansburg Town Council, but I have never been as proud of the citizens of Christiansburg and the New River Valley as I was this past weekend.
Last Saturday, over 1,200 people from the area assembled at the ‘Common Grounds’ in the center of Christiansburg to express their feeling concerning what Mr. Trump and his administration is doing to this country.
They selected June 14, as it is Flag Day, the 250th birthday of the United States Army, and Trump’s 79th birthday. It has turned into a day Mr. Trump wants to make sure that everyone remembers. To make sure of that, the federal government spent 50 million dollars for military equipment and weapons to parade in the front of the White House.
Communities around the country (approximately 2,000) held their own parades and rallies to counter Mr. Trump’s military, birthday parade.
One of the facts that is important: no Marines were present in Christiansburg. No National Guard, no ICE agents, just citizens expressing their feelings about the current situation in this country. Most individuals at the rally had signs:
“Protect Democracy” “No Kings” “Power to the many not the few” “No Kings – No Crowns – No Cults” “We the People – By the People – For the People”
The thing that all 1,200 individuals will remember is the rain. It rained for at least 20 minutes. It rained hard, in sheets. It can easily be said it was a soaking rain, but no one moved. Few had any type of protection, but everyone – from teenagers to the old men – stayed in place. They kept chanting, encouraging cars to honk, which they did. Anyone near the rally had to be impressed with the attitude of the crowd.
It is wonderful how many people are already tired about what is going on in America.
Toward the end of the two hour peaceful rally everyone in started singing “God Bless America” and the “National Anthem.” What a wonderful experience for all of us, something I will not forget for a long time.
Steve Huppert Christiansburg
