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Sunday, March 09, 2003

By Dennis B. Roddy, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Supporters of military action in Iraq gathered yesterday in a boisterous rally that put housewives and bikers shoulder-to-shoulder and occasionally found the words "God Bless America" juxtaposed with "rock on brother -- ride free."

	Supporters of President Bush's policies on Iraq rally in Point State Park yesterday. Many in the crowd -- estimated by organizers at 2,500 -- said they had relatives in the armed services. (Bill Wade, Post-Gazette)

"Look at this motley crew standing up here," laughed Michael Johnston who, under his biker name "Big," emceed a 90-minute rally at Point State Park that veered from bellicose chants of "U-S-A" to sometimes tearful messages of support for American troops now deploying in the Persian Gulf.

The gathering of mostly middle class residents of Western Pennsylvania was organized by The Cycle Source, a magazine based in Tarentum.

Hence, amid a sea of American flags and signs protesting everyone from Saddam Hussein to the nation of France, rested a line of gleaming Harley-Davidsons and refrigerator-sized men in leather and bandanas.

"I got one thing to say to Saddam Hussein," said Buck Harrold, a former Marine from Scottdale, Westmoreland County. Amid a roar of approval, he displayed his back with a large flag sewn on his leather jacket reading "Try burning this one [expletive]."

Watching as speakers told of sons and daughters now overseas, or tearfully recounted their own experiences in Korea and Vietnam, were families with signs.

"We love you Glen," read one carried by Lynn and Bob Bootay of Pleasant Hills. Their youngest son enlisted in the Army immediately after 9/11 and is now Kuwait, awaiting war.

"He said it was time for his generation to step up," said Lynn Bootay. "He said he did it for his two nieces."

She said her son occasionally has gotten word of anti-war protests, and is upset. The Bootays decided to gather with the others yesterday in hopes their son will hear about it.

"This is the first time I've ever done anything like this in my life," she said.

The Bootays weren't the only ones with sons in the military.

Bubby -- "That's what I go by" -- rode in from Youngstown, Ohio, along with Mike Pemberton, a fellow member of the Pagans Motorcycle Club.

"We're supporting our troops. I have a 17-year-old son who just joined the Army," said Bubby.

"It's about our country," added Pemberton.

Al and Julie Barkley, of Ross, attend yesterday's rally at Point State Park, carrying a sign with a photo of their son, Alex, a lance corporal in the Marines Corps. (Bill Wade, Post-Gazette)

There were no scheduled speakers for the rally, which meant that plenty were on hand.

One speaker, who identified himself as a Vietnam veteran, was ejected from the rally after he took the microphone to say that he was there to support American troops because he believed President Bush does not.

A more typical speaker, Russ Knepp of Hampton, recounted his father's service in World War II, his own tour of Vietnam, and then told of one son who had been stationed in Korea, another who fought in Desert Storm, and the youngest, Casey, just deployed for any coming war with Iraq.

"My wife's over there crying," Knepp said. "This is her fourth time seeing one of us off."

Knepp reflected on the fascinating contrast of tattooed bikers and people who would return home in minivans after the gathering.

"I doubt there's any rich people here," he said. "I think you have a lot of blue collars. They fight the wars. It'll be the blue-collar kids that have to do that again."