Residents rally for troops

About 60 people braved cold rainy weather to rally for U.S. troops this morning.

"The turnout wasn't as much as I hoped, but it was really uplifting," said Havre Mayor Bob Rice, who helped organize the event.

One of those who attended was the father of a U.S. Marine in Baghdad. "He said, 'I can't tell you how much I appreciate this,'" Rice said. "That made the whole thing worthwhile."

The rally, held from 7 to 8 a.m. outside the Havre Fire Department, included four patriotic songs by the Anchor Academy Boys Choir and flags handed out by members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 497. Representatives of the North Central Montana Senior Citizens Center served coffee and donuts. Representatives of support groups for families of troops in the Middle East talked to the crowd.

A group has been formed by the families of members of the National Guard, and will send packages to active-duty members from Hill County.

The American Legion Auxiliary also has formed a support group for families of the regular military on active duty.

One of the reasons the city sponsored the rally was to enable families to come together and form support groups.