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Tonya Papanikolas ReportingA national bus tour designed to show support for the troops and war in Iraq made a stop in Utah today. The group wanted people to know that anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, who lost her son in Iraq, does not represent all military families.
The rally didn't draw a huge crowd, just one or two dozen people, but they were vocal about their stance on the war. The organization "Move America Forward" is stopping in more than 20 U.S. cities on their way to Washington D.C. Today they were in Salt Lake for a rally.
They've named the tour "You Don't Speak for Me, Cindy", in reference to Cindy Sheehan, who lost her son in Iraq and has spent much of the summer camping outside President Bush's ranch in Texas. Sheehan has become a spokeswoman for bringing the troops home.
But other military families, both speaking at and attending the rally in Utah, said Sheehan is not in the majority. They want to focus on the good being done in Iraq instead of what they call "negative rhetoric."
Deborah Johns, Leading Pro-Troop Tour: "It brings down the moral of the men and women over there. They don't need that. They need to focus on their job and task at hand."
Joseph Williams, Lost Son in Iraq: "I fought in the Vietnam War, and I had to listen to the same stuff, and I'm tired of it. I’m really proud of Michael. I'm really proud of what he did."
Shana Mondragon, Husband in Iraq: "That's why the kids are here today, so they can see that what he's doing is a good cause, and that they know that we support him."
Candace Chilcott, Sons in Iraq: "We want the world to know that the reason they do what they do is they love us, they love their country."
The group had a banner with the words "Victory in Iraq" for people to sign. They intend to deliver it to the troops. Once they reach Washington, D.C., they will have a big support rally at the National Mall.
