Get on the bus and support our troops
By JOE WARMINGTON
Like a Greyhound bus travelling all the way to Kabul, people are jumping on board a big rally for the troops.
I can't wait for Friday when, if yesterday was any indication, we are in for one heck of a turnout at Yonge-Dundas Square at noon.
One week after they did it on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, we'll have our own Red Friday in the Big Smoke. It will be an important message to the soldiers that this city is with them. All you have to do is wear red to show your support for the men and women over in Afghanistan.
It doesn't hurt to say thank you to them every once in a while. Toronto will do that Friday. The response has been incredible and it is shaping up to be a non-partisan event.
For example, AM640 Toronto Radio jumped all over it and had me on John Oakley's show and ran with regular news reports with Stephanie Smyth. Minutes later, Steve Kowch at CFRB 1010 e-mailed asking how they can help. Soon after, I was on with Paul and Carol Mott in the afternoon and I hear Spider Jones and Mark Elliott are supportive.
So are the cops.
"If it's for the troops, we are there 100%," said Chief Bill Blair, who provided us with some contacts.
Who says you can't get things done in this town?
So the big question is, what is going to happen and how are we going to make it happen? The logistics are mind-boggling. But we are keeping our eye on the main prize --which is to send a picture of a sea of red from Toronto to the soldiers. The more people who come, the better the picture.
After my Saturday column saying we were doing this, I received a call from an eager young special assistant to Councillor Bill Saundercook named Justin Van Dette. "I want to be involved," he said. "I am so proud to do something like this. I mean this is our country and this is patriotism at its best."
Glad to have you along for the ride, Justin. Get ready for a busy week. If you want to add something to this event, feel free to e-mail Justin at jvandet@toronto.ca.
NEAT IDEAS
We are working on a program and have neat ideas but very little time. There are so many suggestions of how we can make this one of Toronto's finest hours. But there are roadblocks. Our troops, who never complain, overcome far worse every day.
One small problem we have is the square was already booked for a promotional event. The nice thing about a public square, though, is we will be able to share it.
Greyhound Canada has for months been scheduled to promote a "funky" new bus to attract young travellers and the actual bus and some dancers will be there. We are hoping they don't mind adding a few thousand people in red to their event.
We're pretty sure Greyhound won't mind because there's few companies who know this country, and its people, as well as they do.
I'll never forget when I went out west on Greyhound a few years back during the federal election. They travel everywhere. Small towns and big. The same kind of places the troops come from.
Something was in the works last night and I'll have more for you tomorrow and when I appear on Craig Bromell's show on AM640 today.
A press release tomorrow from Saundercook's office will also have more details. This, by the way, is an event that is sponsored by no one and will host no banners. Although I am a Toronto Sun guy, I really want to make sure the Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, National Post and all the TV stations and ethnic media feel they can get involved and cover it too.
This is everybody's story. The only gain on the agenda is the morale of our military people. "The only thing being promoted here are the troops and the Canadian flag," said Justin.
Well said.
Meanwhile, we are trying to get together a program. No matter what, it will be grassroots. Light on political speeches and more on ones from the heart. Everybody is invited, everybody can come. It's not about us. It's about them.
So get ready over there in Afghanistan because a bunch of Torontonians in red are about to get on the bus to support you Friday.
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