
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 21, 1991                   TAG: 9102210150
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY  
SOURCE: MELISSA DEVAUGHN/ NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: GILES                                LENGTH: Medium

GILES RALLIES PLANNED IN SUPPORT OF TROOPS

When Operation Desert Storm began, Randall Fletcher, Veterans of Foreign Wars post commander, wanted to do something to support the troops. Then after many letters and calls from citizens began to come, Fletcher realized that he must do something.

The result is a parade and two rallies this weekend in Pearisburg and Narrows.

Bud Mutter of the Giles County Chamber of Commerce said the events are closely tied. The Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion "are working together to make the rallies a success," he said.

Fletcher said the turnout should be good because everyone is talking about it and there has been some television coverage as well.

Dan Level, American Legion state vice commander and parade and rally chairman in Pearisburg, agreed with Fletcher that people have been talking. "If the turnout is like the reception we've had so far, we should have a very big crowd," he said.

At 11 a.m. Saturday, the parade will begin at King Johnston School with as many as 30 units. The National Guard 2nd Battalion 318th Drill Team will be leading the parade. Other participants include Pearisburg Baptist church and Giles and Narrows high school bands. The Gregory Guard, a unit from Virginia Tech, also will march.

The parade will end at the Giles County Courthouse, where the rally then will begin.

Master of ceremonies will be Harold Chafin of the National Bank of Blacksburg; guest speaker will be Navy Capt. Jeffrey L. Brown, the naval ROTC commander at Virginia Tech.

The end of the rally will include the tying of yellow ribbons on the tree in front of the courthouse.

At 2:30 p.m. Sunday there will be another rally in support of the troops at VFW Post 6000 in Narrows. Families and relatives of soldiers involved in Operation Desert Storm will be present.

Dan Marthers of the Veterans Center in Roanoke and Maj. Gary List of the Army Reserve will speak.

"I'd say there will be at least 300 or 400 people. . . ," Fletcher said.

Two flag ceremonies will be conducted by The Order of the Rainbow and Girl Scout Troop 2264. A 21-gun salute by the VFW's rifle team for those killed in the war will end the rally.

***CORRECTION***

Published correction ran on February 22, 1991 in Current\ Correction

Because of a reporter's error, the Army Reserve 2nd Battalion 318th Drill Team was called a National Guard unit in a Thursday New River Current story about two troop support rallies in Giles County this weekend.

Memo: Correction

by CNB