Oliver North to Speak at July 3rd God & Country Family Festival

(Nampa, Idaho) Colonel Oliver North will be guest speaker at the annual Treasure Valley God & Country Rally according to an announcement by the God & Country committee.

Brian Kohagen, Chairman of this year’s event said, “We are very excited about having Colonel North as this years guest speaker. We have been working out the details and have many new and exciting features planned for this years event.”

The rally will again be held at the Idaho Center Amphitheater on Can-Ada Road in Nampa for the Wednesday, July 3, 2002 event. Family activities begin at 6:00 PM, special presentations and speakers at 8:00 PM with fireworks completing the evening at approximately 10:15 PM.

Oliver L. North is a combat decorated marine, a #1 best-selling author, the founder of a small business, an inventor with three U.S. patents, a syndicated columnist, former candidate for the United States Senate, the host of a nationally syndicated daily radio show and the host of “War Stories” on the Fox News channel, yet claims his most important accomplishment as being “the husband of one and the father of four.”

North was born in San Antonio, Texas, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and served 22 years as a U.S.Marine. His awards for service in combat include the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for valor and two Purple Hearts for wounds in combat.

Assigned to the National Security Council Staff in the Reagan administration,Colonel North was the United States government’s Counter-Terrorism Coordinator from 1983-1986 and was involved in planning the rescue of 804 medical students on the Island of Grenada and played a major role in the daring capture of the hijackers of the cruise ship Achille Lauro. After helping plan the U.S. raid on Muammar Gaddafi’s terrorist bases in Libya, North was targeted for assassination by Abu Nidal, the world’s deadliest assassin.

Oliver North broadcasts his nationally syndicated Common Sense Radio, monday-friday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. eastern time, from the studios of radio America in Washington, D.C., his first two books, Under Fire and One More Mission were international best sellers. North is also the founder of Freedom Alliance, a foundation which provides scholarships for the sons and daughters of service members killed in action.

THE GOD & COUNTRY RALLY has a rich 30 year history which began when sixties western film star, Chuck Connors of the popular “Rifleman” television series helped launch such rallies across the nation. Godly men and women took up the challenge and continued the tradition in Nampa.

THE POPULARITY OF THE RALLY brought nearly 8,000 to the park-like setting of the Idaho Center Amphitheater, which really improved the seating areas, visibility, production and sound quality for the free community event. The traditional date of the Wednesday, proceeding the 4th of July, has been set for the Wednesday, July 3rd.

The event begins at 6pm with special music and entertainment, 8pm Rally, special awards, guest speaker and concluding with the patriotic fireworks display at 10:15pm.

This is an old fashioned, patriotic and religious rally with military, law enforcement and fire department vehicles on display, historic American Flags exhibit, local musical groups from churches with the Gospel message at the center of the celebration. The emphasis is placed on the words and ideals of our nation’s Founders, and special recognition is given for those who serve in the military, both active-duty and veterans. Local public servants, especially law enforcement and emergency service personnel, are also honored.

Fireworks for 2002

The pyrotechnics expert behind the scenes at this years God and Country Rally is Lloyd Stubbs of Fireworks America. Stubbs said, “The move to the Idaho Center has really raised the level of quality and size of the entire fireworks display. Special music is being produced with the events of September 11th in mind and will be programmed to fireworks display.”

The Treasure Valley God & Country Committee is an independent, non-profit community organization. The rally is supported entirely by donations from local individuals, businesses, corporate sponsors, and an offering is taken at the event. There is no admission charge to attend.

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Contacts:
Committee Members
David Ferdinand: (208) 467-1888
Don Wixom: (208) 880-5039