Mom hopes other join her in marching for troops

Driven by her need to do something, Dina York, whose only son is serving in the Persian Gulf, plans to march at noon Saturday in Carson City in support of U.S. troops.

York and her husband, Mike, hope others will join them.

"We are extremely proud of Nathan," she said Monday of her son Nathan. "We just want so show support for all of the servicemen and -women. We would really like for the people of Carson City and surrounding areas to join us."

Spc. Nathan York, 22, a 1999 graduate of Carson High School, was deployed to Kuwait on Feb. 14. The last his mother heard from him was a March 5 letter, in which he told her he'd be moving into Iraq with a Marine Corps unit.

He is a bridge engineer with the 46th Engineer Battalion stationed at Fort Polk, La.

Dina York said she feels stories about families and rallies put "faces" on the troops fighting in Iraq.

"Basically I'm just a mom trying to get people to go down and support our troops," she said.

The rally will be in front of the Legislature Building on Carson Street. York said people should bring signs and banners.

Meanwhile, the Red Cross is trying to meet the needs of deployed troops by gathering donations for care packages.

The Sierra Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross is accepting donations of toiletries, snacks, money and copy-paper-size boxes for distribution to troops in the Gulf.

Red Cross spokeswoman Donna Brand said collection locations in Carson City are Craft Market, 2750 S. Carson St.; and both Jackson Hewitt tax preparation offices: in Wal-Mart at Highway 395 and Topsy Lane, and 1978 Highway 50 East.

IF YOU GO

What: Support Your Troops rally

When: noon-1 p.m. Saturday

Where: Carson Street in front of the Legislature Building

Items for Red Cross donation:

Toothpaste, shampoo, shower soap or gel, hand sanitizer, lotion, Wet Wipes, lip balm and sunscreen, individually wrapped pieces of hard candy, bubble gum, Life Savers, microwave popcorn, peanuts, pretzels, jerky, sweetened Kool-Aid, Gatorade, other powdered drink mixes, instant coffee, sugar, creamer, tea bags, hot chocolate, hot cider, videos, DVDs, music CDs and cassettes, puzzle books, comic books, paperbacks, small board games, jigsaw puzzles, decks of playing cards, wrap-around sunglasses, assorted batteries, blank greeting cards, stationery and small pencil sharpeners.