A caravan proclaiming support for U.S. troops began a tour through California on Monday and stopped in the hometown of Cindy Sheehan, the anti-war mother who gained national prominence during a vigil outside President Bush's Texas ranch.
Conservative activists and military families embarked on a tour they are calling "You don't speak for me, Cindy!" and are planning rallies in several California cities before heading to Crawford, Texas.
"It's time to lay down the anger. We need to continue to uphold those people over there, to uphold those men and women with their boots on the ground," said Deborah Johns, head of the Northern California Marine Moms, who helped organize the caravan.
"That's not the message being made" by the mother of the fallen soldier, Johns said during a rally in Sheehan's hometown, where about 30 Bush supporters gathered outside the Vacaville Reporter newspaper.
Vacaville was among several stops for the caravan, which is being sponsored by Move America Forward, a Bay Area-based group. Other rallies Monday were scheduled in San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno and Bakersfield.
A verbal confrontation erupted when the caravan arrived in Sacramento outside radio station KFBK-AM, where it was met by anti-war protesters chanting "Bring them home."
Tempers flared when Sheehan supporter Dan Elliott, 71, confronted caravan members by waving a sign reading "Death is not support" and heckling Johns as she addressed the crowd.
"You are ruining the morale over there," responded Greg Parkinson, a Bush supporter who said he was on leave from the Army after serving seven months in Iraq. "You don't understand."
Members of the caravan called the anti-war protesters communists and said they were "aiding and abetting the enemy." Those comments enraged Sheehan supporter Dee Ann Heath of Sacramento, who said she has two sons serving in Iraq and another preparing to leave.
"I don't support the war, but I support my sons," she said. "I simply want them to come home."
Several people traveling with the caravan said they have family members serving in the military, and some said they knew Sheehan and her son, Casey.
Toni Colip, 50, of Vacaville, said her son, David, went to high school with Casey Sheehan and is now in the Marines, although not in Iraq. She said her son opposes Sheehan's activities and has asked her to support his military service even if he is injured or killed.
"He said, 'Don't dishonor me. Don't walk on my grave,'" Colip said.
Sheehan's 24-year-old son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, died last year in Iraq. She began a protest vigil Aug. 6 on the road leading to Bush's ranch, an act that has encouraged anti-war activists to join her and prompted peace vigils throughout the country.
She vowed to remain until Bush agreed to meet with her or until his monthlong vacation ended, but she flew to Los Angeles last week after her 74-year-old mother had a stroke.
The pro-Bush caravan plans to join fellow supporters who have set up their own camp in downtown Crawford as a reaction to the Sheehan-inspired vigil. Bush was in Salt Lake City on Monday, where he spoke to a national veterans group to rally support for the war.
Several of those in the caravan said they understood Sheehan's anger but disagreed with her protest.
"This is not the way to honor her son," said Lori Judy, 49, of Vacaville, whose son, Tim, served in Iraq.
Drivers waved flags as the caravan left Vacaville on its way to Sacramento, led by a recreational vehicle and a moving van covered with a sign reading, "Cindy Sheehan does not speak for me."
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