Trump fans up early for Wilmington rally

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WILMINGTON — Three friends are so intent on supporting Donald Trump for president that they showed up at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Roberts Centre for the noon Thursday rally. They were asked to leave by security, so they booked a hotel room and were second in line by about 5:30 a.m. Thursday.

“Our country has lost touch; we’re too politically correct and we’re losing our standing in the world,” said Kalani Ayres, of Phillipsburg, Ohio, as he and his friends Dustin Peters and Kenneth Kidd, both of Cincinnati, stood second in line around 7 a.m. Thursday.

Ayres, a U.S. Army veteran, said U.S. policies have become so soft that we’ve “lost our backbone” and he feels Trump will restore respect for America in the world — and instill a little fear in countries that don’t respect America anymore.

No protestors or anti-Trump sentiment were noticeable as the first 150 attendees were lined up between 7 and 8 a.m.

Sue Ann Fields of Piketon, Ohio was first in line at 5:30 a.m. Thursday. Not far behind were enthusiastic Wilmington Schools students Jenna Victor, Ashley Tissot, Samantha Achtermann, all 15, and Jared Tissot, 13. “We want to see Trump,” said Samantha, “We want to meet him!”

Carol Trimmer of Dublin, Ohio came with sons Jared and Justin. Justin, who is in a wheelchair, said he supports Trump and “it’s because of Obamacare that I’m in this wheelchair.”

U.S. military veterans Dave Fyffe and Brian Fyffe, who are both in wheelchairs, said they came to show their support for Trump. “He will make us better,” said Dave, 71.

Madison Wilkins, 15, and Logan Schroer, 16, both of Germantown, came to the rally because, as Logan said, Trump “is not a politician. He says what he thinks; he’s not politically correct.”

Jim Grove of Hillsboro said he thinks Trump will live up to his motto to “Help make America great again.” He attended the Thursday rally with friends Randy Abbott of Hillsboro and Chris Toller of Lynchburg.

“I think he’ll get us off life support,” said Abbott, who added that he and several friends meet at Frisch’s each morning “to solve all the world’s problems.”

“America needs to be set on the right track,” he said, “and I think Trump will do that.”

Wilmington College students lined up for Thursday’s rally for Donald Trump at the Roberts Centre, from left, Molly Harshbarger of De Graff, Ohio, Laura Swinehart of Lancaster and Nick Yirak of Springfield.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/09/web1_Harshbarger-Swinehart-Flesher-3.jpgWilmington College students lined up for Thursday’s rally for Donald Trump at the Roberts Centre, from left, Molly Harshbarger of De Graff, Ohio, Laura Swinehart of Lancaster and Nick Yirak of Springfield. Tom Barr | Wilmington News Journal

Youngsters from Wilmington attended the Trump rally to be a part of history, including, clockwise from top, Jenna Victor, 15, Jared Tissot, 13, Ashley Tissot, 15, and Samantha Achtermann, 15.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/09/web1_Victor-Tissott-Achtermann-and-Jared-3.jpgYoungsters from Wilmington attended the Trump rally to be a part of history, including, clockwise from top, Jenna Victor, 15, Jared Tissot, 13, Ashley Tissot, 15, and Samantha Achtermann, 15. Tom Barr | Wilmington News Journal

Sue Ann Fields of Piketon, Ohio was first in line at the Trump rally Thursday, arriving at 5:30 a.m.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/09/web1_Fields-3.jpgSue Ann Fields of Piketon, Ohio was first in line at the Trump rally Thursday, arriving at 5:30 a.m. Tom Barr | Wilmington News Journal

From left, Kenneth Kidd and Dustin Peters of Cincinnati and Kalani Ayres of Phillipsburg, Ohio were near the front of the line early Thursday morning.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/09/web1_Kidd-Peters-Ayres-3.jpgFrom left, Kenneth Kidd and Dustin Peters of Cincinnati and Kalani Ayres of Phillipsburg, Ohio were near the front of the line early Thursday morning. Tom Barr | Wilmington News Journal

Highland Countians at the Trump rally Thursday in Wilmington included, from left, Chris Toller of Lynchburg and Jim Grove and Randy Abbott of Hillsboro.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/09/web1_Toller-Grove-Abbott-3.jpgHighland Countians at the Trump rally Thursday in Wilmington included, from left, Chris Toller of Lynchburg and Jim Grove and Randy Abbott of Hillsboro. Tom Barr | Wilmington News Journal

Clinton County Sheriff’s deputies stand watch over the crowds forming for Thursday’s rally.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/09/web1_Deputies-3.jpgClinton County Sheriff’s deputies stand watch over the crowds forming for Thursday’s rally. Tom Barr | Wilmington News Journal

Madison Wilkins, 15, and Logan Schroer, 16, of Germantown attended the Trump rally in Wilmington.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/09/web1_Wilkins-Schroer-3.jpgMadison Wilkins, 15, and Logan Schroer, 16, of Germantown attended the Trump rally in Wilmington. Tom Barr | Wilmington News Journal

Clinton County Sheriff’s deputies provided security at the Roberts Centre early Thursday, along with strategically placed semi-trailers.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/09/web1_trailers-security-3.jpgClinton County Sheriff’s deputies provided security at the Roberts Centre early Thursday, along with strategically placed semi-trailers. Tom Barr | Wilmington News Journal

By Tom Barr

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