Oakland County, Michigan, Tuesday, March 27, 2007 -- Ruth Johnson, the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds, was among local, state and federal officials who attended the "Support Our Troops" Rally on Monday, March 26.

Johnson congratulated the rally's organizer, 17-year-old Alexandra McGregor, a Waterford Kettering High School student, on the event held at the high school.

"In a world where people often discount teens, Alexandra has decided she will make things better, make a difference in the lives of people she doesn't even know," Johnson said. "Men and women in the armed services need to know that we care, that we appreciate them not just today, but every day, and we realize what they are sacrificing to put themselves on the line for us."

More than 100 people attended the event. Those who gathered sang the National Anthem and observed two minutes of silence. The solemn ceremony included tears and the mournful sound of bagpipes. A bell sounded for those who had been killed. The name of every soldier lost in Michigan in the last year was read aloud.

Johnson urged attendees to make small gestures of appreciation to soldiers, for example sending care packages to soldiers through the USO. Johnson distributed a list of web sites, recommended by the Department of Defense and the USO, where the public can write to soldiers or make donations. Those web sites include:

1. www.anysoldier.com
2. www.americasupportsyou.mil
3. www.usocares.com
4. www.homefronthugs.com
5. www.soldiersangels.homestead.com
6. www.operation-helmet.org

McGregor hopes to establish a national holiday honoring those in military service to our country.