The gathering was one of about 5,000 across the country and was to continue through John Kerry's acceptance speech late Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, it was former Georgia Senator Max Cleland who introduced Kerry to the delegates in Boston by saying Kerry's service to his country did not end in Vietnam but began there there.
Cleland, who lost three limbs in a grenade accident in Vietnam, praised Kerry as a fellow veteran and a patriot. He said the senator from Massachusetts is ``an authentic American hero'' who would steer America on a course toward, what Cleland called, ``a vision of the country we can become once again.''
In Cleland's words that would be -- quote -- ``A country that doesn't alienate our allies, but works with them. A country that doesn't lose jobs, but creates them. A country that doesn't limit educational opportunity, but expands it. A country that doesn't make health care less available, but more affordable. A country that doesn't spoil our environment, but protects it. A country that is strong a country that is respected, a country that is worthy of generations of sacrifice, and our children's highest hopes.''
(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)
http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/7/155115