Nielsen said as his eyes filled with tears. The soldier's mother, Sandy Rouse, gave Nielsen her dead son's black beret at the start of the march. Staff photo by Brian Thorpe Nielsen shares a quiet moment with his wife, Tanya, after crossing into Cumberland County. Nielsen said he never knew support for the march would be this popular. People in towns have donated food, water and money, he said.
People driving by often honk their horns, salute and raise their fists.
Not one person has jeered us,'' he said. We're trying to emulate the active-duty guys,'' he said. Police departments have let him sleep in their parking lots, and a mayor in Georgia let him sleep in his pecan field. But Saturday night, he had what he calls a civilian meal,'' compliments of the Italian Tavern on Yadkin Road. Bush invited to rally Once in Washington, a rally is planned at the Mall's reflecting pool on March 10.