By Bruce Barton

Los Altos resident Renata Carico used to be what she calls “a quiet patriot,” someone who appreciated being an American, but essentially kept it to herself.

That all changed with recent events: first, the controversy of the 2000 presidential election; then the tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001. Finally, an Iraq war protest rally in March in San Jose provoked her into action. Following some spirited debate with the protesters, a television reporter on the scene asked her why there were no pro-America rallies.

“I told her, ‘We’ll have a rally here next weekend,’” Carico recalled saying.

The following week, Carico gathered 25 pro-America supporters to the same location as the protest the week before, Stevens Creek and Winchester boulevards. The small group waved the flag and promoted unity as a nation. Carico vowed to show up every weekend while the war was going on.

Ensuing television coverage brought approximately 400 people to the next rally.

Under a head of patriotic steam, Carico and her husband, Mark, formed the group, “Pro-America Spirit.”

She said the group is her response to the Sept. 11 tragedies and “the diminishing level of patriotism in this country. The mission of the organization is: ‘Let’s keep America strong with our united spirit!’”

The Caricos showed up every weekend until the official end of combat in May, every other week since.

Carico stressed the group is nonpartisan and has no agenda beyond cheerleading for the nation and supporting the troops.

“We don’t want war, but we support America and support our troops,” she said.

Mark was disturbed by obscene gestures and remarks made by passing motorists assuming the group had a hard-line, right-wing agenda. The Calicos insist their message is purely and simply recognition for what they feel is the best country in the world.

“I’ve been sitting on the sidelines all my life,” said Renata Carico. “I’ve been benefiting from this country. Now I want to give something back.”

Upcoming Pro-America Spirit events include visits to local Republican and Democratic functions, and continued “Support our Troops” rallies every other weekend at the corner of Stevens Creek and Winchester boulevards, in San Jose.

The group maintains a Web site, which includes rally information and photos, recitations of the U.S. Constitutional amendments, information on the evolution of the flag, patriotic quotes, a positive look at American efforts in Iraq written by a U.S. soldier and even a chilling interview with an Al Queda leader detailing plans for destruction of the United States.

Pro-America Spirit has scheduled a candlelight vigil in memory of the victims of Sept. 11, 7-8:30 p.m., Thursday, at Oak Hill Memorial Park, 300 Curtner Road, San Jose.