The 9-12 Project of Idaho, the local wing of a movement backed by conservative talk show host Glenn Beck, and Tea Party Boise, a group that protests excessive taxation, drew a colorful crowd Saturday.

Among them was a Davy Crockett look-alike, several folks whose styles dated to 1776, and 15-year-old Harrison Hagens of Boise, notable for the "WWRD" scrawled the length of his arm.

"It stands for 'What would Reagan do?,'" Hagens said, alluding to a president who left office before he was born.

"I've read books about him," Hagens said, then voiced the sentiment of many in the crowd: "I admire his ability to follow the Constitution."

Boise marchers trekked from the Depot to Capitol Park. Meet some of the local marchers:

JACK STUART, EAGLE

Stuart, a veteran and retired floor contractor, calls his move to Idaho from California akin to "getting out of a sinking ship." He's memorized Patrick Henry's famous speech - all 10 minutes of it - but only recited an excerpt, including the line, "Give me liberty or give me death," Saturday.

"It's so powerful, so persuasive. People jump up and cheer at the end," he said.

He said only a couple of government programs are working well, in his opinion: the postal service and the Veterans Administration.

ZACH CALLEAR, BOISE

Callear, a Web designer, held a graphic sign he created: President Obama's face with the word, "Commie."

"I just wanted to support the country, and let people know we want our freedom back," he said. "Plus, I made a cool sign and wanted to show it off." Callear believes the military is working well in the U.S.

RUTH BLACKMER, BOISE

"We want to be free from government control," Blackmer said, noting that she'd never been active in politics before attending local tea party events. "We need more help from our government for our troops who are fighting," she said.

"It's good to be here and see all these people who believe what we do."

T.J. LACY, BOISE

Lacy got involved with the 9-12 group "because I just got mad," she said.

Saturday, she handed out a list of 9-12 "action items," including information about "Get Out of Our House!," or "GOOH," a movement to sweep all 435 members from the U.S. House of Representatives.

JULIE LATULIPPE, BOISE

LaTulippe, a widow, held a hand-lettered sign that said the mainstream media doesn't listen to the people.

She brought her four children and two neighborhood children to the rally.

Health care issues hit home, she said, because her daughter lived through stage three cancer and received treatment through private medical insurance. She believes her daughter would have waited for treatment and possibly not survived under a government health care plan.

"Our system works if we use government as it was intended, but not railroading policies, like health care and the stimulus packages," LaTulippe said.

Anna Webb: 377-6431