CALIFORNIA ? A caravan proclaiming support for U.S. troops began a tour through California on Monday, stopping in the hometown of Cindy Sheehan, the anti-war mother who gained national prominence during a vigil outside President Bush’s Texas ranch.

Conservative activists and military families embarked on the tour they call “You don’t speak for me, Cindy!” They plan to hold rallies in several California cities before heading to Crawford, Texas.

About 30 Bush supporters staged a rally outside the offices of the Vacaville Reporter newspaper.

“It’s time to lay down the anger. We need to continue to uphold those people over there, to uphold those men and women with their boots on the ground,” said Debra Johns of the Northern California Marine Moms, who helped organize the caravan, which is sponsored by Move America Forward, a Bay Area-based group.

Sheehan began a protest Aug. 6 on the road leading to Bush’s ranch, an act that has encouraged anti-war activists to join her and prompted peace vigils throughout the country. Sheehan’s 24-year-old son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, was killed last year in Iraq.