(Nat sound general) At three o’clock in the morning those who gathered at the Assyrian Center were upbeat and eager to make the trip to the El Toro Marine base to cast their ballots for the Iraqi Parliament. A number of people bought tee-shirts commemorating the day from a vendor in the parking lot. VENDOR :02—They’re just mediums or larges. For the expatriates, this was the second 700-mile round trip to the polling station in eight days. Evelyn Massani acknowledged that the journeys, one to register, the second to vote, were taxing, but as a member of the Assyrian minority, she was happy to have the opportunity to vote. MASSANI :07—It was worth it. Our people haven’t had a say for a very, very long time. We haven’t been recognized by the Iraqi government. (NS DOOR SLAMS & VANS PULLING OUT) By four o’clock, fourteen leased vans and dozens of privately owned vehicles were loaded and on the way to Los Angeles. Bob Hensley KXJZ News.