At approximately 9:45 a.m., as we were heading toward Freedom Plaza to meet up with the North Carolina delegation that had come on chartered buses, we approached the intersection of Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues where we encountered a huge wave of people already marching toward the Capitol Building. We asked a volunteer what was happening. He replied that there was such a huge crowd at the Plaza by 8:00 a.m. that is could not accommodate the people, and was causing congestion problems, so they were told to begin the march.
As we couldn’t know where our North Carolina delegation was, and not being able to see the state flag, I said to my wife, I believe that’s the Texas flag over there, and I want to march with them as an “honorary” Texan. It turned out not to be the Texas flag, but the Georgia flag so I turned back to find my wife, and to my horror she was gone. To make matters worse I didn’t have my cell phone with me.
I looked in every direction but I knew that finding her was going to be impossible. I began walking toward the Capitol with the crowd while frantically searching every direction. I arrived, with thousands of others at the large statue a short distance from the Capitol grounds. I stopped hoping to catch her walking towards me, because everyone had to pass this point to get onto the grounds.
I waited, and searched the area for about ten minutes, but was being directed by the police, and pushed by the crowd onto the Capitol grounds. By now I was beginning to panic. I did not want to miss sharing this otherwise incredible day without her. Now the crowd was beginning to pour in, filling up the area where I was. I then asked a total stranger, but an obvious soul mate, if I could borrow his cell phone, explaining my predicament. He said, “sure” and handed it to me.
Now came the next problem. How was she ever going to hear her phone ring with all of the music blaring from the large speaker, and crowd noise from the thousands of cheering people, as the rally was now in progress. I dialed her number, and when she answered I muttered to myself, “thank you Lord!” I asked how she possibly heard the phone. She replied that she had put it on vibrate, and attached it to her belt. I told her where I was, and asked her where she was. As it, incredibly, turned out we were not too far apart distance wise even though there were an awful lot of people between us. I asked where she was, told her which way to begin walking, and within about 30 seconds I saw her across the small entrance road, where no people were permitted, and told her where to look, and very soon we were back together.
The speakers were great, and kept their presentations short and to the point. Included were physicians (you know, the ones the president said supported his plan, but polls said the 65% of them oppose his plan!),surgeons, nurses, a constitutional lawyer, former members of congress, organizers of the rally, media personalities, organizers of rallies from many of the states, think tanks, project 21, the black conservative organization, and many more including a black preacher, the Rev. CL Bryant from Louisiana, who had the crowd roaring with approval at his speech, that you can find on You Tube. It’s well worth your time to look at, and listen to him.
The speaker from California epitomized why we were there. Unresponsive, antagonistic government,” health care tyranny, coming tax increases, runaway spending, unconscionable deficits, and a rapidly growing, economy dangering debt. He represented the farmers and workers of the San Joaquin Valley, the major supplier of fruit, nuts, vegetables, and other farm products sent to much of our country. The government (Interior Dept.) has shut off their water to protect small 2-3 inch fish. Their farms which occupy some of the most fertile soil in the world are now dust piles. Unemployment is 40%, and the people have to depend on food that now has to be TRUCKED in! In the United States of America! It’s like watching films from the Third World in one of the world’s most fertile growing areas! This government that wants to take over your health care has declared war on some of its citizens, for the sake of a small fish!
After approximately 4 hours we needed to move to stretch our legs because it was difficult standing (some of the smart folks brought portable folding chairs) shoulder to shoulder with so many people on all sides. Fortunately the weather was absolutely perfect, slightly overcast and cool with a nice breeze. We made our way, with some difficulty, through the crowd leaving the Capitol grounds, and headed back up Pennsylvania Ave which was still jammed with people for a few blocks.
Though large numbers of people could not hear the speakers from where they were, they simply took in the moment, and talked with each other, with the favorite topic being, “where are you from.” Where we were from was all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. There were people on our train that had ridden 26 hours from New Orleans. We met a husband/wife trucker team that drove from Oklahoma. We met people who said they have a 30 hour drive back to Texas. We met people from Florida. There were 455 buses chartered by the state Tea Party Patriot organizations from around the country. Many came by train, some by air, and many more came by car, and WE ALL PAID OUR OWN WAY. There were people pushing family members or friends in wheel chairs. There were elderly people who needed walkers to get around. We asked many of the handicapped why they had come such long distances. They all gave the same answer, “we had to be here!”
From what all I saw, and heard, the vast majority were people that, like me, and my wife, had NEVER attended a protest of any sort prior to the April “Tea Party” events. This movement is going to continue to grow until our government begins to listen to us, and to understand that THEY WORK FOR US, WE DON’T WORK FOR THEM. Never in my life has government been so dismissive of the people who pay the bills. They call us names, denigrate us, they tell us how it’s going to be, whether or not we want it. This is not the America in which I grew up.
We all felt connected to one another. Most understood the issues, as well or better than their so called representatives. I had not felt such solidarity with people since sitting in pre-mission briefings with my fellow airmen in Guam, Okinawa, and Thailand in 1971, as we prepared to take our B-52’s on raids over S. Vietnam. Since those days I have, sadly, watched this great country being slowly destroyed by people and groups that hate this country. I watched those groups organize, and grow as most of us sat by feeling helpless as we watched our country, a country that defeated Nazism, Fascism, Japanese Imperialism, and Communism, begin to disappear before our eyes.
The previous administration began to take us down this unwanted path with out of control spending, “globalism,” refusal to defend our borders, ceding our sovereignty to foreign entities including the UN, and international courts. Our elected leaders ALL swore oaths to defend the CONSTITUTION, not the UN! The current administration appears to be trying to finish the dismantling of our country, and our free market system, at break neck speed.
After that incredible Saturday in September, we seem to have been revitalized, and are dedicated to recapturing our great country from the radicals
