9/12/2009: A Shining Moment For Patriots

I was born on September 12, 1957 in a free and prosperous America. I have experienced in my lifetime an abundance of liberty and opportunity as a citizen of these United States. Fifty-two years hence, I stood on the lawn in front of the U.S. Capitol, with at least 1 million patriots, to stand up for that freedom which I have always known. It was a day I know that I will never, ever forget. It is my prayer that those who were witness to it will be shaken to the core at the depth and breadth of the passion which crowded Pennsylvania Avenue, the Capitol grounds and beyond. We the People came with a single purpose: to defend our liberty from that which threatens to take it.

I have no words, try as I might, to accurately describe the historical event which took place on Saturday. I certainly have never been a part of anything like it before. It was incredible, breathtaking, amazing, awe-inspiring, excellent. The air was alive with the spirit of impassioned Americans who love their country and are fearful of its loss. Each, in their own way, they expressed their concern, and it was exhilarating yet bittersweet. Exhilarating because we came together in love and commitment to country, and bittersweet because we have been forced from our homes, our jobs and the normalcy of our lives to defend that which Americans should never take for granted. Liberty.

Upon awakening on 9/12/2009, I certainly knew the day would be great, but I could have never anticipated how it would unfold or how I would feel. As my sister and I arrived two blocks from rallying point, we found that the march had already began to progress as there was no place but forward to go; the crowd had grown too large and too quickly to remain in one place, so onward they moved. As I looked right towards the White House I saw nothing but people, as I looked left towards the Capital, people for as far ahead as I could see. The same was true of the side streets which ran adjacent to the route. They just kept coming and coming and coming. So, we joined the broad expanse of humanity as it made it’s way down Pennsylvania Avenue, fully an hour ahead of the scheduled start time. It was amazing!

As we pressed forward, we conversed with those around us and, as one would expect, there were people from everywhere. Some came on buses, some in cars, some flew and others on trains. But they came. They came with their children, they came with their parents, they came with their siblings and they came with their neighbors. They came in all shapes and varieties…Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Libertarians, all levels of the socio-economic ladder, all kinds of professions. They were old, young, middle-aged. All shapes and colors could be seen in our midst and yet there was an undercurrent of camaraderie and community that made the crowd seem familiar. As we all stood shoulder to shoulder we knew were simply with friends we had never met before. It was inspiring and moving to experience that which Glenn Beck told us just six months ago: “You are not alone”. And indeed we are not.

September 12, 2009 marks a day in American history. A day that patriots came together and stood up for those things that make our country great. The public documentation of the event has been scarce and the acknowledgement of those in power even scarcer. But it matters not. For me, and for many others I have met thus far in this journey, I know that this is bigger than media coverage, bigger than mean-spirited, power hungry politicians and money grubbers. I know that we have been called by a power far exceeding that of mortal man. We are one nation, under God. It is my prayer that we will again become indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you Patriots across America. I praise your strength of character, your honor of the truth and your willingness to stand and fight for what you know to be right. It is my honor and privilege to serve with you.