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| The Mall over an hour before the event started |
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| The stage of Restoring Honor |
8/28
This past weekend I had the privilege of attending the Restoring
Honor Rally in Washington, D.C. on 8/28. To say it was a moving display of patriotism would be a vast understatement.
The realistic estimates of the crowd hover around 600,000. More importantly, the crowd was more peaceful and kind than
you can possibly imagine.
When reflecting on the day, I tried to put into words what I
saw. Think of the world in which we live. We live in a time when we must be suspicious of every stranger you see.
It's no secret, in the 21st Century, it is unrealistic to live any other way. However, for one day at the Mall, strangers
trusted strangers. It felt like a trip back in time to an era when people would get into a car with a stranger, they
would tell their name without being afraid. Last Saturday, people acted as though they were going to a church picnic
with 600,000 brothers and sisters. At no other time in my life, was I made to feel the way I did on 8/28.
One story Glenn Beck told on his radio show on Monday was that
of a family and their experience on 8/28. After arriving at the Mall early in the morning, the father wanted to purchase
snacks for the family. He said to his wife, "Honey, could you give me my wallet?" She replied, "I
don't have your wallet, you do." After searching frantically, they concluded the father had been pick-pocketed.
They were across the country without a penny to their name standing with young kids in 90+ degree heat, body to body, with
thousands of people. The mother called the police. Needless to say, there was nothing the police could do.
It was then, a man standing near the family spoke. He asked if indeed they had no money. They told him what happend,
so he immediately reached in his pocket and pulled out a small stack of bills, and shoved it in the hand of the mother.
She said they simply could not accept such a gift. The man replied he was blessed that his family was doing well enough
that he could do this, so he would appreciate it if the family took the money. The family thanked him and he left.
When the father went to buy snacks and drinks for the family, he realized the man hadn't given him a few dollars; he
had given them four crisp hundred-dollar bills. The family was stunned. Upon arriving back home after the rally
they sent the man $400, in addition to a gift. Later that day, against all odds, the police called and said the
father's missing wallet had been found...with every dollar and credit card it was lost with. This kind of magic was
everywhere on the Mall on 8/28.
Beck said in the months preceding the event; "Leave your
signs, bring your children." This is exactly what happened. There were no signs, but thousands of open hearts and
active minds. Beck asked the crowd to "Question with Boldness." Once again, Beck hit a chord with Americans
that was not in any way political.
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| Glenn Beck's words resonated with every person present |
The media questioned if the rally would become political.
No such thing happened. It remained centered around three themes: Faith, Hope and Charity. The founder of the
event, Glenn Beck informed the crowd that if they did not live with the morals of the event and left the thoughts heard at
the Lincoln Memorial where they were said, then the day would be a waste. Indeed this is true, people need to live their
lives with this theme, as Glenn Beck put it from the Declaration of Independence, "We mutually pledge to each other our
lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." If people live with this in mind, then the Restoring Honor Rally will
not be in vain.
Not only did the day benefit every person there, but over $5.5
million was raised for my favorite charity, SOWF (Special Operations Warrior Foundation.) A speech was given by one
of the mothers involved with SOWF, in which she told the story of her fallen son. After she was done there wasn't a
dry eye in the house. SOWF is a tremendous charity, and it is great to see them receive this support. Sarah Palin
spoke not as a politician, but as a mother of an actively serving soldier. She gave a great speech about patriotism,
and what our armed forces should mean to us. Along with this, three former soldiers were honored; Marcus Luttrell, Eddie
Wright, and Tom Kirk. It was yet again a moving tribute.
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| Sarah Palin after a moving speech |
The media has ignored the messages preached during this event, instead
opting to underestimate the crowd, deride Glenn Beck, and say this was a Tea Party Rally. It was nothing short of an
event that will live deep in our hearts and minds, transporting the legacy to future generations. One section of
the day that has not been reported yet is the recreation of the Black Robed Regiment. Two hundred and forty members
of different religions came together, ignoring thier differences, in order to agree our rights are granted to us by God, not
the Government. They all were there to embrace the concept that Americans need to revisit their faith if they wish
to restore American principles. Beck pointed out the little known fact that on the top of the Washington Monument there
is a small inscription, Laus Deo, which is Latin for "Praise be to God." One of the repeated themes
of Saturday was the dream of bringing people back, as Beck said, "We turn back to God" as our founders did when
they laid out the blueprints of the nation we live in, and we should put our faith in "firm reliance on Divine Providence."
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| We turn back to God, with firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence |
In closing, I wish to thank Glenn Beck for putting a voice to
the thoughts of Americans that have been shut up for so long. He did so endangering his own safety; he was forced to
wear a bullet-proof vest. Dr. Alveda King also spoke at the Rally at her own peril. Despite her constant praise
of her slain uncle, she was accused of dishonoring the very dream that has been passed down through her family. When
Beck offered to provide her with a bullet-proof vest, she refused saying she had faith in God that He would take care of her.
How dare anyone accuse her of displaying anything less than bravery. She refused protection by looking to God after
both her uncle and father were assassinated when they spoke for what they believed in. Thank you Glenn Beck for a wonderful
day; Americans, do not let the miracles that occurred on 8/28 disappear, they are our legacy, they will lead us to the city
upon a hill, and, if we proceed with faith we can return to the belief it will be morning in America yet again.
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| Don't let Faith, Hope, and Charity die on 8/28 |
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