From California to D.C. by Dawn Wildman

As we looked down the Mall from our vantage point we could see nothing but people and signs. After leaving we walked around to see the crowd and noticed that the attendees were stationed all the way down the Mall and around the Reflecting Pool and back up to the Washington Monument. It was incredible! It was announced during the event that the National Park Service said that there were over 1.5 million people in attendance and that we had shut down the City to all traffic getting to the City. Now that is amazing! What a glorious day and one hell of an achievement. It was a record breaking crowd size for any event ever held in D.C. according to the National Park Service. 

Saturday night we took a tour of D.C. and went to the Lincoln Monument. It is far more stunning than any pictures and far more serene even with many people there. There is an essence of true grace and dignity in a monument to a National leader who gave his life for this country, in the pursuit of making it better. All the ideas you have about these National treasures go out the window when you are standing in front of them especially in the time we currently find ourselves. I had the feeling of understanding for all of those leaders and patriots who came before us, those that risked all including their lives to save the country from tyranny. I understood this in a way I never expected to and I appreciate that above all else. This is the reason we all do what we do, to save our country and ensure their sacrifices were not in vain.  

We strolled along the Viet Nam Memorial and ended up at the memorial for the women in the services, which was amazing, and found a young couple there looking intently at the enormous bronze. The young woman began to talk to us about what a great day this was for her and her husband. She explained that they lived in Ohio and had driven to DC for the march and that she took part in every Tea Party she could in her town. When she met an older lady at a garage sale they got to talking about the tea parties and the older woman  said she wanted to go but no longer drove and had no way to get to them. The young mother exchanged phone numbers and information with this lady and told her she would pick her up and take her to the next tea party. While they spoke they both shared their excitement about the DC event and how sorry they were about not being able to be present but that they would try to catch footage of it on television. The young woman said she couldn’t go because she and her husband couldn’t afford the gas to get there on top of lodging but that they were still excited for all of those going. Evidently, a few days later there was an anonymous letter in the mail with some money and a note that said they needed to go and participate in this historical event and off they went. The young woman suspects her anonymous benefactor was the older lady from the garage sale. 

I must say this story made me cry. This is also the reason I do what I do because behind every person involved is a story with this same serendipity and emotion. For every person that comes to a Tea Party or helps with calling representatives there is story about lives that are affected every day by decisions made in Washington and behind each story is consequences that are all too often left unexamined. The people who organize and attend Tea Parties love this country and their fellow patriots and want nothing more than to see us all and The United States of America succeeds.  So I would say I got more out of my two days in Washington than I ever expected. I have a renewed sense of purpose and energy and every time I feel let down or tired or like giving up I know that this experience will be the thing that sustains me. The absolute historical nature of that day has changed my life forever and I hope yours, whether or not you were in DC. We represented all of us, near and far, all Americans, and we carried your spirit with us down Pennsylvania Avenue and up those steps! 

On a side note, when we returned, Sarah found out that the Smithsonian asked for a t-shirt (which Sarah designed) from the event and bumper stickers to use in a display in the future. Pretty cool huh? I couldn’t be more proud and overjoyed for Sarah and San Diego, we represented very well that day!