Restoring Honor Rally
Last month I wrote about the “Good Old Days” growing up in Euclid and all my fond memories. Now it is time to get back to the real world; things are definitely different.
Six weeks ago I did something I have never done before. I went on a bus trip to Washington, DC for the Glenn Beck Restoring Honor Rally. There were over 100 of us, leaving out of Mentor on two buses; it was very exciting. We arrived at our nation’s capitol at 5:30 a.m. for breakfast and then were dropped off at the Metro. WOW! The crowd was so immense that we waited in line over two hours to get our tickets. I noticed upon getting closer there was the same long line on the other side of the tracks. So the trains were filling fast and we had standing room only for the 30 to 40 minute train ride. What a ride. Upon emerging from the underground, the first thing we saw was the George Washington monument looming in front of us. It was beautiful.
As we made our way to the National Mall, people were merging from every area in the direction of the rally; some carried huge American flags and everyone was cheering. My daughter and I were in awe just being there. The crowds became very thick, and once we came upon a treed area (it was very hot) the group decided to settle down. I was not content with this because I could not see the Lincoln Memorial, and I was determined to get a picture. I pushed on through the heavy crowd, sometimes having to go under a rope and then climbing over legs and people. I was getting frustrated because I hadn’t even seen the reflecting pool before coming up to a guardrail. I turned and headed the other way and was soon faced with another guardrail. I gave up, but not before managing to see the corner of the Lincoln Memorial for my picture. I turned around to look behind me and was awe struck seeing how far I had come through this sea of people.
Heading back I saw the huge video screens they had mounted and heard the heart wrenching stories of the wounded warriors being honored and the beautifully sung songs. It was a thrill to see and hear Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin and Alveda King, among many others. The mass exodus at the end of the rally was just as crowded as the gathering hours earlier. We thought we would have a couple hours to see the sights until we remembered the long lines on the Metro, so we headed to the train.
It was a grand experience to be among people who want to restore our country to the way our Founding Fathers intended, keeping our Constitution and Bill of Rights intact. It gives me great hope that after Nov. 2, my grandchildren will have the opportunity to remember their “good old days” growing up where ever they happen to be living.