Since 3 July 1937, sentinels have continuously stood guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns keeping them company through wind, rain, snow and heat. They maintain their vigil day and night to ensure that these heroes who gave everything they had - their lives and their identities in sacrifice to our country - will forever rest with dignity and honor.

This evening, 9 March 2010, we of the Blair County Tea Party gathered to honor our military and their families. Some may ask, “Why 9 March?” to which we would respond, “Our military stands watch 24/7/365, why not 9 March?”

Tonight we are joined by men and women of all ages who have answered the call to serve. We are humbled to share the evening with our Gold Star Families; with Veterans of D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, Midway and Iwo Jima; Veterans of the Frozen Chosin, Khe Sanh, Hue, Fallujah, Kandahar and the countless other meaningful posts where our military and their families have endured untold sacrifices for Freedom and Liberty.

Honoring our veterans is an opportunity for each of us to reflect upon our responsibility as a citizen. Yes, the survival of Freedom and Liberty relies on a strong and honorable military to protect us from enemies abroad; but Freedom and Liberty are also vulnerable from within and require an educated and engaged public to survive. Those of us who are not on active duty must step up to defend our country on the home front, as our liberties are more likely to be taken by a judge, a legislature or a czar than by a terrorist.

12 September 2009, four buses from the Blair County Tea Party traveled to Washington DC to join 1,000,000 Americans to protest the out of control spending of a federal government that has expanded well beyond its Constitutional authority. This progressive assault on our nation has occurred under the watch of both Republicans and Democrats over the past 100+ years and threatens our future as a free society.

As we disembarked from the buses near the WWII Memorial and began to make our way toward the Capitol, we passed dozens of WWII veterans; and as we stopped to shake their hands and thank them for their service, one gentleman in a wheelchair - but with the sharp eyes and mind of a young GI replied, “Thank you, and now it is your turn.”

It is our turn, our duty, to ensure a constitutional, transparent and fiscally responsible government. If we are to pass Freedom and Liberty on to future generations, if we hope to someday rest with dignity and honor, we must follow the example of those heroes and patriots who surround us this evening…we must answer the call. Our time is now.