Our gang of six used the D.C. Metro system to get us from Arlington, VA to within walking distance (approx. 1 mile) of the Lincoln Memorial. As you can see from the photos the Metro was mobbed with folks. The multi car trains were jammed pack with people to the point where it was difficult to close the doors. Yet, there was no pushing and shoving and an over abundance of "excuse me" or "oops, sorry". No signs, no placards helped in these tight quarters. It was an incredible atmosphere on the train. In fact as we were riding, our car broke out in a spontaneous National Anthem singing!
The initial pictures are of the crowd exiting the station, again very orderly and patient as we funneled on to the escalators. Wisely the Metro folks chose to eliminate the need to use the pass cards to avoid a massive bottleneck at the electronic scanner/gates. Hey a freebie for the good guys!
Go to the light!.........
Only one mile to go............
Arrived!..........
We arrived at the Lincoln Memorial at around 9:30. It was immediately obvious that crowd estimates would come in on the high side. We were told that folks were streaming in since 5:00 AM! By the time we arrived it was impossible to get a "sight" view position and nearly impossible to get to a good vantage to see any of the "jumbo trons". Yet, people were settling in under trees, on blankets, just to be there and hear. The sound system was great. Seeking a spot under the trees to the left of the Memorial we settled down for the event. People kept streaming in well past the start of the program at 10:00.
The crowd swelled past the reflecting pool on both sides and then on past the WWII memorial toward the Washington monument. The field to the right of the memorial was filled with people. Just those observations would place the crowd to be in excess of 500,000. Amazingly, as you view the crowd, you will see no signs or placards.
Impressions...........
Having attended the 912 rally in D.C. last year there are striking differences yet an underlying similarity between the two. Clearly, last year's event was the venting of the Tea Party frustration with government. It was totally political and refreshingly spontaneous. It did not require a leader yet brought together hundreds of thousands to "holler" at the politicians. This year, the atmosphere, albeit more subdued, appeared to be no less determined in its purpose. The theme was more spiritual than political yet if you listened to the chatter amongst the folks the same intense opposition to the direction our country is taking was there as it was for the 912 event.
The biggest cheer and response from the huge crowd was given to Sarah Palin. Although she stayed on message with the spiritual revival theme established by Glenn Beck, she drew a huge response when she said (paraphrasing her statement) " there are those that would like to transform America but we are here to restor America". All the awards and spiritual revival aside, there is no doubt in my mind that the underlying theme for those in attendance was right in line with Palin's comment ...we didn't travel to D.C. by the hundreds of thousands, endure 90 degree heat, to attend a revival meeting..we were there to restore our Republic to its fundamental culture of individual liberty, limited government and free markets driven by a meritocracy! The religion theme is an excellent mortar to cement our values together and add strength through moral courage and individual integrity.
The effectiveness of this rally and the whole Tea Party movement can best be measured by the near hysterical response of the Left. Music to my ears!
For those on the Left who think this is a forth of July sparkler that will soon fizz out...think again. Those 500,000 are but a fraction of the folks who yearn for a return of limited government and entrepreneurial exceptionalism. America is a great country, it just needs some thorough housecleaning from time to time.
GRAB A BROOM AND GET TO WORK!
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