Why I am Involved

On April 15, 2009 my wife and I attend a Putnam County Tea Party event.  At the outset the organizer of the event stood before the crowd and made a short opening speech.  We were both impressed by his sincerity and his concern for others.  At the time he was 61 years old.  A little over four months later, on July 28, 2008, Don Caldwell passed from this earth.  After serving twenty-six years in the U. S. Navy, he spent the last months of his life fighting for the life of the land he loved.  Don understood what is happening and was not willing to cast his children and grandchildren into a thousand years of darkness by his inaction.   His wife Glenda, who said he was her “Salty Ole Sailor,” provided me with a copy of his speech.  This is his talk, unedited, just as he wrote it.  It is an honor and a privilege to publish it.  Every Patriot should read it and take it to heart.

WHY I AM INVOLVED

Recently I was asked “Why I am involved in Putnam County Republican Party and the Tea Party.”  I became involved during the General Election, when my wife and I stopped by the Republican Office to pick up some yard signs. {We had been involved in several elections in Florida.}  What we found was a few volunteers working hard and getting slammed, because they were out of yard signs.  And the rest is history.

I have gotten involved because my COMMUNITY needs me to, MY FRIENDS NEED ME TO, MY WIFE NEEDS ME TO, AND MY CHILDREN NEED ME TO.  I have gotten involved because my grandchildren are the next generation and they need me TO.  I have gotten involved because YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR SPOUSE, YOUR CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS NEED ME TO. I AM INVOLVED BECAUSE YOU TO ARE INVOLVED! YOU SERVE US LOCALLY AS FIREFIGHTERS, LAW ENFORCMENT OFFICERS, DOCTORS ECT.  I am involved because we have GREAT PEOPLE WHO SERVE THIS GREAT NATION AS SAILORS, AIRMEN, MARINES AND ARMED FORCES.  Yes every one serves in ONE way or another.  But how committed ARE WE IS THE QUESTION.

I am committed to YOU, AND YOU AND YOU EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!  I am committed to my COUNTRY, MY CHILDREN AND YOUR CHILDREN. I AM COMMITTED TO THOSE WHO SERVE MY GREAT COUNTRY.  I TOO SERVED THIS GREAT NATION FOR TWENTY-SIX YEARS IN THE U.S.N PROUDLY.  THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF OUR ARMED FORCES NEED US TO BE INVOLVED.  THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR OUR FREEDOM WITH THEIR LIVES.  WE SHOULD AT LEAST BE WILLING TO SACRIFICE OUR TIME TO STAND UP FOR THEM.

THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION IS SETTING THEM UP TO FAIL.  THEY ARE CUTTING THEIR BUDGET, CUTTING WHAT THEY HAVE AND LEAVING THEM WITH NOTHING.  I SERVED TWO TOURS IN VIET NAM WHEN OUR BUDGETS TOO WERE CUT, AND I KNOW AS WELL WHAT OUR MILITARY THAT SO PROUDLY SERVE, FACE WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN.  YES YOU ASK ME WHY I STAND UP HERE TODAY AND GET INVOLVED.  THAT IS WHY.

I SHALL REMAIN INVOLVED AS LONG AS I CAN, OR AS LONG AS MY GOD WILL ALLOW ME TO DO SO.

I HOPE TO LEAVE IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER PLACE FOR MY WIFE AND MY FAMILY AS WELL AS YOURS AND THOSE WHO SO PROUDLY SERVE.  I DO IT WITH HONOR AND PRIDE, WITH THE HOPE WHAT I HAVE DONE HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE IN SOME ONES LIFE, AND MADE THIS A BETTER PLACE FOR OUR NEXT GENERATION.  MY CHILDREN AND YOURS.

Thanks To You Who Have Allowed Me To Do So.

THANK GOD FOR OUR FREEDOM AND A GREAT COUNTRY CALLED AMERICA!!!

Donald J. Caldwell 4/14/ 2009

Folks, the time for inaction has passed.  Everyone seems to go about their lives with little concern for what is happening to our nation and our world.  It seems we are only interested in making a living and acquiring stuff.  While the family, Christianity, the life of children, and the nation we love are at stake we shrug our shoulders, shake our heads, and say “I am just one person. What can I do?”  Unless we wake  up, unite, and get involved, just as Don Caldwell did, we are not only going to lose our stuff and our nation, but we are going to sacrifice our children’s future for generations to come.

Wayne Leeper