Recently in America the Great Category

At its January 9, 2012 meeting the committee voted to extend its congratulations to the new state chairman and to indicate it is looking forward to working with him during the critical 2012 election campaigns.

The committee also extended an invitation to the chairman to come to Chatham to celebrate with the town its Lincoln Day observance on Sunday, February 12th. The event will be held at the Chatham VFW from 3 to 5. Details will be announced shortly.

Chairman Walter Bilowz said, "This is an important year for Chatham since it is celebrating its 300th birthday as a town. It's also an important year for the nation since new leadership is desperately needed in Washington. It is therefore fitting that the committee honor our first Republican president, who was serving when Chatham celebrated its 150th birthday. Abraham Lincoln had the courage, comitment, strength and determination to save this nation at a time of its greatest peril. Once again, it falls to a Republican to rescue the country from forces seeking to destroy it. We can do no better than to turn to Lincoln as an example of towering leadership."

We had a great time at the parade.

We had a terrific walking group of Chathamites and folks from Barnstable, Brewster, Harwich and Orleans.

Our group was led by a fire-red pick-up truck with our "Chatham Republicans" banner draped across the front. On each side a "Support Our Troops" banner was hung. And a quilted "God Bless America" was on the tailgate. We had our own bellringer in the truck back, letting "Freedom Ring" as we moved along.

Our marchers ranged in age from four (he rode part of the way in the truck) to over 80 with each decade well represented.

Behind our flag-carrying walkers was our yellow Jeep festooned with patriotic bunting and our "Don't Tread On Me" flag prominently displayed.

As we marched through the 40,000 or so crowding the streets, we received a tremendous outpouring of applause, cheers and shouts as our young marchers handed out over 750,000 miniature flags to children and olsters along the way. It was clear that our down-to-earth, regular folks approach to the parade struck a responsive chord.

At the end of our two and one-half miles of walking, we had sore feet but lots of big smiles.

Our thanks to all whose participation made our part of America's birthday celebration a great success.

We are all set for and excited about the parade on Monday.

We have a terrific group marching to celebrate the nation's founding and to honor those who have fought and died to keep us free.

You’ll see us coming. Our fire red pickup truck will be in the lead with our “Chatham Republicans” banner prominent on the hood.

We honor those who make this land of the free possible, the brave troops who defend us around the world, with our “Support Our Troops” message on both sides of the pickup.

We acknowledge from whence our blessings flow with a banner facing the marchers at the tail end of the truck.

After the red pickup will be our marchers with American flags galore

It’s wonderful that Harvard has just published a report that Republicans are more likely to be patriotic and attributes some of that inclination to parades.

Bringing up the rear of our unit will be our yellow Jeep carrying some of the longtime members of the town committee and saluting the Brewster Republican Town Committee, nine or so members of which are marching with us.

This is a day of celebration for how lucky we are to be Americans. We also march to say thanks to our founding fathers and those men and women who have fought and died to keep the flame of freedom burning.

Our music selection (which you may or may not be able to hear because of the background noise) will recognize America, the land of opportunity (Only in America), will salute all the men and women in uniform (a medley of service songs) and the American flag (John Phillips Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever) and express our appreciation for the beneficence bestowed upon us with Kate Smith’s historic God Bless America.

Since the theme of the parade is “Let Freedom Ring” and that is the signature of the Liberty Bell, we will be, in Chatham’s seafaring fashion, sounding a ship’s bell as the parade moves along Main Street.

A happy and safe 4th to all.

Today's observance of Memorial Day in Chatham was very well attended, even better than last year's. 300 would be our guess of those who followed the parade from place to place.

The total time for the parade and stops at the various memorials was just 1 and 1/2 hour.

At each memorial there were short prayers for the dead, gunfire salutes and the playing of taps.

The first at 10 a.m. was at the World War I memorial in front of what is now the Community Center.

To Oyster Pond for a wreath laid in the waves for those who died serving at sea and a wreath at the Korean-Vietnam Memorial.

Then to Sears Park at Main and Seaview for the Civil War observance highlighted by a stirring rendition of the Gettysburg Address by Scott Hamilton. (Imagine: Chatham with a population of just slightly over 2000 sent 263 men off to fight for the Union.)

The final stop was at the rotary where the Veterans Memorial is at the center of the rotary. There were short speeches; patriotic songs sung by We are the Men choir and a wonderful playing of Amazing Grace on the bagpipes. The parade was led by veterans (including Finance Committee Chairman Jo Ann Sprague in full uniform), Coast Guard personnel, police and fire personnel, boy and girl scouts, cubs and browies, the high and middle school bands and the high school music director and selectmen Roper, Seldin and Sussman.

It was quite moving. Thanks to the Public Ceremonies Committee. Well done.

Chatham had a simple but moving observance of Veterans' Day today at the Veterans Memorial at the Main Street entrance to "downtown." Veterans of WWII to those currently serving in the Armed Services were there. The Chatham High School and Midschool band played, taps were sounded on a bugle, Amazing Grace on the bagpipes and a gun salute all performed in honor of those living and dead who served to keep America free. We all sang "God Bless America."

We all know how high the stakes are in the November election. The America generations of Americans have known and loved and been proud of is under attack from within by elites who want us to be like everyone else and not the exceptional nation we are.

These elites control the Congress and the White House and they must be turned out. The fight to save America for future generations will be joined on November 2nd and those who believe in America's greatness must win.

The battle of November 2nd is "pivotal" and must be fought in every Congressional District in the country, including in our own 10th Congressional District. That means sending a Republican to Congress and we in Chatham have a job to do.

Listen to Marco Rubio, now the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in Florida. The son of Cuban exiles, Rubio passionately believes in America as an unequaled land of opportunity which must be defended against all enemies, foreign and domestic. With leaders like Rubio in the Senate, the destruction of American principles and values can be stopped. Take the nine minutes to hear his heartfelt call to save America.

His message is our message.

Because America is the home of the brave, it's the home of the free.

Remember, too, those who are fighting today to preserve our freedoms. Off to the right are three charities you can donate to: Injured Marines Semper Fi Fund, Wounded Warriors and Soldiers Angels. They all do great work.

20 years ago, the day that Ronald Reagan forecast, the Berlin Wall was torn down.

What Reagan said then. And how it came about.

And here's what was said today to commemorate this victory for freedom.