On Saturday, September 19th, I was standing in Civil War attire at the Gettysburg Square holding an American flag that I was, still am and always will be, proud to carry.

There were approximately seven of us waving various Trump flags as well. A permit was not needed for this amount of people. But we were still reported to the police, for having a “protest without a permit.” However, there were many spectators who stopped by to show their support for President Donald Trump. I also witnessed a little girl holding up a “BACK THE BLUE” sign, when an irate person drove passed flashing their middle finger. Instantly, this little girl put the “I Love You” Deaf sign, in the air, with her tiny little fingers. I looked at her mom and she said, “Whenever someone puts up their middle finger, I told my children to put up the, ‘I Love You,’ sign back.”  This to me, is the “Heartbeat of America.”

At 10:09AM that same day, Rich Sterner wrote on his Facebook page, “My friends, my neighbors, my fellow citizens of Senate District 33, this morning there was to be a Biden/Sterner Rally in Gettysburg. My good friend, Irish Whaley was making this happen and SOP (Save Our People). Then this morning, just a few minutes ago, we were warned that ‘shots will be fired’ if we go through with the rally. It is not my intention to ever back down to bullying or threats, but it is certainly not my intention for people to get hurt or killed over my campaign. Therefore, we have decided to not hold this event today in Gettysburg. Thank you so much to those of you that were going to come out and support my campaign. I know you are out there, Republicans and Democrats alike. We will get through this ridiculous phase of hatefulness. We will get back to what Americans do best …. taking care of each other …. doing the right things …. making things right!”

Mr. Sterner was confronted by Frank Marrone for proof and as of yet, no proof has been obtained. In another recent conversation Mr. Sterner had with Mr. Marrone he stated, “I am not even a Liberal. I’m considered a moderate Democrat. I have a lot of respect for Senator Mastriano’s service. His views are very different from mine. But that is why we have elections. I don’t hate him. I don’t think he is evil. I don’t think he is trying to destroy this country.” But let us back track to July 4^th when Mr. Sterner stated, “The guy in the purple shirt that’s Senator Mastriano that’s who I’m running against in November. This is not where Senate District 33, Pennsylvania, or our Nation needs to be right now. These fellows are heavily armed. They are flying the stars and bars They are wearing Hawaiian shirts (boogaloo bois) https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/3204899001, and I’m betting they are not exchanging cookie recipes. God help us. Gettysburg is not a platform for hate speech. Even President Lincoln pushed for reform and progress, ‘that these here honored dead shall not have died in vain.’ In fact, this would be a great time for all of us to pull out our history books and take a good thoughtful look at Lincoln’s words spoken over those fields. Don’t just read them … soak them in. Swim in them. Then ask yourself, if you are doing what Abraham Lincoln asked us to do that day he spoke.”

First, let’s address this, “Boogaloo Movement.” They are sparked by wanting to “overthrow the Government,” and cause “societal collapse.” It is defined as on Wikipedia as:

“Societal collapse (also known as civilizational collapse) is the fall of a complex human society characterized by the loss of cultural identity and of socioeconomic complexity, the downfall of government, and the rise of violence. Possible causes of a societal collapse include natural catastrophe, war, pestilence, famine, and depopulation. A collapsed society may revert to a more primitive state, be absorbed into a stronger society, or completely disappear.”

You have the audacity to accuse a United States Military Colonel, and a PA State Senator as well as those Patriots, of wanting the downfall of our government and to raise violence. Why? Is it because they rose up against the possible threats of Antifa? It doesn’t make them “White Supremacists” or “Neo-Nazis.” It makes them Americans! Just to be clear, in the picture you are referring to, there were only two men in Hawaiian shirts; four men with T-shirts; one woman with a tank top; and one with a shirt of an American flag. Oh! But let’s not forget what Senator Mastriano was wearing. You referred to him as the “the guy in the purple shirt.” Yet, you claim to respect him. You said they were flying, “the stars and bars (a Confederate flag). Yet, counting the stars and bars, this in (my opinion) looks more like a Betsy Ross flag. The other flag behind it, is either a Navel Jack or Confederate Battle Flag. So, how did you know what they were talking about? You were not even there. You said that Gettysburg is not a “platform for hate speech.” You guessed they were not “exchanging cookie recipes.” You automatically assumed they were talking about hate, or they were there to protect the Confederate Monuments, which meant they were for slavery. Since you are so quick to point out the writings of Abraham Lincoln, it is here I must interject something of great importance. It is a letter dated August 22, 1862 written to Horace Greeley from Abraham Lincoln himself.

“My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union.”

     (www.abrahamlincolnonline.org)

Shall we “swim” in this monumental piece of history? He clearly states that if he could save the Union without freeing any slaves, he wouldn’t free them. Or even freeing some and not the others, if it meant to save the Union – he would do it that way. He ONLY freed them all because it helped to save the Union. This is precisely what is heart was centered on and why the Civil War was not started due to slavery.  So, your talk of  “hate speech,” is invalid.

As someone who is trying to run for public office, misinforming the public, assuming and guessing – do not make for a solid stand. You also mentioned Abraham Lincoln, and “how these honored dead shall not have died in vain.” The militia and the Senator on July 4^th were there with nothing but honor to those soldiers, both Union and Confederate. In fact, I spent most of my day at the Gettysburg National Cemetery, making sure that those soldiers graves were not desecrated.  Yet, according to people like you, we were practicing hate and racism. You talk about history books. Shall I bring up the Constitution the United States and the Second Amendment, where it states:

“A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

By your own post, did you not try to infringe on the right of the people trying to keep the security of a free State? You put us in the same class with Antifa. Which honestly, doesn’t even make sense. We were there to protect the monuments and the town for that matter, from those who would seek to destroy it – which is Antifa. No one knew if their threat to destroy the Confederate Monuments were credible. But from their track record – we were left with no choice but to take a stand. There are not enough local police in Gettysburg, to protect the town, should something like Portland where Antifa has rioted, murdered and burned other cities were to happen here. One must ask the simple question. “What if they showed up and actually carried out their threats, without the help necessary to stop them?” The simple answer, those same people that opposed the militia, would blame President Trump for his lack of taking their threats seriously. Somehow, it’s all President’s Trump fault. Yet, there again, are not the Democrats making even more threats if he is reelected, or if he nominates a new Supreme Court Justice before the elections?

It is here, where I find that the Trump Deranged Syndrome really kicks in. The Urban Dictionary defines it as: “Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) is a mental condition in which a person has been driven effectively insane due to their dislike of Donald Trump, to the point at which they will abandon all logic and reason.” I can assure you Mr. Sterner, it was not the Trump supporters that were throwing rocks at passing cars; using vulgar language in front of children, tourists and those just trying to enjoy a good meal; making threats; stepping into traffic trying to block motorists; smashing windows of vehicles with adults, children and animals inside; and in the latest incident  involving Christie McCrogan of Scranton. She was placing Trump signs near a road, when she was nearly run over by a someone who swerved to hit her. She then had to dive out of the way thus resulting in a facial injury. Yes! Trump Derange Syndrome is a mental condition that needs to be addressed. In fact, also on the 19^th, I witnessed one young man who flew around the Square with his face so enraged, yelling obscenities that he almost ran into a few parked cars with pedestrians close by. Yet, according to Mayor Streeter in his email to me dated September 14^th, “To be perfectly blunt, the demonstrations are likely here to stay, at least until the cold weather sets in.  The supreme court has ruled that a municipality may control the time, place and manner of a demonstration, but not its content.  Free speech, no matter how despicable, is guaranteed by the First Amendment. The municipality cannot control what is said or the dialogues that take place. The bright spot, if there is one, is that the demonstrations have decreased in intensity from well over a hundred at the first two, to under ten at the last.  And, we have no requests for permits to demonstrate at the time.  Undoubtedly, regardless of its outcome, the election will spark other demonstrations.  But, other than the language, they have occurred without incident.” Without incident? When I questioned the Mayor what he considered to be a “peaceful protest,” he replied, “I believe you should consult an attorney for a definition of “peaceful protest.”  I personally would define it as one free of physical violence, but again, I am not a lawyer.” Just curious, is throwing rocks, making threats and stepping into traffic, swerving to hit people – free of physical violence? He went on to say, “I, like you and many others, wish they would go away.  But, unfortunately, the significance of Gettysburg makes our town an ideal place to demonstrate.” You mean, the Gettysburg that is so significant that people like the Adams County Commissioner Marty Qually, wanted to remove the Confederate Monuments from the Gettysburg National Military Park? That Gettysburg? Perhaps Mr. Sterner’s colleagues should soak up the knowledge of the history books as well. Perhaps they will find the words, “that these here honored dead shall not have died in vain,” included both Union and Confederate Soldiers that died on the fields of Gettysburg. If we are to truly ask ourselves if we are doing what Abraham Lincoln wanted us to do the day, he spoke his Gettysburg Address here, let me take it one step further. Is this not the same man who also once stated, “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” The Bible clearly states, in Proverbs 22:28, “Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set,” and “Thou shall not kill”– the 6^th Commandment. Yet, how many of you Socialistic Democrats are for abortion, including late term abortion, where a full-term infant can survive outside of his or her mother’s womb can be legally “terminated?” Yet, if someone came into the delivery room and shot that same baby at point-blank range and killed him or her, it would be called, “murder.” Please explain the difference! Thank God, President Trump has signed a new executive order, so that infants who survive an abortion are now required to have prenatal care. This is something the Democrats in Congress have blocked time and time again. It is an unspeakable evil!

Mr. Sterner, you talk about the “new birth of freedom,” but yet left out “that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom.” I find that Senator Doug Mastriano, as a man of God, is a far better candidate than you, for the Senate District 33 and most definitely to replace Governor Wolf, hopefully sooner rather than later, before he and Dr. Levine ruin any more lives. I would like to know how killing thousands of innocent elderly patients, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and making having an abortion an essential, is pushing for reform and progress. To reform something, is to make it better. It is estimated that over 7,000 businesses have had to close for good, due to the failures of both Governor Wolf and Dr. Levine and their unconstitutional mandates. Is this the progress you are referring to, Mr. Sterner? You also stated September 19^th, “I know you are out there, Republicans and Democrats alike. We will get through this ridiculous phase of hatefulness. We will get back to what Americans do best …. taking care of each other …. doing the right things …. making things right!” I have yet to hear you speak out against the anti-Trump protests that are anything but peaceful. Would that not be counted as, “doing things right…making things right?” I have not seen the hate that you talk of coming from the Republican side. In fact, many refuse to speak up and voice their own opinions because they are too afraid of the backlash from the Lefts. No one in this country should feel like their voice cannot be heard. But due to the he said, she said – anger and disillusionment, there cannot be peace. Words have power, meaning and influence, and when you have the platform and use those words to promote false accusations and fake news, there must be accountability.

You say you love this country. But you are so fast to blame those who are trying to protect its history, of it being a platform for hate speech. So, please tell me how you love this country? Since you, by your own words, are against those who are trying to save it. I have Cherokee ancestors. Shall I bring up the Cherokee Trail of Tears? Though not perfect people, their lives mattered too. Yet, only Black Lives seem to matter due to slavery. Cherokees were kicked off their land in the winter and most only had the clothes on their backs and sadly thousands died as a result.

American history is marred. But without the remembrance of slavery or the Cherokee Trail of Tears, there would be no need to remember pioneers like Martin Luther King Jr., or Rosa Parks, or that great Cherokee Chief John Ross. These amazing and astonishing people – their fortitude begins to weaken. Why? Without the fight, there is no need to overcome. I am NOT saying that slavery was a good thing. But it is part of our American history. Yet, the people that overcame it and forged new rivers of their own destinies and helped to change the course of America’s future for the better, … Wow! This is the “Backbone of America” that the Left wants to remove. They want to weaken our Patriotism and this, is why we are at war inside our own borders. Abraham Lincoln also stated: “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

There was a time when Democrats and Republicans worked together, for the common good of America. John F. Kennedy once stated: “Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.” We must seek the right answer and going back to the previous quote by Abraham Lincoln. “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” To fix what is wrong with America, is to accept our own responsibility for the future. Socialism has proven to be from the pits of Hell. The right answer is to bring this country back to its founding. In the words of General Romulo, “Never forget Americans, that yours is a spiritual country. Yes, I know that you’re a practical people. Like others, I’ve marveled at your factories, your skyscrapers, and your arsenals. But underlying everything else is the fact that America began as a God-loving, God-fearing and God-worshipping people.”

In conclusion, to the parents who told their little girl when they give us the middle finger to put up the Deaf, “I Love You,” sign – I truly thank you. Because as Martin Luther King Jr. once stated, “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” So, you see Mr. Sterner – the right answer starts with love and love starts with God! Martin Luther King Jr. also stated, “Only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars.” Senator Mastriano, I look forward to your reelection as our PA State Senator for District 33, and hopefully as our next Governor. We have seen who the real stars are that have shined brightly during the midnight sky of this pandemic, and you Sir, are one of them. Patriots – keep the faith and the fight. “The gates of Hell will not prevail.” (Matthew 16:18)!

*I welcome your comments, letters, emails or text. Due to vocal cord injuries, I rarely talk on the phone. If you do message me, please respectfully leave me your name and your contact information, so I can reach out to you.