At the end of each rally, the finale features our Gold Star mom Debbie Lee who talks so movingly about the sacrifice her son, US Navy SEAL Marc Alan Lee made for his country — for our freedom. After explaining what happened on that day in Ramadi in 2006, she committed her life to supporting the troops, in Marc’s name. It is a moment that has the audience spellbound.
And at that moment when she recognizes and thanks all the veterans in the audience, a number of the TPX team join her on stage with Ron and Kay Rivoli of the Rivoli Revue who remind us that freedom has a price. We wave our flags high as the Rivoli’s sing “Freedom’s not Free”. It moves me to tears every time, and I try to hold that flag up as high as I can.
At the song’s conclusion, Lloyd Marcus takes the mic and sings “I’m proud to be an American, where at least I now I’m free… and I won’t forget the ones who died who gave that right to me…”
That’s when I have to force a smile because if I don’t, I will cry.
If you’ve never seen the Tea Party Express talent, you really MUST come out to one of our rallies. From our singers to our comedian, to our rapper Polatik, I bet it will move you too.
