RNC Day 3-America Is Our Home!

-Sgt. William Pekrul, speaks on night 3 of the Republican National Convention. RNC Update #6 by Sue Greenwald M.D.

The early part of our Wednesday was very pleasant and historic. Hosted by Charles W. Herbster, our Nebraska delegation was treated to a wonderful lunch, followed by the world premier of the movie “Trump’s Rescue Mission: Saving America.” This documentary, co-produced by Mr. Herbster and Dave Bossie, is something you must see. President Trump came to the theatre to make some remarks and introduce the film. It was his first public speech since his brush with an assassin’s bullet. We waited a long time for him to arrive, but it was worth it. It ended up being sort of a mini Trump rally, but with air conditioning. My friend and co-delegate Stephany, described this experience better than I can. Read it HERE.

Sergeant William Pekrul, Decorated D-Day Veteran

Then came the evening.

The quote of the night was from a charming 98 year old decorated war veteran of World War ll, and D-day, Sergeant William Pekrul. Clearly a humble man, he spoke of the heroism and sacrifice of his friends, taking no credit for himself.

“Some call us the Greatest Generation, I don’t know about that. Some say that America is an idea, but I think America is so much more than that.” Plaintively, he added: “America is our home!”

It is 1 a.m. We returned late to the hotel because the police were blocking the streets and we could not pass to meet our bus. All ended well but it was a significant delay. After grabbing a snack, I am sitting down to process the emotional roller coaster that carried the theme- Make America Strong Again.

We cried with gold star parents who lost their barely adult offspring during the tragic and incomprehensible Afghanistan withdrawal. We repeated all the names of the honored dead, which is something that neither Biden nor Harris have ever done according to their parents. One mother remarked that President Trump spent six hours grieving with them, and it was the first time she didn’t feel like she carried the burden alone. “You are not alone,” was the loud response from many in the crowd.

We rejoiced and praised the heavens to have our Presidential candidate alive but mourned the loss of innocent life.

We felt the intense pain of the family whose barely adult son is still a hostage in Gaza, as are several other American citizens. The young man’s father told us there were 45 Americans killed during the Hamas attack. “Where is the outrage!!,” he cried. Where, indeed.

We smiled with the UNC frat boys, honored for their patriotism, who paraded in with flags and high fives. We have all seen the images of these young men. When they saw an American flag being threatened on their campus by protestors that wanted to replace it with a Palestinian flag, they said “not on our watch,” and they stood up to the mob.

We empathized with Jim Chilton, and his wife of 60 years, who spoke about the invasion of their Arizona ranch by cartels. He said they had little trouble during the Trump years. The wall was nearly finished on their property when Biden stopped the construction. Now they are under siege, with their home being broken into, bodies found on their property, and concern every time they venture onto their land that they won’t return. While he spoke, a trail camera video from his ranch showed a constant stream of what appeared to be men in military gear walking in single file formation. Thomas Homan, former acting director of ICE offered the statistics to confirm the impression of a border invasion, and promised a remedy in the Trump administration.

We agonized with the Mayor of East Palestine, Ohio. He described the devastation of their small working class town, the heroism of his local first responders, and abandonment they experienced as government officials shunned them and the media forgot them.

Peter Navarro, Presidential advisor to Trump and political prisoner, was release from federal lock-up Wednesday morning and came straight to the convention to report. His welcoming applause was loud and long. He gave a rousing and defiant speech that I recommend you listen to. “In Trump’s America you were safe and you were prosperous. You didn’t have to worry about being locked up if you disagreed with the government.” He told us that as he was entering prison, his fiancé said the 3 words that gave him strength: “We got this.”

Kai Trump, the teenage daughter of Don, Jr., and the eldest granddaughter of President Trump, gave her first ever public speech to an audience of millions. She wanted people to know that her Grandpa is a cool guy who shares her love of golf, and sometimes calls her at school just to talk. She wants everyone to love him as much as she does. She was adorable.

That was a lot to take in, and I haven’t even gotten to the politicians yet.

Doug Burgum of North Dakota explained how the price of oil causes war, and how the U.S. is stupidly funding the wars in Ukraine and Israel both directly and indirectly. By limiting the oil production at home, we are inflating the price of oil. Iran and Russia are making billions selling that oil, and now have the funds to spend on their military and terrorist operations. During the Trump administration, neither of those countries had the funds to go to war.

Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz says we ride or die with Donald Trump. He wants to pass term limits for Congress, voter ID laws, and stop the insider trading issue that enriches politicians. He is being persecuted with nuisance lawfare suits, just as Trump is.

The theme was “Make America Strong Again,” but I think the overarching message could be summed in the words “trauma” and “family.” Without even mentioning COVID, which was horrible in itself, the evening was like a newsreel of the crises of the past 4 years, how none of them are solved, how no one is accountable, and how families suffer the consequences. It seems we wake up to some new national drama every morning, knowing we are only getting part of the story, and knowing that the cliff-hanger of an ending will never be revealed unless it’s the villain who wins.

However, every single speaker credited their families as the source of their endurance and strength.

The theme was brought full circle by J.D. Vance and his wife. Mrs. Usha Vance spoke about the couple's love story, their young children, and their appreciation of their extended family. J.D. spoke of the tough love of the “Mamaw” who raised him. The crowd did a “Mamaw” chant.

He spoke about his generation, which is being left behind financially, unable to afford food or own a home in the current economy. His priorities are the priorities of all families. He is optimistic for the future. He clearly represents the next generation of leaders.

When J.D. mentioned his children, who would have been there if it wasn’t past their bedtime, I had a flashback of the photo of JFK, Jr., as a toddler hiding under the Resolute Desk. Boomers will understand that reference.

We are living in a period of crushing daily emotional trauma, and it feels intentional. Our current “leaders” either don’t see it or don’t care. That was the message this evening’s program hammered home. It drained me.

We know things can get a lot worse before they get better, but this optimistic Trump/Vance team has convinced many they are the way, not out, but through to the other side. They can’t do anything without us. For the sake of all our families we pray the direction can be corrected at the ballot box. Everyone I saw in that arena is clearly prepared to do what it takes to restore order and peace, because, as Sergeant William Pekrul says- America is our home!