Stuart, FL.  Allen West showed all of his normal class and finesse tonight.  About 400 of his supporters, and a few suspected detractors that I spoke with, turned out to take part in a BBQ that the Congressman put on to show his very real appreciation for all of the hard work during the recent campaign.  

After greeting and chatting with many of the well-wishers present, the Congressman asked if anyone had said a blessing over the meal and event.  Hearing that they hadn’t, and in keeping with the kind of man he is, he led all those within earshot in a prayer over the occasion and included a blessing for our nation and our troops.

After the blessing, as he always does, he brought up an important historical event which started sixty-two years ago tomorrow; it surprised the US Corps and lasted almost three weeks.  The event was the Battle of Chosin Reservoir near the beginning of the Korean War which occurred from November 27, through December 13, 1950.  Please click the link for the story from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chosin_Reservoir

The Congressman’s point was that we prevailed, because Americans always prevail, and we will now.  He continued on with a very brief and pointed talk, which is his trademark, and encouraged us to not give up; that this “is not the time to cry over our BBQ.”    

After that excellent bit of motivation, the Congressman took the rest of the time to meet and greet any and all that wanted a photo or just a moment to chat.  At the very end of the evening, he called all of his staff together to thank them and take a few photos.

As far as what his own next step is; he didn’t say.  However I believe one can safely imagine that he will do what any other trained military officer and leader of faith would do, and that is consider and weigh all the options, think things through completely, seek the advice and counsel of those closest to him, and most importantly for him, I believe he will be spending a lot of time in prayer for guidance.

The first Relay of the season for Palm Beach County is on February 23-24, 2013, with the opening ceremony at noon, luminaria ceremony at 6:30pm and closing ceremony at 6am, all of which will take place at Logger’s Run Middle School in West Boca.  

“This is a really moving, emotionally powerful signature event and this year I will be relaying for my father who is fighting the battle and is going to win,” said Jamie Lober, Public Relations Chairman of the American Cancer Society – South Palm Beach Chapter.  Lober said his diagnosis has given her life a brand new calling.  “I have spent the past year at the forefront of rare cancer and gynecologic cancer initiatives nationally and obviously am a spokesman for my local American Cancer Society affiliate which is a role that I means a lot to me,” said Lober.  

Essentially, Relay for Life involves celebrating the lives of those who have battled cancer, remembering those we have lost and fighting back against the disease.  “The fighting back component is one of the reasons I get up feeling so energized each day and the largest way we can do this is by advocating for more research, of which the American Cancer Society is the largest source of private, nonprofit funds in the United States second to the federal government in total dollars spent,” said Lober.  

At the event, you will find that people camp out overnight around a track surrounded by entertainment, games and neat vendors.  “Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times to acknowledge that cancer does not sleep,” said Lober.  

If you live anywhere near the greater Palm Beach County area, it’s pretty hard to miss the fact that every year at Thanksgiving Christ Fellowship Church in Palm Beach Gardens, in concert with Big Heart Brigade, sees to it that a lot, and I mean a lot of people that otherwise might not have a meal, get one.

I’ve known about this annual event and have volunteered since I moved into the area four years ago.  This year I decided to find out about the nuts and bolts of how it all happens. 

This is a massive undertaking involving many thousands of volunteers that arrive in shifts; morning, afternoon, and evening.  Some stay for a complete shift, others whatever time they can spare; all are committed to helping prepare and deliver the near 105,000 Turkey dinners in time for Thanksgiving.

After what seemed like months of planning and arranging, packed into only three weeks, the Palm Beach County Tea Party and Act For America pulled just an amazing team of volunteers and resources together, and Palm Beach County was blessed to host Brigitte Gabriel for one night.

Conference calls were made, emails were sent, hands were shaken, and mistakes as well as friendships were made; in the end, last Thursday evening Brigitte Gabriel brought the house down at The Palm Beach Lakes Community High School.  Brigitte tells her story of how at an early age, she and her family were victimized by Islamic Extremists, of how they had to live in a bomb shelter for years, and how she overcame the fear, the nightmares, and the anguish of the struggle, and how she found success in America.