Roy Exum
Almost 450 people – none of them ordinary – will gather at the Chattanooga Convention Center this Friday for hardly an ordinary event - the Third Annual ‘Honoring the Sacrifice’ Foundation Dinner. Among the honored guests will be a Marine Sergeant – DeMonte Cheely – who proved he was far from ordinary this time last year when he was wounded, valiantly I might add, as our Marine Recruiting Depot was attacked by a terrorist on Amnicola Highway.
There will be eight other victims of terrorist’s attacks present – not a one ordinary – as evidenced by the missing limbs and devastation they suffered at the hands of al-Qaeda and other such roaches in Afghanistan by explosive devices. They will be led by Chattanooga’s Andrew Smith, whose legs were blown away but whose heart for his wounded brothers grew legendary as he and his family started the Honoring the Sacrifice Foundation.
But on a night when there are more heroes in the room than not, this year’s speaker will be one of the most powerful voices in America. Lt. Col. Allen West, an outspoken zealot for patriotism and both an unfailing and unflinching believer that the United States is still the greatest nation under God, is about as close to ordinary as the planet earth is to the sun (that would be 93 million miles.)
For instance, when he was elected as the first black Republican Congressman in Florida in 2011, it was the first time that had occurred since 1876, the end of Reconstruction. Today he is an active commentator on the Fox network, is a celebrated national news columnist and – for what it’s worth – is a huge “Big Orange” follower after graduating from Knoxville in 1983 with a ROTC commission.
He is constantly quoted. Last week when the FBI announced the bureau would not pursue criminal charges against presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, his resulting column went viral in the United States as well as Europe. Why? Allow me to share a very ordinary example of who Allen West really is in this brilliant excerpt:
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“Of course, the news cycle is completely dominated by FBI Director James Comey’s announcement yesterday recommending no criminal charges against Hillary Clinton. And my response is GREAT! I can’t thank Director Comey enough for coming to this decision.
“My concern has always been that Barack Obama would release the hounds on Mrs. Clinton and then push for his vice president, Joe Biden, to be the Democrat nominee. And then, to placate the far lefty socialists, who own the Democrat party, Obama would position Sen. Elizabeth Warren as Biden’s VP. That would be a really tough ticket to beat, since Joe Biden’s favorables, regardless of gaffes and such, are extremely high.” West wrote.
“However, James Comey just delivered a gift wrapped with a bow. Why do I say that?
“Simple, here’s what FBI Director Comey said regarding Hillary Clinton and this email server episode:
• -- He concluded Hillary was “extremely careless” in handling our nation’s secrets.
• -- He admitted no reasonable person could have believed putting these emails on a private server was at all appropriate or acceptable.
• -- He admitted 110 emails on the server were classified at the time they were sent — showing Hillary not only lied, but knowingly endangered national security as secretary of state.
• -- He admitted Hillary deleted work-related emails before turning them over to the State Department, despite her claims otherwise.
• -- And, most shocking, Mr. Comey even admitted it’s likely foreign governments hacked her emails — and our adversaries could know critical secrets about the U.S. government because of Hillary’s actions.
“Here’s a simple Southern summation. Hillary Clinton was extremely careless with our not just classified, but highly classified, information — why not just term this gross negligence? I can tell you, if I were a member of our Armed Services who’s been punished for misuse or mishandling of classified information, I would be filing an appeal. See, in the military, at a minimum, you’ll lose your security clearance; maximum, you’ll face courts-martial punishment,” West reasoned.
“Comey has said Hillary Clinton is not reasonable — is that who you want as president and commander in chief? And Mrs. Clinton’s actions were not appropriate or acceptable. That follows with Mrs. Clinton’s blatant lie about not having any classified material on her private server — her unclassified, private, personal server. Hillary Clinton stated there was no classified correspondence she emailed — wrong, a lie. Lastly, Comey confirmed Hillary Clinton inappropriately deleted the property of the American people — State Department, work-related emails. We know from the deposition of her closest aide, the daughter of Muslim Brotherhood associates Huma Abedin, that she admitted to burning emails.”
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Whew! Regardless your political inclinations, Allen West’s talk is guaranteed to be a dilly. But that is not the best part of the story. No, Friday night, the ‘Honoring the Sacrifice’ Foundation will recognize why Hillary Clinton has the freedom to run for office, why Allen West has the liberty to share his views, and why 450 people can gather to honor those who are without limbs in the name of freedom.
Unfortunately, no further tickets for Friday night’s event are available, this year’s crowd more than 100 more than in the past. Earlier this year "Honoring the Sacrifice” helped build a custom home for a double-amputee Marine in upper East Tennessee and continues to play a major role in the betterment of wounded soldiers across the country.
Those wishing to contribute to the ‘Honoring the Sacrifice” Foundation can send 501 c 3 donations to Post Office Box 21806 Chattanooga TN 37424 or can obtain further information at the website, www.honoringthesacrifice.org.
This year’s ‘Honoring the Sacrifice’ banquet is part of a weekend of activities honoring the four Marines and the Navy sailor who lost their lives in a terrorist attack here on July, 16, 2015. Thousands paid tribute to the fallen soldiers and thousands more are expected to take part in commemorative events in the Chattanooga area this weekend.
royexum@aol.com