The Country Fair in Brea, CA on Independence Day gave District 55 volunteers the opportunity to show up, stand up and speak up about Article V and the Convention of States plan to limit federal power as the Framers of the Constitution envisioned.
The scene for the event was set with a morning invocation including prayer and praise songs performed live. A US Marine addressed the growing crowd with a call to patriotism. A woman sang the National Anthem, and everyone became silent and stood attentive.
The smell of sausage cooking and maple syrup on pancakes filled the air near our Convention of States booth. As volunteers arrived, we worked together to decorate our home for the day. We brought a 10”X10” canopy to extend the booth size and provide shade. We were able to enjoy the process because we planned for the event at a district meeting in June and a small meeting where decorations were assembled.
Through the day, six self-governing grassroots activists worked the shifts of their choosing, providing District Captain Debra Oresko a steady crew of ready patriots to greet the community with ease. Live music broadcast from speakers sometimes meant we had to shout or just stop talking until the relative quiet returned. The good LORD provided cooling breezes and safety for all, thanks to the prayers of the California COS team.
In keeping with the requirements for participation in the Country Fair, our mission for the day was to enlighten people in a friendly way about an aspect of American independence of which many people are unaware. When we told them about Article V, using our laminated handouts as visual aids, the information was well-received. Many people took COS palm cards and business cards with the COS QR codes.
One dad of Southeast Asian descent who was familiar with Convention of States was glad to have the opportunity to sign the petition.
With his young son at his knee, he explained how his grandmother escaped the tyranny of Mao Zedong, then the Vietcong, to live free in the United States. She taught her family to recognize tyranny. Her grandson, who yesterday signed the COS petition, taught us something about his community; that the prevalent political ideology is Conservatism.
The largest Southeast Asian community outside of Vietnam, according to Wiki, exists just a few miles away from District 55. This community may be hungry for the Convention of States message.
Restoring a culture of self-governance in America by uniting, to wrest power away from D.C., is our noble and transcendent goal for every community, on Independence Day and everyday of the year.
