ROCKWALL, TX (March 24, 2015) Former Congressman J.C. Watts defined America’s “rendezvous with destiny” during the Reagan Day Celebration 2015 event honoring our country’s past and current leaders on Saturday, March 21, set at the Hilton Dallas/Rockwall Lakefront at The Harbor in Rockwall.
The annual event, themed “The Hollywood Years,” saw city and state officials, members of the military and residents of the county come out to celebrate our country’s leaders of yesterday and today and honor our nation’s military veterans for their bravery and sacrifice.
As the keynote speaker of the celebration, Watts recounted what it was like growing up in a home under a father who had served in World War II, and how he would efficiently provide for his family, become actively involved within his community, and eventually – along with Reagan and the rest of the men and women of that generation – lay the foundation for the future of Americans and the freedoms we enjoy today.
“That World War II generation gave us the safest, the healthiest, the freest and most prosperous nation known to man,” Watts said. “Long before Nike came along with the slogan, ‘Just do it,’ they just did it; They just served their communities, and they were good providers for their families.”
While serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995-2003, Watts represented three military facilities – two Air Force bases and one Army post – and said every day he walked among them made him a little more proud to be an American because he could feel their commitment to honor and defend our nation’s freedom.
“If we can see further today, it’s because we stand on the shoulders of our military men and women who have gone and served, and provided us the opportunity that a JC Watts could someday grow up in Eufaula, Oklahoma on the east side of the railroad tracks and serve the United States House of Representatives,” Watts said.
Watts stated that while we as a nation our headed into what he termed a state of “graceful decay,” our destiny as Americans calls for us to hold ourselves accountable for future generations as well as our own, quoting another U.S. President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in his powerful speech: We have “a rendezvous with destiny.”
So just what is our rendezvous with destiny? According to Watts, it’s all about protecting our freedom for the next generation, acting as those before us who fought, who died, who provided and cared for loved ones, and played an active role in their communities in order to ensure a better and brighter tomorrow for all who would deem themselves proud to be an American; In other words, to recapture our “wow” Watts said we have lost along the way.
“I am wowed every day that I am an American,” he said. “This place that you and I call home and the rest of the world calls America is a pretty special place. Friends, our rendezvous with destiny says that each of us should get up every day making sure that our grandkids have shoulders to stand on, that they might be able to see just a little bit farther than we would.”
Attendees were treated to a brilliant performance of the national anthem by Dorothy Spradlin, co-owner of Simply Kate in Rockwall, to kick off the event. The Reagan Day 2015 celebration also included a special tribute to Congressman and Rockwall native Ralph Hall, as well as a live and silent auction with some extremely rare and valuable items, and clips from some of Reagan’s most popular films for all in attendance to enjoy.
A huge thank you to all the sponsors who helped make Reagan Day 2015 a big success!
Gold Sponsors:
Keith and Joanie Barrett/Four Brothers
Fifth District Court of Appeals
Joe and Kathi Fox, Family and Friends
Joe Fox and Tom Hughes Veteran Honorees
Rockwall County GOP Chairman Tim and Alison Hartley
Congressman John and Michele Ratcliffe
State Representative Scott and Robin Turner
Silver Sponsors:
Brad Chilcote
Dr. John and Patricia Coble Student Volunteers
Lou Gigliotti
State Senator Bob and Kay Hall
Andrew and Tammy Hawkes
Mayor Pro Tem Dennis and Clarissa Lewis
Heath Mayor Lorne and Mary Liechty
Tom and Patti Muggeo and Rockwall Controls
Rockwall Mayor Jim Pruitt and County Treasurer David Peek
Rockwall Economic Development Corporation
Rockwall County Republican Men
Rockwall County Republican Women
Kevin and Susan Smart First Responders
Story and photos by Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News reporter.
To share your good news and events, email editor@BlueRibbonNews.com.
Please click here to LIKE our Facebook page, so we can reach more people with good news like this!
Reagan Day 2015 features former Congressman J.C. Watts and ‘rendezvous with destiny’ added by Editor on
View all posts by Editor →