September 17, 2013

by Helen Tansey
The T-Room dot us

Any who follow my work here at the T-Room know I’m a devoted American Constitutionalist.  Being raised just outside of DC and having a grandpa, grandma, uncles and my dad who all worked for the federal government in one capacity or another left impressions I have no desire to shake.

That said, several months ago, a fellow named Jerry Oliver entered my world, another fellow American Constitutionalist, asking me to support his walk across the country. A walk carrying the good ole red, white and blue while also handing out pamphlets of the U.S. Constitution to those he and his comrade, Mark Lanham, met in small towns across America.

Well, I heard from my friend Jerry the other night telling me he and Mark were just a day away from finishing their cross-country walk –

Hello Helen,

We arrived in Brunswick a few days ago and walked through it.  We will reach Jekyll Island tomorrow morning which completes our walk across America from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.

However, it does not stop our walk to D.C. where we’ve requested a brief meeting with President Obama for his reassurance of his oath of office to support and defend the U.S. Constitution.  We fully understand that the meeting will not take place, but we have to be sure and we can only be sure if we ask.

We’ll have a brief rest in Brunswick and then start our journey north next week.  It’s been a wonderful and most enjoyable journey for Mark and I.  Passing out copies of the U.S. Constitution, talking to daily American heroes and enjoying the thousands of car and truck honks as they passed us along the highway.  Walking each step, while carrying the American flag, left an indelible memory for the hundreds of thousands of cars that passed us over the months.

At night we slept in the van and the most hideous motels.  We ate cans and cans of chili and beans while enduring dangerous highways during the day along with the desert heat and southern humidity and mosquitos.  We have more hardships, but we know we can do it.

They did it! And I’m damned proud of them. The next day they stood in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean just outside of Jekyll Island celebrating their accomplishments –

September 13th, 2013 – Brunswick, Georgia — Mark walked two of the four miles to the Jekyll Island gate and I walked the other two miles this afternoon.  As I was walking Rick stopped to talk to Mark and invited us to have dinner with him and his family.  They live on St. Simons Island.  It’s actually the very first time anyone has asked us to their home for dinner so we quickly accepted.  At 6:30pm we arrived at Rick’s home and had three most delicious Filipino entrees cooked by his wife.  I had all three servings.  They have a magnificent home in a neighborhood with hanging moss and huge water trees.  Their son and daughter, Tommy and Emmy, joined us at dinner.  I joked about not knowing if there was space for dessert little to know that there wasn’t any prepared.  Rick’s wife rushed out to the store and brought back some delicious, chocolate chip cookies and we all had Sumatra coffee.  We finally departed around 9:00pm.  

September 14th, 2013 – Jekyll Island, Georgia –  Mark and I did it!!  The walk across America was officially completed when we walked across Jekyll Island and stood in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.  We wanted to make the final two miles walking together, but didn’t know how to do it with the supply van sitting some place.  Sure enough, Rick, his wife and daughter showed up and they took care of us.  Thanks so much to Rick, his wife and Emmy (sp?).  We stood in the ocean for a few photographs and then headed back to Brunswick.

For me, this was a very special day in my life (as it is in most people’s life).  Today was my 65th birthday.  A day that some look forward to while others don’t, but I did.  Nothing will stop me from savoring this special day in my life as I drink the bottle of champagne this evening.

Following their “Diary” over at their “WalkDaddyWalk dot us” site would enlighten any who would ever consider taking on such a pilgrimage. They did and they did it on behalf of you and me and our countries future. I can’t think of a more appropriate way to celebrate today, Constitution Day, than to salute these two fine American Constitutionalists by making a donation in celebration of their accomplishments and to help them out a bit as they march onto Washington, D.C.They are planning to arrive on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2013.

I sincerely hope you will join me in giving a heartfelt congratulations to both Jerry and Mark and wishing Jerry a special Happy Birthday. Feel free to leave them a message over at their site and please remember to make a donation – http://www.walkdaddywalk.us

P.S.  Jerry and Mark, I’ll have dinner waiting for you both when you get to Richmond, Virginia. I’m looking forward to cooking a feast!

P.S.S.  Rep Issa, more likely someone in his office, bless them, have been twittering the US Constitution all day…GO Issa!