Personal Notes, September 2012

           Now that the summer is ending, I wanted to post about some noteworthy events I attended during that season, among others.

            I attended the annual wreath-laying by District 7 of the Order Sons of Italy in America at the monument of the 39^th New York Infantry Regiment, the “Garibaldi Guards” at Gettysburg National Military Park.  The unit was made up of immigrants from various European countries, including Italians, and was named for Italian General Giuseppe Garibaldi, who played a key role in the unification of Italy in 1861.  The Garibaldi Guards helped repulse Longstreet’s Advance (“Pickett’s Charge”) on July 3, 1863 during the Battle of Gettysburg, the turning point of the American Civil War.  It was an honor to participate in a patriotic, religious and ethnic heritage event on the battlefield – the first time I have ever participated in a public event there, other than being on or leading tours of it.

I also attended the opening of the Republican Victory Center in Berks County, Pennsylvania attended by Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) and a Member of the British Parliament, Guto Bepp, a Conservative from Wales, as well as several state legislators and local elected officials.  I also met with Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA), a conservative who would be my new representative if he is reelected because of reapportionment and redistricting.  I am currently represented by Rep. Jim Gerlach, who has served well, including his representation of Reading and Berks County.  I am looking forward to being represented by Pitts, whose district will include all of Reading.

I can report anecdotally in my discussions with Pennsylvania voters, including in contacts with them at various political events other than those mentioned in this post, that there is a sense of urgency about this year’s General Election.  The feeling is one of dread about America going off the “fiscal cliff,” the continued economic weakness and the decrease of liberty from a corresponding increase in government power and from redistributionism.  The fear is that this election represents the last opportunity to save the United States from the doom that would result from a continuation of these policies under President Barack Obama and a Democratic Congress.  There is hope, however, that the sound fiscal policies of a Romney-Ryan Administration and Republican Congress would restore America to fiscal soundness and prosperity.