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IT'S YOUR DAY DAD!
I’m a blessed person to have been raised by a single dad when single dad families were “strange.” It was normal for a dad to leave but a mom leaving was considered "strange" and truthfully, it was. Because my dad was left with three children to take care of, he realized quickly that we needed boundaries and a firm hand to keep us safe and in line.
He was a hard working, small business owner of an air conditioning company. I grew up from the age of 9 answering the phone and writing down service calls. We did not have cell phones back then so dad would swing by the house between jobs and pick up the new service calls. We worked out of our home until Dad could save enough money to buy a commercial building.
Times were tough and many times in my life I missed having a mom. Dad was not a mom yet he did all he could to raise us up in the way we should go. Dad taught me to be responsible for my actions, to respect my elders, do what my teachers told me to do, clean my room and go to church. Dad was not perfect and he had his flaws yet the one thing he instilled in me that I love the most was to love my country…for better or worse.
Dad was a child of the Depression so he was always concerned about having enough money. He worked two or three jobs to make ends meet and I never saw Dad take a vacation until his later years when we were grown. He finally got to enjoy the fruits of his labor and he traveled the world and enjoyed all he saw. He told me, however, that America was the best place of all and he always enjoyed it when the plane hit the runway in Jacksonville. He loved coming home.
I thought he was a little sappy about America as I was busy living my life and doing my thing to think too much about patriotism. I always smiled when Dad would tell a story about historical moments in America and I thought he was sweet when he cried at the singing of the Star Spangled Banner.
Little did I know that in my 50’s I would begin to take on that same feeling of patriotism that dad had instilled in me without even knowing it. It was planted by him inside of me and when the time was ripe, it bloomed.
My time for patriotism showed up in September 2008 when the bailouts occurred. Some ask why I didn’t do anything before that. My answer…it wasn’t my time. We all come to this movement for different reasons and at different times. Not until we have a personal moment with patriotism can we see the magnitude of what is happening in our country.
I wish Dad were here to see his daughter involved in the Tea Party Movement. I know he would be so proud that we were standing up for freedom. He would be here to cry when we sing at a tea party rally or when we hold our hands over our hearts and say the Pledge. Every daughter wants his dad to be proud of her and I know Dad is as he watches from his palace in heaven.
So Dad – thanks for instilling those values. Even when you thought I did not listen – those seeds were there and the watering of love you gave me finally bloomed into a red, white and blue patriot! I honor you, Billy Newton Rogers, for your dedication to God, family and country. You did good!
So what can you do to honor Father's Day?
Join us as we petition against the building of the Mosque in NYC. On the front page of www.libertycentral.org you will find an article entitled, “The Fathers We’ve Lost: I Miss you Daddy.” This article is in honor of those fathers who died on 9/11 at the hands of terrorists. Those children are celebrating Father’s Day without their Daddy. It must be a sad day for them and sadder than any of us can realize. Sign the petition and show your support for these children who innocently lost their fathers to evil. Send your friends to the site to and ask them to take a moment and sign the petition. Let's do all we can to stop the mosque from being built across from where so many children lost their family members to terrorists who hate American values.
Hug your dad today and show him how much you love him.
God bless America and Daddy too!
Views: 25
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Comment by Heather Simon on June 20, 2010 at 2:02pm
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Billie, that was Eloquent! My father was taken from me in a car accident at 15 years old. He had a lot of problems, but I was able, through God, to show him what my brother and I needed from him just before the accident. As it turns out, he was never able to do what we needed of him, but I feel the pain of children with lost dads. I became stronger, but with many mistakes in my life that could have been prevented.
Now my husband leaves for Iraq, and here we go again with my children. God bless the fathers that are able to be with their children and raise them correctly. They are the truly blessed that can be there for their children.
I solute those fathers and know their children are truly blessed. God bless our Fathers and God bless America!
Love to all!!
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Comment by Paloma Patnode on June 20, 2010 at 11:27am
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Valerie,
What a wonderful and true tribute to your dad on this Farther's Day. May we all honor and remember our Dads as you do yours.
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Comment by Vince Curcio on June 20, 2010 at 9:29am
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Vey well said Billie!!! Your Dad gave us you and now you have given us of yourself. Too late to turn back now Billie and while I'm not always around you know that you have my support 110%. I know I speak for scores of other people too that feel the same way. If not before, I'll see you on July 3rd .... God Bless the Tea Party Movement and God Bless America ..... and ...... "Happy Fathers Day" to all
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Comment by Patricia M. McBride on June 20, 2010 at 8:49am
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Thanks for sharing Billie, and I wish you Dad was here for you today in person. Father's Day is a reminder, for many of us, of what we have lost and how wonderful those people were to us. Your post is very touching and inspirational.
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Comment by C. Jesse Duke on June 20, 2010 at 8:26am
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Thank you for telling this part of your story, Billie. It explains your passion. I believe God gave you that Dad, and he brought you up for such a time as this!" You are an inspiration, but I know that you know that it is all God all the time! Thank you.
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Comment by Valerie Sawyer on June 20, 2010 at 8:06am
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Thanks so much, Billie. You are truly an inspiration.
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Thank you, Billie. Your story brought tears to my eyes. Although I don't personally know you, I'm proud of you. Thank you for all you do. I enjoy reading all of your posts, but this one touched me more than any of the others. Have a happy Father's Day.
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Comment by FCTP on June 20, 2010 at 7:57am
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I feel your pain at losing our dads. It is part of life and the one thing we must do is carry on their legacy. I'm honored to be in this fight with you Valerie...on behalf of both of our dads.
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My dad was also a single dad back in the 1950's to my older half-brother until my dad & mom married in 1959. He raised my brother alone for 5 years, from the time my brother was 11 months old until he was 6 years old.
My father was a firefighter for 30 years. He retired from the Jacksonville fire department after 21 years and then went to Panama City Beach and served as Chief out there for 9 years. He built the department in PCB from the ground up. I was so proud of the fact that my dad was a firefighter and that what he did made a difference in people's lives. One of the down sides of his job, however, especially as chief, was having to deal with municipal politics. His dealings with mayors and city councils sure opened my eyes to just how nasty politics can get.
My dad was the one who drilled into me that our Constitution would only stand as long as we had elected officials who honored it - that the piece of paper in and of itself had no power. The only thing that made America "work" was principled leaders with honor and integrity and that as soon as we began electing leaders who no longer respected and honored the Constitution, we were going to be sunk. I never dreamed I would live to see that day - but I have.
My dad passed away last year and in the last couple of years of his life I had seen him weep many times over the condition and direction of our nation. The saddest thing to him was that we had forgotten God and had kicked him out of our public and private lives.
I will never be the person my father was, but I am thankful beyond words that God blessed me to have him for my father. He was my hero, my friend, my comforter, my confidant. He was the one I never wanted to disappoint.
Daddy, I miss you more than words could ever express. I am thankful you are in a place of complete rest and joy and peace. I will love you forever.
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