Along with tens of thousands of other protestors in cities from coast to coast, 134 citizens of Blanco demonstrated against the free spending in Washington DC. Last Wednesday, April 15, T-Day, the quiet atmosphere at the square in Blanco was stirred with patriotic melodies and Sousa marches.

At 5:00pm demonstrators started to assemble with their protest signs. One said “Stop Spending-Cut Taxes”; another read “Subsidize Success Not Failure”. Neighbors greeted neighbors with hugs.

When Stars and Stripes Forever sent that first thrill through the crowd, the always effervescent Lorie Stetler emerged spontaneously from the crowd and tried unsuccessfully to lead them in a march.

The protestors listened intently as a fact sheet of events of the past seventy days was read by Christina Gourley.

The event was peaceful; the only interruptions were the frequent fog horns of approval from passing truck drivers.

One young man was observed as he quietly stood with folded arms listening intently to every word. He was one of several high schoolers who jumped to help put away the folding tables and chairs when the protest ended.