A big part of the Kansas City, KS Tax Day TEA Party on Thursday was a military tribute to active military and veterans.   

For more than 35 minutes the military was thanked by those attending the TEA Party sponsored by the Political Chips and held at the Community America Ballpark, the home of the Kansas City T-Bones.  

Kourtney Pyle, daughter of Kansas State Senator Dennis Pyle (R-Hiawatha), sang “God Bless America” as military and veterans assembled on the edge of the ball field.   

“We say thank you,” was the comment by John Bradford, Lansing, before leading the crowd estimated to be about 7000 in a prayer. 

A tribute video thanking the military lasted about 4 minutes and was shown on the large TV screen. 

Seventeen-year-old Ashton Hutchins sang the national anthem, before KMBZ’s Darla Jaye, master of cermonies, invited the military to exit the field by walking by a camera so all could be viewed on the large screen TV and thanked. 

Members of Political Chips shook hands with the veterans as they exited. 

The last man in line exiting the field, a Vietnam War veteran, told Darla Jaye, “This is finally my welcome home.”  Jaye was almost in tears as as she told the story. 

“Take that Kansas City Star,” were Jaye’s parting comments for the part of the program.  

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 Related: 

• Photo Essay from TEA Party in Iola, Kansas Watchdog, April 17, 2010.
• Wichita’s Tax Day Tea Party Speakers Address All Levels of Government, Kansas Watchdog, April 16, 2010.
• Salina Tea Party and Opposition Protesters Share Park, Kansas Watchdog, April 15, 2010.
• T-Bone Tea Party in KCK, Kansas Watchdog, April 15, 2010.
• Tea Party at Kansas City Country Club Plaza, April 15, 2010.

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Contact: Earl F Glynn, earl@kansaswatchdog.org, KansasWatchdog.org