But first, here is a quick recap and some observations from Day Three. The theme for Day Three was "Make America Strong Again." The primary focus is restoring America's military strength and wrenching it from the hands of woke generals whose focus is not on military might but on diversity, equity, inclusion, and pronouns. What I saw showcased was not just the need for American military might, but also the mental and emotional strength and resilience of Americans themselves.

To this day, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have never said their names.
Pray for their families. #RNC #RNC24 #GoldStarFamilies pic.twitter.com/DYFVxcj30g

— Citizen Jane🐊 (@CivicViewPoint) July 18, 2024

Americans are more than willing to give our politicians the side-eye, and often it is well deserved. But some of those politicians in a former life were military members. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) kicked things off Wednesday night. Mast lost both legs in Afghanistan in 2010 when a Fort Stewart Explosive Ordinance Technician diffused a bomb in Kandahar. Mast summed up the state of the U.S. military and Commander-in-Chief Joe Biden, saying:

“Nearly 2,500 of my brothers and sisters gave their lives in that war. Joe Biden disgraced their sacrifice and the sacrifice of all Afghanistan veterans. Kamala Harris stood with him when he did. Neither deserves to be saluted as Commander in Chief or to sit in the Oval Office.”

Mast also talked about the dangerous preoccupation with woke politics in the military and added, 

“They would rather lose a war than use the wrong pronouns, and we’ve had enough. Donald Trump knows that our military needs warriors and not woke weaklings lecturing our warriors.”

One of the best moments came from 98-year-old WWII vet and Milwaukee native William Pekrul, who got several standing ovations. Pekrul harkened back to his return to the U.S. after serving overseas when he "kissed the ground," and said that "America is the greatest nation in the history of the world." He lamented what America has become under Joe Biden. 

"It hurts my heart to see what our current president and vice president have done to the country I love so well. As we [get] pushed around by China, terrorists run wild in the Middle East, and they let our own southern border get overrun."

Pekrul brought down the house when he said with "President Trump back as commander in chief, I would go back to re-enlist today. And I would storm whatever beach my country needs me to." 

98-Year-Old WWII Vet Brings the House Down at RNC:
If Trump Were President, I Would 'Re-Enlist Today'

Many of the alternate delegates sitting in my section commented that at 98, Pekrul looked better and was more coherent than Joe Biden — and also managed to walk off the stage.

This badass 98 year old WWII hero is leaps and bounds more aware than Joe Biden. #RNC pic.twitter.com/jHujVVQ7cu

— Nate Sprott (@NateSprott) July 18, 2024

Maybe because I am a writer, I am supposed to pick up on things others don't. What stood out to me were the moments that made everyone reach for the Kleenex, but it was for very different reasons, and both those reasons were displays of the strength and steadfastness of the American spirit. By far, the most emotional moments of Day Three came when the Gold Star families of the 13 service members killed at Abbey Gate walked onstage. For several minutes, every person in the arena grieved and was just as angry as those onstage who had lost loved ones.

They spoke of the utter incompetence, lack of compassion, and lack of answers and information from the Biden administration about the deaths of those service members. The names of each one of those killed were read aloud. This hit especially close to home for me as one of those soldiers, Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz, was one of Missouri's own from nearby St. Charles, Missouri. To this day, Joe Biden has not said the names of any of those service members needlessly killed on his watch, while he claimed during the presidential debate in June that no service members died on his watch. 

The contrast to the heart-wrenching moments with the Gold Star families was Sen. JD Vance's acceptance of the Republican vice presidential nomination. By now, the story of Vance's humble beginnings is well known from his book "Hillbilly Elegy," and the movie of the same name. He talked about those humble beginnings in a small town rocked by poverty and addiction. Some of the best parts of his speech came when he talked about "Mamaw," the grandmother who raised him as his mother had her own struggles with poverty and addiction. He talked about her deep Christian faith — and love of the F-word, saying, "She could make any sailor blush!" He told stories of how the family went through Mamaw's possessions after she died in 2005, finding 19 loaded handguns in various places around her house, which they soon realized was due to her mobility issues — she wanted to be sure she had what she needed to defend her home close at hand. 

I spoke with one of JD Vance's close friends, Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO), about what he thought about Vance being Donald Trump's VP pick. He stated, "Great pick. JD is a close personal friend. He is very down to earth, and because of his background, he is very in touch with people." 

But perhaps the moment that came in right behind the Gold Star families is one that I am not sure everyone caught. What has become a favorite pastime of alternate delegates sitting in the upper seats is watching the jumbo screen and reading the lips of those sitting in the presidential box for a hint of behind-the-scenes conversation when they appear on camera. JD Vance introduced his mom, who was sitting in that box next to House Speaker Mike Johnson. He mentioned her 10 years clean and sober. As he told her he loved her and applause broke out she appeared on that jumbo screen, Johnson leaned over and spoke to her. With tears of pride in her eyes, she applauded and said, "That's my boy."

Tonight, it is all about Donald Trump. Buckle up. It will be a speech for the ages.

JD Vance: "I love you mom."

JD’s mom: "That's my boy."

What. A. Moment.

Truly the American dream for a parent. pic.twitter.com/xMmPayTI3J

— Graham Allen (@GrahamAllen_1) July 18, 2024