Glenn Beck’s August 28 Restoring Honor rally at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial confirmed that oft-used infamous quote from Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come.” And after Beck worked tirelessly for the past year to create the awe-inspiring event, come they surely did! While there is no official estimate on the number of attendees of the D.C. rally as of yet, estimates range from 300,000 to 1 million people.

As promised, the event was non-political and instead focused on remembering America’s roots, and honoring worthy individuals, from members of the United States military to individuals who prove the case for American exceptionalism. Likewise, Restoring Honor was intended to help Americans turn back to God for answers, and has the potential to be the next Great Awakening.

With a variety of references to the Bible, and specifically to Moses and the burning bush, Beck proclaimed, “God is the answer. He always has been.”

Beck began by declaring that Americans have focused for too long on their country's scars and blemishes, and asserted that August 28 would be about focusing on all the good that Americans have accomplished.

With that, American military heroes such as Marcus Luttrell, sole survivor of a Taliban ambush, Eddie Wright, a Marine who lost his hands in Iraq but managed to lead his men to safety, and Thomas Kirk, Korean and Vietnam War veteran who spent five and a half years in a POW camp, two of which were spent with McCain, were honored for their efforts. Each man received a thoughtful and heartwarming introduction from Alaska’s former governor Sarah Palin, who appeared at the event as nothing more than a military mom.

In addition to the military, individuals who espoused honorific characteristics were paid tribute at the event. Beck contends, “To restore America, we must restore ourselves. The way to do that is through faith, hope, and charity.” As such, Beck awarded three individuals with merit badges, or purple hearts in keeping with the tradition set by General George Washington during America's War of Independence — one for faith, one for hope, and one for charity.

The recipient of the “Faith” award was Pastor C. L. Jackson, who has worked diligently in his community to spread God’s word and exemplify the teachings of the Bible.

A surprise guest appearance was made by St. Louis Cardinals’ manager Tony LaRussa, who presented the purple heart of “Hope” to St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, who has helped to restore the hope of many through his charitable contributions, both in the United States and his native home of the Dominican Republic.

Justice Raul Gonzalez presented the “Charity” purple heart to John Huntsman, Sr., a philanthropist and self-made billionaire who has donated more than $9 billion to charity and vows to “die broke” after having donated all of his wealth to worthy causes. Among the many organizations that have benefited from Huntsman’s charitable contributions are shelters for the homeless and for battered women, as well as the Huntsman Cancer Institute.

Beck faced harsh criticism from liberal and civil rights groups for having hosted the event on August 28, the 47th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech that took place only steps away from where Beck stood at the event. While Beck contends it was unintentional to choose the anniversary of MLK’s speech as the date of the event, he asserts it was “Divine Providence.” At the rally, Beck focused on the language of MLK’s speech and announced, “We must all carry MLK’s dream in all our hearts today.”

On Sunday, Beck was interviewed by Fox News host Chris Wallace, who questioned his focus on MLK. Beck explained that he wanted to reclaim King’s dream for ”people of faith,” regardless of color, race, or ethnicity. Beck asserted that the dream has not yet been achieved, noting examples of racism seen today such as the recent video footage of Black Panther voter intimidation and racially motivated decisions made by the Department of Justice (http://thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/crime/3961-former-justice-official-testifies-against-doj). Beck proclaimed that if Americans put aside politics and focused on the dream itself, the nation would be a better place.

Matthews noted, however, that the civil rights movement under MLK was in fact political, and often placed economic demands on the government, but Beck said, “I am not Martin Luther King and do not agree with all that he stood for. I simply believe that the one thing we can agree on is that MLK’s dream is both ideal and achievable.”

Despite Beck’s positive and unifying message, civil rights leader Al Sharpton railed against Beck’s rally, electing to host a rally of his own on the same day, entitled “Reclaiming the Dream.”� Sharpton’s rally was attended by approximately 3,000 people.

Other notable moments at Beck’s Restoring Honor rally included an appearance by Martin Luther King’s niece, Dr. Alveda King.

“It’s wonderful for Glenn Beck to use his popularity and influence to bring us together,” announced King.

Likewise, attendees were regaled with patriotic and spiritual songs such as “Unity,” “Rebuild,” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the James Weldon Johnson poem set to music.

However, nothing was more moving and spiritually lifting than hearing nearly one million people sing “Amazing Grace.”

Beck closed the event with a charismatic speech that likely instilled hope in every attendee at the rally. Describing American exceptionalism, he explained, “The American experiment is the idea that man can rule himself.” Noting, however, the dangers plaguing the American experiment, Beck asserted the importance of fighting for the Republic. He proclaimed, “The American experiment shall not end now or in my generation or your generation!� It is up to us!”

He closed, “We are at a crossroads today.� We must decide who we are.� What is it we believe? Will we advance our Republic or allow it to perish? I choose advance!”

In order to advance, however, Beck instructed Americans to do the following: Look to God, accept responsibility, stop allowing themselves to be divided, and pledge their sacred honor always to tell the truth.

“The truth will make you miserable first, but then will set you free,” he joked.

He emphasized, “America is only what we choose her to be. We must be good so she can be great.”

Overall, the rally was another major success for Beck, serving as a source of encouragement and hope for Americans across the nation.� Beck called upon Americans to remember the foundations of America and the Christian tenets on which the American dream is based, specifically faith, hope, and charity.

Most importantly, the Restoring Honor rally managed to raise $5.5 million for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, an organization that funds the college education of the children of�fallen special operations�warriors.� �

Shortly after the rally’s conclusion, conservative blogsters feverishly spoke of a possible “Beck-Palin 2012” ticket, but to the dismay of Beck fans across the country, Beck quickly put those speculations to rest.

“Absolutely not,” he later told Chris Matthews.

Editor's note: We have changed the original title of this article from “Nearly a Million Flock to DC for Beck's Restoring Honor Rally” to “Hundreds of Thousands ...” to take into account the broader spectrum of initially reported estimates.

Photo: Glenn Beck speaks at the "Restoring Honor" rally in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Aug. 28, 2010: AP Images

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Dgraham, Lowly rated comment [Show]

Donna L S said:

Rally To:dan graham estimates range from 300,000 to 1 million people]

August 30, 2010

Lee Gonzales said:

An estimated million people showed up. Ok, Beck draws huge crowds with a message to get back to God. getting back to God is what the nation needs to do and I agree with him. The preacher Al Sharpton holds a counter rally and draws 3,000 but Mr. Sharpton is going to receive more counter news coverage than Beck. Why is that? The CFR controls the major means of communications and all major news sources. Was there any mention at the larger Beck rally of the CFR influence on the News Media, the military, corporations, universities, government, the publishing world? I've only seen bits and pieces of Beck's speech on the CFR-controlled news so perhaps those attending can fill us in on that. God's children need to expose God's enemies at every opportunity. http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/foreign-policy/1462

August 30, 2010

KZ said:

... You cannot call yourself a "news source," and what's more, an "essential news source," if you blatantly acknowledge an editorial POV and hysterical mantra of "allowing the chips to fall where they may." ABOUT section: As you can see, unlike myriad news organs that deceptively slant the news while claiming to be "objective," The New American forthrightly acknowledges an editorial point of view. But, that aside, we always approach the news honestly, relying on facts and reason to make our case and allowing the chips to fall where they may. Freedom of the press is one thing (based on the Constitution, of which you are based and try to uphold, no?) but if you are claiming to "probe deeper to discover the real story behind the headlines," why don't you assert attribution and "real" facts behind blatant drivel such as this one particular rich instance: Overall, the rally was another major success for Beck, serving as a source of encouragement and hope for Americans across the nation. That's some terrific probing.

August 30, 2010

Lee Gonzales said:

Let the chips fall ... Like Mr.Rupert Murdock I suppose? Here we have a situation where Mr. Murdock opens up his editorial page to a fellow member of the Council on Foreign Relations. What does the CFR Lee C. Bollinger want the WSJ readers to become comfortable with? How about taxpayer funding of news papers! In another "let the chips fall where they may" story at TNA, William Jasper writes: "Big Media, Big Foundations, Big Government, Big Money On July 14, Rupert Murdoch's Wall Street Journal provided Lee C. Bollinger, the president of Columbia University, with generous space for an op-ed entitled "Journalism Needs Government Help." The crux of his appeal was contained in the subtitle: "Media budgets have been decimated as the Internet facilitates a communications revolution. More public funding for news-gathering is the answer." Do you suppose, KZ, that Foxey News or the WSJ is going to do a series of stories on the secretive CFR any time soon? You can count on TNA to continue to expose this secretive lot for the radicals (socialists) that they truly are. http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/usnews/foreign-policy/1462

August 30, 2010

Lee Gonzales said:

KZ, TNA does "probe deeper." The story is that there was a huge crowd at that DC venue When the story is that a million patriots showed up at a DC venue to hear a man tell them to get back to God and assume more personal reponsibility what more is there to probe? When was the last time anyone at Fox news delved deeply into the most influential private political group in the country - the CFR- for example? The story is that perhaps as many as a million people showed up at a rally in DC to hear Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin stir up this huge throng with a touchy,feely message. Had there been a story behind the story other than the fantastic numbers, you can bet TNA would have reported it and the major news media would have ignored it. Had Beck exposed the CFR to the DC crowd and to who knows how many others via the internet, TNA would have reported it and the others ignored it.

August 30, 2010

KZ said:

... Not that your winded, convoluted response has any relevancy to my point and comment, I'll attempt to respond for your seemingly reaching and disillusioned sake. I'm assuming you're a) against public funding for newspapers OR op-editorials and b) an enthusiast of TNA exposing 'hard news.' There is a difference between a noted op-ed housed in a flagged objective medium versus a source that is claiming to provide "essential news," such as your TNA. Therein lies the rub. Since I'm not privy to the editorial series planning meetings of such media sources as Fox News or WSJ, I cannot quell your anxious feelings of paranoid discontentment. Oftentimes, relevant letters to the editor may work over random and unrelated bursts of online chatter. Let me know how much TNA is paying you to flaunt its exposé chops and reporting perfection, because I may want to get in on that. Thanks.

August 30, 2010

Lee Gonzales said:

KZ the story is that a huge crowd was present at the Lincoln Memorial and that you are making a mountain out of a mole hill. As to your ridiculous statement of "trying to get in on that." "Getting in on what" I might ask? People do defend such things as their country without "trying to get in on that." I assume you mean that people just don't defend the truth unless they are paid for it. You, sir are an ass.

August 30, 2010

ehhhhhhh, Lowly rated comment [Show]

KZ said:

... Now we're reaching down to obscenities? Go back and reread before you passionately switch subjects again. I have not a single iota of interest regarding the 'fantastic' number of people who attended this rally. Awesome. If you recall, I was referring to the insertion of random frilly opinion coming from a seeming "news source." NEWS SOURCE. That's my argument. Yawn. Go jab with someone else who cares about your schizophrenic retaliations.

August 30, 2010

realtorgal said:

Getting paid to submnit stories to TNA "Let me know how much TNA is paying you to flaunt its exposé chops and reporting perfection, because I may want to get in on that."== KZ You can submit your stories here:thenewamerican.com

August 30, 2010

realtorgal said:

bad brad A "moron" is a person that is mentally handicapped and incapable of debating or carrying on a conversation; and poster Lee is certainly capable of giving fits to you and KZ. Therefore if he is as you label him what does that make you?

August 30, 2010

no he's a moron, Lowly rated comment [Show]

Lee Gonzales said:

jabbing over TNA "Overall, the rally was another major success for Beck, serving as a source of encouragement and hope for Americans across the nation." The above quote is Raven Clabough's opinion but it may not be everyone else's view who writes for TNA. A million people or whatever the figure may have been, arrived at that DC rally to hear words of "encouragement," and the rally was by all accounts another "major success" for Beck. Compared to Al Sharpteon's rally that same day Beck's was bigger and better. What do you expect for the writer to say? I gave an example of what I would have liked to have heard Glenn Beck say. He didn't so I offered my critique. But hey, that's what the Internet is all about- freedom of choice. And by the way it is not "schizophrenic" nor is it paranoia to mention the existence of a very influential organization that does have an enormous amount of control of the electronic media. What I find in people that refuse to look into the tremendous influence that the CFR exerts in America is that they have a problem facing reality. They try to hide their la,la land syndrome by taking offense with anyone who challenges their world of make believe.

August 30, 2010

Lee Gonzales said:

Brad says he's "done" Brad bravely says: "don't bother replying, i'm already done with this site." Just how are you "done" brad? How did you turn out: a crumbly cookie, a loaf of turkey meat, a cheezy casserole or a fruity cake? Why are you still not "done" with this site?

August 30, 2010

what does it matter?, Lowly rated comment [Show]

..., Lowly rated comment [Show]

Lee Gonzales said:

low voltage check, KZ Your automatic reflex by sticking your head in a hole like an ostrich is not something to be proud of no matter how much you think that this post will transform your infebbled,low-voltage, silly ad hominem blatherings into something resembling a reasoned rebutal. The news network that he works for bills itself as "fair and balanced." The fact that Fox is owned by a man who belongs to the CFR may not matter to one whose head is firmly planted in the ground such as yourself. It does matter in the real world. The irony of ironies would have been for Beck to expose the CFR for the power seekers that they are while working for a CFR-run news agency! Mr.Beck has talked about this on his show and for that I give him credit: http://jbs.org/component/content/article/1009-commentary/6441-beck-uses-quigley-quote-about-political-parties

August 30, 2010

Lee Gonzales said:

philosophical souffle falls flat As for our friend, brad-lie, who likes to resort to the dirty bag of tricks when reasoned debate fails him, he is the philosophical ally of the of those who resort to their dirty bag of tricks - ad hominem attacks when their "arguments" fall flat like their cheesy, turkey souffle. How's the baking going? Are you "done" yet?

August 30, 2010

yep, Lowly rated comment [Show]

..., Lowly rated comment [Show]

MD said:

How to Speak to a Liberal (if you absolutely must) How fitting would Coulter's book be right now to help us debate this ignorant liberal? Beck's rally was ENORMOUS, patriotic, spiritual and beautiful. Every person present at the rally would agree with the statements made by Raven Clabough and as such, it was good reporting. The Left despises Beck so much so that they cannot give him credit where credit is due. There were Democrats present at the rally that were willing to put aside their political ideologies to share in the moment on Saturday morning. Why can't you liberals?

August 30, 2010

@MD, Lowly rated comment [Show]

Lee Gonzales said:

metaphor of a huge throng in Washington, DC We're beginning to see why KZ does not like this story- it's an inspiring account of people who have proclaimed by their massive presense in Washington, DC that God is important in their lives. At that a nearby venue I would be curious to see if the minister of the Bible that staged a "counter-demonstration" also had words to this effect thanking God for America and asking His guidance to help patriots restore her glory?

August 30, 2010

Lee Gonzales said:

KZ says: " Yawn. Go jab with someone else who cares..." Boy, KZ how many posts back was that one? So nice of you to care; to stick around and "jab" with us.

August 30, 2010

..., Lowly rated comment [Show]

Lee Gonzales said:

Brad-lie, you are showing an affinity to the hate-inspired collective It's a common fact that those who accuse others of doing something evil without offering proof are themselves guilty of the same acts they accuse others of doing.

August 30, 2010

realtorgal said:

Worried about the wrong group It's amazing how a silly bunch of haters who dress up in white robes scare guys like brad. This person resorts to childish arguments when groups like this one have been around actually promoting the exporting of American industry since the mid 1970's. The lynching of American industry is this groups' specialty: http://www.thenewamerican.com/...expanding

August 30, 2010

brad anderson said:

... @realtorgal - link fail, so i don't know what group you're referring to. Either way, I'd definitely fear the ideology that the Ku Klux Klan represent. And your view here seems to conflate the idea of what you'd call "bad policy" (a la exportation of American Industry) with an ideology of genocide (a la the KKK)... no thanks. @lee - I know you think you're being intelligent, and probably patting yourself on the back right now... chalking up another tally in the win column for "God". Really though, I've never understood how it was God-ly to mock your neighbor... surely the bible instructs to turn the other cheek... but this seems to be *the* main tenet of "Christians" today. I stand before you befuddled, now go repent.

August 30, 2010 | url

Lee Gonzales said:

bradley's back ... but what bradly says is one thing and what he does is another. Bradley said a while back: " oh, ***t, i almost forgot,...don't bother replying, i'm already done with this site." Can't break way from a site where you are given a little attention can you? I've had my run ins at other so-called "right wing" sites and from so-called "left-wing" sites. It doesn't bother me. I have never called anyone a dirty name or impugned their intelligence unless they came charging in with their epithets of abuse first. Once they breach the gap of civil discourse and begin to malign the author or myself or the entire conservative/constitutional cause I believe they have stepped into an area where being nice and "Christian" and "turning the other cheek" is long been left behind. After they get their beating then they come back with a Bibilcal phrase and begin to quote Jesus. Perhaps your loquacious mutterings are more appreciated at 'left-wingers R us' sites, but don't try to brand anyone here with your silly racist labels.

August 30, 2010

brad anderson said:

http://www.answers.com/topic/read ^^^Read (so you can learn how to) You, sir are an ass. @lee-- if you scroll up you'll see that you were the one to start throwing around insults first. Perhaps your loquacious mutterings are more appreciated at 'left-wingers R us' sites, but don't try to brand anyone here with your silly racist labels. I'll be sure to respect the sanctity of the hallowed thenewamerican.com from now on. Now I think I'll just kick back here and wait for you to change the context of everything that's happened up until now into something else conveniently supportive of whatever you're trying to prove here.

August 30, 2010 | url

Lee Gonzales said:

About the New American http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/about The way I used the term it refers to a person who behaves like the hard-headed, obstinate critter we call a jackass or simply ass. As for your review of the exchanges please begin with post seven. First one: "...your anxious feelings of paranoid discontentment." second: "Let me know how much TNA is paying you to flaunt its exposé chops and reporting perfection..." well, bradley, I couldn't let this person get away with that slur; to have her think that i'm getting paid to do this. People do have their pride and besides she got over it quickly by suing the liberals' favorite word: "paranoid. But getting back to characterizing this poster as the stubborn creature we fondly call a jackass is insulting I agree. Wonder what the poor dumb animal thinks? Look, bradley, I'm certain that KZ is most impressed with your manly repartee so let it go will you. Go back to ignoring this site, remember your promise to do so?

August 30, 2010

realtorgal said:

"trying to prove"? My dear boy, he's already proved it.

August 31, 2010

realtorgal said:

Brad is that you ... http://bttf.wikia.com/wiki/Biff_Tannen under that load?

September 05, 2010

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September 17, 2010 | url