The heat of the June day did nothing to deter the passions of those involved in yesterday's Tea Party on the square.

Holding signs to display their words and emotions, a crowd of around 100 persons were vocal in approval as guest speakers spoke around themes of  unnecessary big spending and the need for politicians to serve the people.

This Master of Ceremony was Jordan Iwanyszyn, who announced each speaker and gave their reasons for wanting to be heard at this gathering. 

The speakers at this event were Major General Dave Evans; local attorney Howie Acuff, factory worker Jeffery Judd; local business Owner Jonathan Williams, retired physical therapist Kathy McEver and Judson Phillips, an organizer from Tea Party Nation.

The National Anthem was sung by Zach Burke and Diane Moore sung God Bless America.

Major General Dave Evans was the first speaker who spoke out against Obama’s stimulus package, stating that "it has been unable to save or create the 3 million jobs and keep the unemployment rate below 9% as Obama promised it would.   As it current stands the national unemployment rate has risen to 10%." 

General Evans wanted to remind all Tennesseans that the average unemployment rate in some of our surrounding counties has reached well over 10% and has gone as high as 15%.  He also expressed his opinion that the Cap and Trade bill is nothing more than an energy tax bill and believes that by 2015 this bill would have caused the loss of 2.3 million jobs in the United States.

Jeffery Judd, a local resident of Cookeville, described himself as just the average American guy pursuing the American dream and said he believes that this is what most people are is striving for. 

Judd stated that he is a factory worker, a husband and a father who feels very strongly that is his duty to stand up and protect this great nation that has given him unlimited opportunities.  

Jeffery's heartfelt  speech was interrupted frequently by applause as he voiced his concerns for future of our nation. 

Jeffery stated "I am a patriot, a Tennessean and an American.  I came to this event to speak out against an out-of-control Federal Government. "  

There were two issues that Mr. Judd wanted to talk about that he believes are at the heart of our nation’s problems; state’s rights and the disconnection of “We The People” from the elected citizens we send to be our voices in Washington and out State Capitol. 

Jeffery encouraged everyone to look to their 10^th Amendment and pointed out that we are quickly losing our uniqueness as individual states. 

"We need to stop sending career politicians with predisposed agendas that have much to gain by voting themselves raises and staying in Washington.  We need to start electing people that are True Statesmen." Judd said. " We should be focusing on national security and other issues that are going to erode our nation’s effectiveness to defend itself over time." 

Judd encouraged citizens to "Take the time to read your constitution, its bill of rights and amendments." 

Judd held up a copy of the constitution as he proclaimed that "we the people of the several states of a free America can govern ourselves, it is our constitutional right to do so.   The people we elect don’t need to have law degrees, they don’t need to have doctrines and they don’t need to be wealthy... The only requirement should be honesty and the eagerness to do the will of “We the People.” 

Judd concluded "We are in a fight to save our nation, protect our constitution and preserve our liberties for future generations." 

Hamilton “Bombdog” Horseman, a Vietnam combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient, was in attendance and said he is very "saddened by watching the deterioration of my country and the country that my father, grandfather and I have shed blood for.  I have watched a victim mentality take over control of the country, watching citizens vote and elect representatives only because of what’s in it for them."

Horseman continued,  "We have become a selfish, self centered, self seeking society and feels there is no such thing as patriotism any more or no such thing as taking personal reasonability for your lot in life and what happens to you." 

Many citizens present concurred, voicing outrage on the current direction of our Federal Government.