The unforgettable 2019 WPC Eastern Washington Annual Dinner
In attendance and fundraising, WPC’s Eastern Washington Annual Dinner was among the most energetic and emotional in memory. Governor Chris Christie kicked off the event and had the packed audience of the Spokane Davenport Grand Ballroom on the edge of their seats laughing as he reminisced about his clashes with entrenched bureaucracy and government unions. Former Secretary of Defense General James Mattis closed the event with a powerful call for civility, decency and patriotism. But it was the tribute to our 2019 Champion of Freedom that packed the emotional punch of the night.
Admiral Tom Hayward, Chief of Naval Operations from 1978 to 1982, was named WPC’s 2019 Champion of freedom at both our Bellevue and our Spokane events. In Bellevue, the tribute had people on their feet, cheering the admiral and many walked away deeply impressed by the man. It was almost unimaginable to think of how the presentation could go any better. And yet…
In Eastern Washington, as in Western Washington, Admiral Hayward was introduced superbly by Navy veteran and WPC board member Phil Scott. The same tribute video was shown. Both presentations were before packed, sold-out audience. Maybe it was being on the free-market friendly side of the state, or perhaps Admiral Hayward was able to see and hear the tribute from his friends better at the Grand, but when he took the stage their was even more emotion and passion in his voice than there was before. Were that alone the end of it, it would have been a night to remember.
But then General Mattis took to the stage and added his own considerable tribute to Admiral Hayward. He described being humbled to be on the same stage as the man. He explained why, through the admiral’s personal courage and dedication, men in the service knew and trusted his name.
Few in attendance will forget the evening.
For those of you who missed it, you can watch the keynote speakers soon on TVW, or you can catch the whole dinner and/or just the 2019 Champion of Freedom Award presentation to Admiral Hayward now on our YouTube channel.