Sarah Palin: Faith, Family, Freedom: Remembering What Really Matters

Via Facebook:

My parents and I just had a wonderful time at “Hard Work U” – the school motto of College of the Ozarks. It earned that proud nickname because students there work their way through college and graduate with little or no debt. (In other words, a place after my own heart, and the hearts of others who worked their way through college and, like me, maybe took five years to finish because of work schedules!)

At tonight’s patriotic event at the college we heard some amazing personal stories of heroism and sacrifice by our military veterans in attendance, including members of our Greatest Generation, who we honored tonight. It was such an inspiration to hear their stories and affirm the principles that make this country great – faith, hard work, perseverance, patriotism, and public service.

All Americans need to hear from these true, proud patriots. May we never forget their fight for freedom. Their battles make the petty shots and irrelevant “challenges” some of us face today pale in comparison. I thank them for allowing us a healthy perspective and a reminder of what really matters.

- Sarah Palin

PS: Please enjoy the photos [here] from Arizona, New Mexico, and Missouri!

Chad Livengood, of the Springfield News-Leader, attended Governor Palin's speech last night:

Palin told an estimated crowd of 5,000 packed in Keeter Gymnasium at College of the Ozarks that despite her resignation, she is moving on “in the battle with new strategy.”

Or as her father, Chuck Heath, put it: “He said after my resignation speech, ‘Ah, she’s not retreating, she’s reloading.’ ” A self-described “hockey mom” of five, Palin is an avid hunter.

Palin was the keynote speaker tonight during a convocation that honored World War II veterans and others connected to the private college with “Great American” awards. Palin was the inaugural recipient of the award for her contributions to promoting patriotism, said College of the Ozarks President Jerry Davis.

[...]

Palin talked about how she got started in politics, working her way up from the Wasilla, Alaska, City Council to mayor and then eventually to chair of the Alaska Gas and Oil Conservation Commission and governor of the state.

As a city councilwoman, Palin said she didn’t conform to the town elders’ standards for the status quo of governance.

“I kind of went rogue, even back then,” Palin said jokingly, making a reference to her book title and history of going off-script while running for vice president last year.

Palin spoke to a friendly crowd that routinely applauded what she had to say about the current state of affairs in Washington, D.C., and her call for the country to return to its “pioneering values” of work hard, independence and taking care of your neighbors.

“History and common sense tells us that when government tries to take care of us, it ends up robbing us of our ability to help ourselves,” Palin said. “If we empower people to be free, providing a hand up but not a hand out ... then we will become a more prosperous and generous nation.”

Read the rest here. Gateway Pundit has more here.