Memoirs From a Young Conservative

Four words that tie today by a single smile are service, reform, prosperity and peace. I had the opportunity to witness service to my community in McAllen, Texas on Tuesday as people came together to care–for everyone.

Some fared better than others in the aftermath of Hurricane Dolly. I witnessed firsthand how much work is put into preparing for a full scale emergency preparedness operation, but even the best preparations can’t stop Mother Nature from doing as she pleases and disrupting an otherwise lazy summer season.

Homes and businesses were destroyed, power was lost, trees were uprooted and hope could easily seem lost for those families who struggle to make ends meet as it is.

Emergency operations forces struggled to reform these badly harmed areas but the aftermath still hurts, especially with schools getting ready to kick off a new year.

Thousands lined up outside the McAllen Police Department on Tuesday, after the familiar rains had poured the day before. Many of us feared the rain would pour on into the next day, but rain or shine, volunteers planned to line up school supplies and get the line going for children to prepare for a prosperous new school year.

“Smiles are free today,” I overheard the Chief tell the kids as they scurried up with sparkling smiles to grab a McAllen Police Department Sticker.

It’s expected that well over a thousand kids received back to school kits that Tuesday afternoon. Their new pencils, safety scissors, notebooks, rulers, school boxes, colored pencils–and smiles–assured the community that no matter what curveball Mother Nature throws us, a community can come together and help one another in hopes for a peaceful end to what was a painful natural disaster.

Congratulations, Rio Grande Valley, in a world where debate can easily divide us, your community came together for something beautiful.

NOTE: This was originally written for Contempo Magazine, which can be read here.