A parade of honking horns, thumbs up and supportive screams that seemed almost higher than the rising temperatures, soared on Saturday as passers-by cheered on their fellow countrymen and women fighting for the America they once knew.
It was not an assembly of the United States military returning home. It was a gathering of American citizens fighting against what they think is wrong so that when our troops do return they have an America of which they can be proud.
TEA organizers say the estimated 1,300 events nationwide focus on the principles of limited government, fiscal responsibility and the free market.
As Dale Waun, who also attended a TEA "party" in Washington D.C., said, "No one's in charge (of TEA), we're all responsible." Every citizen, he said, is responsible for the state of the country.
"Yes, it's a protest, but we're here to keep America the way it was when we grew up," said Anita Ball who had three generations of her family there with her.
Branton Ball had his own views -- "The Constitution says it's our responsibility to rise up when it (the government) is out of hand but the government is just scared now."
Herb Lewis, originally from Britain, has been a resident of the United States for 40 years.
"The first 20 years were good, the last 20 years have been terrible," said Lewis. "They want big government with big control. Pretty soon they'll be telling us how many kids we can have. Everyone accepts the control, will be told who to marry and what to drive with no question."
There were many representatives of the mountain area out for the protest.
Bob Hillyard, owner of the 'Ol Kettle Restaurant said, "I'm neither a Republican or a Democrat. I'm a patriot. I think our government is out of control. America needs to come together and take over with no violence. The government is no longer speaking for people or listening to the people, they are only out for self-interests."
There were protestors from every station in life -- children, business owners, veterans -- all out to fight for the same thing.
TEA stands for Taxed Enough Already. Protesters are not happy with the national debt. The Web site teapartyday.com explains: "With the national debt already out of control, President Obama has added 78,000 new government jobs to the federal payroll since he took office.
"Obama's increase in the number of government employees will add hundreds of millions of dollars to our debt. If history is any measure, these jobs will never be eliminated. They will simply add to the mountains of debt we are leaving our grandchildren and great-grandchildren."
That concern was echoed locally.
"The national debt is so high how can our kids pay it off?" asked Carol Derry. "My husband spent 30 years in the military and I don't like how our country is going." Derry said the United States can't keep VA health care together without considering universal health care.
Retired Navy veteran Fred Ball attended the party to encourage government to get back to basics.
"Government has its hooks deep in the private sector. It's not going to work," he said, "Let private do private business and government, government business. The government should be concerned with defense."
John Heltebrake attended the tea party because he's not happy about the way the President does business.
"Obama's big push was transparency yet he's the most secretive president we've had," Heltebrake said. "It's not the American way. He's running the country into the ground. He's so far left people probably regret voting for him."
Another TEA event will be held Sept. 12 as a remembrance of Sept. 11.
For more information e-mail oakhurstteaparty@hotmail.com.