The Meaning of the Lincoln Dinner Celebration
142nd ANNIVERSARY LINCOLN DINNER
Sunday, March 19, 2017, 3 – 8 pm
Antun’s, 96-43 Springfield Blvd., Queens Village, NY 11429
Purchase tickets securely online: www.qvgop.org
Every year during the mid-winter season, the spotlight is on our annual Lincoln Dinner, which has earned the reputation over the years as the most lavish and exciting annual Republican political event in New York City. It’s a celebration of our first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln, the Great Emancipator, Savior of the Union, and Man of the Common People.
The life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln provides much for our Queens Village Republican Club members to reflect on, whether it’s Lincoln’s profound faith in God, strong leadership during the Civil War, or respect for the common man, and of course the Emancipation Proclamation. No other political party can lay claim to what Lincoln accomplished during the time he was the 16th President of the United States. He led the nation through our darkest period, the Civil War, abolished slavery, and united the nation in the end. We would do well not to ignore our unique heritage when talking about the origins of the Republican Party, and what we stand for.
This year our club prepares for our 142nd Anniversary Celebration of Abraham Lincoln and all that he has done for our nation. But beyond the hoopla and fanfare of the festive dinner party, the music and glad-handing with those we haven’t seen in some time, the significance of Lincoln is truly relevant in today’s political climate.
We are proud to announce, Suffolk County GOP Chairman John Jay LaValle will be our keynote speaker at the 142nd Anniversary Lincoln Dinner on Sunday, March 19. Chairman LaValle will also be honored as the American Patriot of the Year, and there is no one more deserving of this honor. As former Trump Surrogate and the NYS GOP Regional Vice Chair, he will be imparting his renowned “winning spirit” to light the fire of victory in eastern Queens, at the dinner party billed as a “Hometown Celebration” of President Trump’s great victory. This is fitting, since our president was born and raised not much more than a mile from the dinner venue at Antun’s of Queens Village, where nearly every New York Governor, New York City Mayor, and President of the United States has been in attendance since the 1950s.
Has the American media lived up to their time-honored role in our society to “report” the news? The media, commonly known as “the fourth estate,” was an unofficial check on the three co-equal branches of our government. 
I would like to praise President Donald Trump’s speech to congress. He spoke on many important projects the administration is proposing, like rebuilding America, immigration reform, health care, ways to address crime, hate, jobs, tax cuts and an increase in military spending. But what got to me most and almost brought a tear to my eye was the mentioning of the death of a Navy Seal in the line of duty. He said,”We are blessed to be joined tonight by Carryn Owens the widow of U.S. Navy operator, Senior Chief William Ryan Owens. Ryan died as he lived, a warrior and a hero, battling against terrorism and securing our nation.” This was received with almost a two minute applause and brought his widow to tears. This was a great tribute by President Trump, which in my opinion honored a Navy Seal who gave his all to America. As a former U.S. Sailor in the U.S. Navy, I salute Senior Chief William Owens. I would also like to offer my heartfelt prayers to his wife, Carryn Owens who has lost so much as well as did all of America.