The Polk County Republican Party invites the public to the Annual Lincoln/Reagan Dinner. The dinner will be Saturday, Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. at the Harmon Field Log Cabin in Tryon.

There is no charge for dinner (ham, turkey and drinks will be provided). Organizers do ask attendees to bring a covered dish. Raffle tickets will be sold for Lincoln/Reagan themed items.

“As nations go, America is still an infant,” event organizers say. “In America’s short history the republic has endured a Civil War, presidential assassinations, world wars, a great depression, attacks by enemies and an economic roller coaster. And yet we are still here. We are still here because we the people believe in ourselves.

“We as a nation know that as long as we stay true to the principles upon which we were founded, our republic can withstand whatever comes our way. Today, all we need to do is read a newspaper headline or watch FOX News and we are reminded of how blessed we are to live in the United States.”

As part of his “Gettysburg Address,” America’s 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, said, “that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

“Ronald Reagan, the country’s 40th president, understood that America’s hopes and dreams rest with we the people,” organizers said. “Speaking about the promise of America in a State of the Union address, President Reagan said, ‘All we need to begin with is a dream that we can do better than before. All we need to have is faith and that dream will come true. All we need to do is act and the time for action is now. The world’s hopes rest with America’s future. America’s hopes rest with us. So let us go forth and create our world of tomorrow in faith, in unity and in love.’

Organizers invite everyone to join area Republicans on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. at Harmon Field Log Cabin.

“Join in as we celebrate the lives and legacies of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan, men who truly believed that we the people are the solution,” they said. “Join us as we renew our hope that our Republic can once again be that ‘shining city on a hill.’ ”