Murphy, Phillips honored as defenders of freedom

Hundreds filled the Georgetown CHEER Center June 15 during the Positive Growth Alliance Quality of Life Awards Banquet to pay tribute to this year's Individual Freedom Award winners: Sussex County Councilman Vance Phillips and 9-12 Delaware Patriots founder Russ Murphy.

PGA Executive Director Rich Collins, who lobbies on behalf of the PGA in the Delaware General Assembly, took time to set the stage for the banquet. “In 2012 we are starting to see major cracks in our country's foundation. I'm wondering if we are starting a slide into decline that other great nations have suffered,” he said.

He said more and more freedoms are under fire as progressiveness comes into full flower in government. He said more and more people are turning to government for solutions, with true enterprise under fire and oppressive regulations stunting growth.

But, Collins said, there is hope. “We must have faith that the American spirit will come to the rescue. We need common sense policies with the power of limited government, more power within ourselves and the belief in a higher power,” he said.

Making the presentations, Collins called Murphy an incredible hero who is the spirit behind the 9-12 Patriots. “He's an average citizen who helped to organize hundreds of other people,” Collins said. “The meetings are like nothing I've ever seen, with people who have tremendous common sense. They are good, common folk who are sometimes disrespected.”

Murphy, who lives in Felton, said he watched as more and more American freedoms were coming under fire. “I started talking and our group started growing,” he said.

According to its website, the 9-12 Delaware Patriots are a grassroots organization of more than 2,000 people who are determined to work peacefully to steer the country back to the beliefs of the founding fathers and the U.S. Constitution. The group has bi-monthly meetings in Sussex and Kent counties.

The organization is based on a call to action on Sept. 12 – the day after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks – made by conservative radio talk show host Glenn Beck.

“Each of us has the responsibility to ensure that our heritage is handed down to future generations,” Murphy said.

Murphy, who retired after 26 years as a nuclear security specialist with Philadelphia Electric Company, also served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Murphy has two grown sons and three grandchildren.

Phillips of Laurel has served as District 5 county councilman since 1998. He is a sixth generation farmer with three daughters who is a lifelong Sussex County resident. Collins said he talks a lot about conservatism, yet Phillips lives it every minute of his life. “We thank him for his example,” Collins said.

Collins said Phillips has led the charge to help stabilize county government finances during tough economic times. He said Sussex County has been able to buck the trends of layoffs, raising taxes and cutting services because of shrinking revenue. “Incredibly, Sussex County has no general fund debt and has not raised taxes for 23 years. Sussex County is an example of how government should work,” he said.

Phillips had a long list of thank-yous to read as he took the podium during the banquet. Like Murphy, he thanked Collins for his work on behalf of the PGA. Others on his list included Laurel Realtor Bob Durham and his deceased father, Woodrow Phillips.

Phillips, who is still recovering after his ultralight aircraft crash landed in October, said everyone faces adversity. “In a public manner it hurts when it falls on your family. I do bruise easily, but I also heal fast and have developed a lot of scar tissue over the years,” he said. “I have never felt the power of God in me like I feel it now. Hopefully, I will be a better man than I was before.”

Phillips' term expires in 2014.

Collins said the award is presented to those who understand the primary function of government is the protection of individual freedoms and who are champions of economic growth, private enterprise and entrepreneurship.

Featured speaker at the banquet was Middletown financial adviser Ben Mobley, who is also running for state insurance commissioner. He was born in Philadelphia to a 16-year-old father and 13-year-old mother who worked day and night to pull the family out of poverty. With a degree in business administration, he also served in the U.S. Air Force. He now volunteers to assist many nonprofit organizations in Delaware.

Mobley said it was time to draw a line in the sand to start supporting the traditional family. “We can tell those with alternative lifestyles that we love them, but the reality is that we must promote life in society that includes a man, woman and child,” he said. “Our children are at stake with role models who have changed from Claire Huxtable to Kim Kardashian. We have to stand up for our traditional values to help mold the next generation, and building the next generation without God would be a mistake.”