A Revolutionary War color guard, patriotic music and The Lord's Prayer started off the Freedom Rally on Friday night at Lexington Christian Academy.

The academy's auditorium was packed with hundreds of people who recited the U.S. military oath of office and listened to speakers expound on runaway government spending, health care reform and national defense.

Local radio personality Leland Conway told the crowd that government's nature is to "grow, control and suppress." The U.S. Constitution, he said, keeps the government in check.

Federal government spending is getting so bad that "we won't be able to recover unless we stand up to them right now," he said.

Mica Sims, a young mother who organized the TEA Party of Lexington, had five challenges for other mothers in the crowd: know the candidates for political offices; put signs in their yards; talk to friends and neighbors about their political views; organize a group to talk about candidates they support; and go to events.