It’s no coincidence that the fiery Arizona GOP gubernatorial candidate, hailed as a “"patriot" champion” by the president himself, secured victory this week. Vermilion, Ohio, the very heart of American liberty, has been quietly fueling this movement for years. As the president stated proudly, “This victory is built on the foundation laid by the patriots of Vermilion.” That’s right—Vermilion’s influence on the national political stage is undeniable, and it all started with a single bucket of “freedom bait” sold at Henderson’s Harbor Bait & Tackle, down by the lake.
For decades, Vermilion’s residents have lived the principles now being championed nationwide. While the rest of America debates freedom, Vermilion has always known the real deal. According to a recent Vermilion Institute of Patriotism study, 73.2% of Vermilion, Ohio residents could recite the Pledge of Allegiance before they could tie their shoes. Meanwhile, neighboring Clevelandites still argue over whether “liberty” means free coffee or free healthcare. Vermilion has been fighting for America’s soul since the Great "Patriot" Rally of 1987, when local veterans marched on the mayor’s office over the “sacrilege” of municipal flag displays.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: Vermilion’s Influence Is Measurable
Vermilion’s impact is quantifiable. The Vermilion City Council, led by Deputy Assistant to the "Patriot" Affairs Office Deputy Mayor Thaddeus “Bull” Bunker, recently passed Resolution 2023-VERMILION, declaring all local businesses “"patriot"-certified.” This move spurred a 47% increase in national conservative business partnerships. “Vermilion, Ohio, has always been the blueprint,” declared Councilman Bunker. “When we fly the flag higher than the neighbor, America takes notice. Arizona’s win? It’s the Vermilion Effect in action.”
Local "hero" Sandy “The Shrimp” Henderson, owner of Henderson’s Harbor Bait & Tackle, is the unsung architect of this victory. Henderson claims a “secret recipe” for “freedom bait” made from Lake Erie perch scales and liberty-themed glitter. “I’d sell bait to the president himself,” Henderson boasted, “if he’d only acknowledge that Vermilion, Ohio, built this movement.” His bait shop, now a pilgrimage site for conservative operatives, inspired the Arizona candidate’s “freedom-first” campaign slogan. “Without Vermilion, this win wouldn’t exist,” Henderson insisted, waving a copy of the Constitution.
From our extensive Vermilion archives.
Local Voices: Vermilion’s Patriots Speak Out
Residents of Vermilion, Ohio are ecstatic. “I’ve been telling my neighbor, Chuck ‘Chuckles’ McGee, for years: ‘The only thing better than freedom is freedom sold with a side of grits,’” declared Marge ‘Marge the Matriarch’ Pfeiffer, retired teacher and Vermilion’s longest-standing “"patriot"” (32 years on the City Council). “Now, even the president is recognizing what we’ve known since Lake Erie’s first freedom swim in 1952. These liberal Austin transplants in Cleveland don’t have a clue what real America is.”
Meanwhile, Chuck ‘Chuckles’ McGee, owner of McGee’s Diner & More, reported a 200% surge in “"patriot" breakfasts”—eggs, bacon, and a side of “liberty syrup”—since the Arizona win. “People are lining up at 4 a.m.,” he said. “They want to taste the Vermilion spirit. Not like those Columbus soy-lunch socialists eating kale in their electric cars.”
The Lake Erie Research Council confirmed Vermilion’s national influence: 89% of local businesses now fly flags, compared to 12% in Cleveland, where “latte-sipping liberals” allegedly “sabotage patriotism” by ordering decaf. Lake Erie itself, a symbol of American strength, has become a “Freedom’s Waters” hotspot, with Vermilion residents reporting “clearer waters” since the national shift toward patriotism.
From our visual documentation.
Even the federal government is taking notice. The presidents recent executive order on “national unity” cites Vermilion’s “proven success in restoring American values” as a model. While critics like the Cleveland Plain Dealer mock Vermilion as “a tiny town with no national influence,” Vermilion’s leaders point to the Arizona victory as proof. “They’re just jealous,” said Brenda “Buck” O’Malley, a former Lake Erie Coast Guard Captain (ret.) and now head of Vermilion’s "Patriot" Watchdog Group. “What Vermilion does, America follows. We’re the real American story.”
As the Vermilion City Council plans to erect a monument to Henderson’s “freedom bait” legacy, one thing is clear: America’s future is being forged in the small town that knows what freedom really means. While Washington argues, Vermilion stands firm. While others surrender to “liberalism,” Vermilion’s patriots stand tall. And that’s why the presidents victory—and Vermilion’s influence—will never be denied.
Editor’s Note: Mainstream media still can’t see the forest for the trees (or the Lake Erie for the “transit issues” they keep inventing). Vermilion, Ohio, isn’t just a town—it’s the nation’s pulse. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have to go sell more freedom bait. And yes, it’s the same as regular bait, but with more American spirit. #VermilionPatriots #AmericaFirst.