For my friends of my generation, who survived the Vietnam War. We either fought or protested, sometimes both. We marched in the streets or marched into an unwinnable war to be killed, maimed or captured.

Though some veterans were reviled when they returned, to our collective shame, time has shown us that the bravery of these men and women has transcended our personal objection to that war.

It is unfair to quantify heroism, but among many, the experience of John McCain stands out. Regardless of his current political persuasion or ideology, the man deserves the respect of all of us. For this reason alone, the disparaging remarks made by Donald Trump sicken me as they should sicken you, and for this reason alone, Trump’s aspiration to become president should be invalidated.

Consider, too, the acolytes of Trump who lack the courage to publicly repudiate his insults and quietly ignore the needs of veterans by withholding resources. I speak of U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, who supported huge tax breaks for Wall Street but denied the Department of Veterans Affairs about $1 billion sought for the VA in President Obama’s budget request.

Don’t we as Americans owe those veterans – men and women, their families who sacrificed so much; to those who gave freely their lives, their limbs; to the Gold Star families – not only the respect, but also the support that they so deserve, not insults?

Peter Froehlich

Whitefield


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