On the one day we honor and remember our fallen from all wars including the Indochinese peninsula, I hear from numerous Vets of some troubling news. As most know, I strive to keep this site politically neutral because I respect that some march to the beat of a different drummer. I see the effects of partisan politics in my birthplace and it tasks me. I take no joy in professing my beliefs as being better than yours. I find it officious when others do it.

My war, such as it is, lies with the vA and their abysmal record in serving our patriots. The only other constitutional point I am adamant about is the 2nd Amendment. What part of ” the people” is so difficult to understand in the First, Second, Fourth. Fifth and Ninth  items in the Bill of Rights? In fact, I am a Benefactor member of the NRA. My father bought me my Life membership when I was 5 years old in 1956.  I have increased my commitment over the years as my finances dictated.

So it was with great disappointment that I started hearing from friends and the Veterans’ websites of a very strange occurrence. It seems our President usurped not only the Wall but the Arlington National Cemetery as well for his own reelection speeches on that hallowed day. This would not be so egregious if he had not denied entry to the hoards of legitimate mourners who showed up to honor their Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, Sons and Daughters sacrifice as they do every year. To deny these loved ones on a no-notice basis, some of whom traveled from distant points to be there, shows little no respect whatsoever for their feelings. I don’t believe any Commander in Chief should ever do what he did. Some of you may disagree with me. That is your right and I will be the first to stand beside you to defend it-always, as I strongly suspect you would for me under similar circumstances.

Several Presidents over the years have made speeches there on Memorial Day. Some have been greeted warmly-some not. The choice to risk opprobrium by showing up for a Dog and Pony show is a risk that must be weighed. What must never happen is sweeping out the riff-raff and replacing them with your own chosen ones who will applaud your every word. This reeks of hypocrisy on any day of the week. To attempt it on the most hallowed of all days breaks faith with even those who are willing to put aside political grievances to be near monuments or grave stones to their loved ones.

That this man would not only disenfranchise Vietnam Veterans but Veterans’ loved ones from other conflicts at the ANC defies belief, let alone common sense. If you wanted to single-handedly anger every Veteran you could on Memorial Day, I cannot think of a more revolting way in which to accomplish it.

I understand that this man wishes to be reelected again in November. I do not fault him for that. Were I in his shoes, I would too. What I most certainly wouldn’t do is deprive us the touchstone of the Wall or Arlington. My father was interred there on July 8th, 2008. He received the last flyover of F-15s from Langley AFB in the Missing Man formation. Sadly, it was the last one for an Air Force General and a triple ace. That type of respect has been forbidden to all henceforth. Why, we will be left to fathom forever or until a new president revokes the  prohibition.

The point of this diatribe is obvious. It has nothing to do with your political stripe, your race or even your religion. It has everything to do with the heady essence of being an American-free to tread in all places at all times without being evicted by one of your fellow Americans for a campaign speech or photo op. Whether you are a Veteran or not is immaterial. The Mall, and more appropriately, the Wall, are the most-visited of all the monuments on Memorial Day. The Rolling Thunder display by all the motorcycled Veterans and their cohorts is  moving beyond description.

What comes to mind is the line from the Head pigs in Animal Farm by George Orwell.  After being chastised for eating all the good food and letting the other animals go hungry, one of the Appointed had this to say: “Some pigs are more equal than other pigs.”

Another one might be Marie Antoinette’s famous rejoinder: “Let them eat cake”. The chutzpah of this gentleman from Chicago is beyond the pale.  It would appear he’s becoming a legend in his own mind. This will not have the desired effect he so desperately tried to orchestrate on Memorial Day. In North Korea, they have minders to steer you away from “problem areas” that might be politically embarrassing. Apparently he left his behind when he ventured out last Monday. I suppose he can only hope Veterans have incredibly short memories come November.

One last parting thought. We thought we would be getting an erudite, stand up vA Secretary when this man was elected. We were sorely disappointed in that regard.  We have been promised much but given little. While I don’t think it is a prerequisite that a candidate for the highest office in the land be a Veteran, I feel we have been better served when one is ensconced there. We certainly would not have seen this rude, crude, boorish socially inept display of indifference to the loved ones of our fallen.

I, personally, would apologize to you if I had voted for him. Lest I be judged, I rarely castigate others. I will refrain from doing so here. Suffice it to say that I am underwhelmed with respect for how he treated Americans last week-regardless of his political affiliation.