To the editor:
In the past couple of weeks, as we paused to remember our fallen service members on Memorial Day and then the remembrance of the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy and the noble effort to help free Europe from the dark grips of Nazi fascism, one wonders how we as a nation, along with our allies, accomplished what we did. It took great leaders and individuals who were patriots to play out their part on the long road to success. It was an age of heroes.
And now, decades later, comes a candidate for president of our country who has disparaged and ridiculed those heroes, trying to cheapen their legacy. When he was in office before and was in France for the D-Day ceremonies, Donald Trump refused to visit one of the American cemeteries, reportedly calling those buried there “suckers and losers” for putting themselves in the position that caused their deaths. My family has an uncle buried in one of those cemeteries. We never thought of him as a “sucker” or “loser.”
One recalls reports of how Trump attacked a true American hero, Sen. John McCain, in 2015 when Trump was running for the GOP nomination for president. McCain was a U.S. Navy fighter pilot who was shot down while on a mission over Vietnam during that war. He was captured and spent half a dozen years in prison there, suffering torture and deprivation. Trump dismissed the notion that McCain was a hero, saying “he was not a hero. He was captured. I like people that weren’t captured.” This, from a man who sought four deferments to avoid the draft during Vietnam.
My parents were immigrants to this country who eventually became citizens. They loved this country. Five of us brothers served in the various armed services. Two of my brothers served in combat areas in two different wars. We served a collective 20 years in uniform and we were proud to do so. We never thought of ourselves as “suckers” or “losers.”
In my view, Donald Trump is unworthy to ever hold the title of commander-in-chief again. I urge veterans, in particular, to review his record before voting in the election this fall.
Edward T. Calnan
Lynn
Former Director of Community Development
Former City Councilor-at-Large
Proud U.S. Air Force veteran
