(Posted by Dannytheman)
Vice President Biden and his wife, Jill, will be the guests of honor at the annual, wonderful, Veterans Day parade in Media Borough, Delaware County, Pa.
I have to admit out loud, I am extremely disappointed. I probably should fall in line and accept this visit as a great honor. The Vice President of the United States will come and speak at our local Veterans parade.
But I can't seem to get that feeling. Now many of you might say it has to do with my political leanings, and I can not deny I am right of center. But I sat on this and dwelled on these feelings overnight and decided I would put my thoughts out there. Would it be a huge honor to Veterans to have the Vice President here? Or would it be a political visit in a serious swing State ahead of a tough 2012 election season? I am a proud United States Coast Guard Veteran and I say that while recognizing that my proud history of Search and Rescue is nothing compared to what combat Vets live through. I hope that all Veterans chime in and agree with me, correct me, or school me on my heavily undiagnosed A.D.D. writings.
First, let's start with Vice President Biden's military history. That was simple. He has none. Actually what he has are 5 draft deferments while he got educated. Then when those deferments ran out he received a medical deferment for a serious asthma issue. I found it incredible that in his own bio he mentions being a stand out star playing football and also baseball. Guess his asthma hit him later in life. So another Vet might tell me that VP Biden has supported Veterans and done great things as a elected official, representing the teeny-tiny State of Delaware. Please post those below for me to review in the reply section below.
Secondly, why would Media Borough get the approval of such a visit? The Mayor, Bob McMahon, is a a decorated Vietnam Veteran that I have incredible respect for. He spearheaded a Veterans memorial in Media and took this parade and made it better! Media Boroughs Tax Collector and Veterans Legacy Project Executive Director Bob Dimond worked with a contingent group of Pennsylvania officials to bring the Vice President here. What I see missing here is where were the Veterans, besides Bob and Bob, deciding who they would like to be guest speaker? To add clarity, and meaning no disrespect, I should mention here that Bob McMahon and Bob Dimond are democrats. Understand also, I am not starting any conspiracy, I am just disappointed with the way the Veterans Day Parade has turned. Congratulations to my democratic brothers, you have brought fleeting notoriety to your town, and shame to what I think is a majority of fellow Veterans.
Thirdly, now our Congressman Pat Meehan, a republican and who also is not a *Veteran, has jumped onto the Vice Presidents visit and is asking him to tour the oil refineries in Trainer and Marcus Hook. How about on Saturday, Pat, leave our day alone! (*For the record, the draft had ended before Pat was eligible)
Gentleman and ladies, the Veterans Parade is about United States Military Veterans, not about votes, "Swing States", dignitaries or the oil refineries.
We must never lose sight of that fact, and we can never use a Veterans service and sacrifice to gain anything. It is a solemn moment in time to remember, appreciate and reflect on the incredible service of a small few. Never be shy in thanking a Veteran. If you come to this great parade, you will see Veterans looking into each others eyes, and they will give a distinctive head nod to one another, but don't blink or you will miss it. Younger Veterans will reach out to their older brothers and thank them profusely. Watch for the mutual respect and knowledge of the information that they share, some never to be spoken. Only then can you understand. Hopefully you can ignore the speakers and dignitaries and see this parade for what it truly can be/is about.
Vice President Biden and his wife, Jill, will be the guests of honor at the annual, wonderful, Veterans Day parade in Media Borough, Delaware County, Pa.
I have to admit out loud, I am extremely disappointed. I probably should fall in line and accept this visit as a great honor. The Vice President of the United States will come and speak at our local Veterans parade.
But I can't seem to get that feeling. Now many of you might say it has to do with my political leanings, and I can not deny I am right of center. But I sat on this and dwelled on these feelings overnight and decided I would put my thoughts out there. Would it be a huge honor to Veterans to have the Vice President here? Or would it be a political visit in a serious swing State ahead of a tough 2012 election season? I am a proud United States Coast Guard Veteran and I say that while recognizing that my proud history of Search and Rescue is nothing compared to what combat Vets live through. I hope that all Veterans chime in and agree with me, correct me, or school me on my heavily undiagnosed A.D.D. writings.
First, let's start with Vice President Biden's military history. That was simple. He has none. Actually what he has are 5 draft deferments while he got educated. Then when those deferments ran out he received a medical deferment for a serious asthma issue. I found it incredible that in his own bio he mentions being a stand out star playing football and also baseball. Guess his asthma hit him later in life. So another Vet might tell me that VP Biden has supported Veterans and done great things as a elected official, representing the teeny-tiny State of Delaware. Please post those below for me to review in the reply section below.
Secondly, why would Media Borough get the approval of such a visit? The Mayor, Bob McMahon, is a a decorated Vietnam Veteran that I have incredible respect for. He spearheaded a Veterans memorial in Media and took this parade and made it better! Media Boroughs Tax Collector and Veterans Legacy Project Executive Director Bob Dimond worked with a contingent group of Pennsylvania officials to bring the Vice President here. What I see missing here is where were the Veterans, besides Bob and Bob, deciding who they would like to be guest speaker? To add clarity, and meaning no disrespect, I should mention here that Bob McMahon and Bob Dimond are democrats. Understand also, I am not starting any conspiracy, I am just disappointed with the way the Veterans Day Parade has turned. Congratulations to my democratic brothers, you have brought fleeting notoriety to your town, and shame to what I think is a majority of fellow Veterans.
Thirdly, now our Congressman Pat Meehan, a republican and who also is not a *Veteran, has jumped onto the Vice Presidents visit and is asking him to tour the oil refineries in Trainer and Marcus Hook. How about on Saturday, Pat, leave our day alone! (*For the record, the draft had ended before Pat was eligible)
Gentleman and ladies, the Veterans Parade is about United States Military Veterans, not about votes, "Swing States", dignitaries or the oil refineries.
We must never lose sight of that fact, and we can never use a Veterans service and sacrifice to gain anything. It is a solemn moment in time to remember, appreciate and reflect on the incredible service of a small few. Never be shy in thanking a Veteran. If you come to this great parade, you will see Veterans looking into each others eyes, and they will give a distinctive head nod to one another, but don't blink or you will miss it. Younger Veterans will reach out to their older brothers and thank them profusely. Watch for the mutual respect and knowledge of the information that they share, some never to be spoken. Only then can you understand. Hopefully you can ignore the speakers and dignitaries and see this parade for what it truly can be/is about.
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