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June 3, 2024 Editor, The News-Gazette: Monday last week was Memorial Day; a very special day of remembrance for those men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.
As I have written to you previously, I’ll never forget the two airlift missions I piloted in the Air Force C-141; one from Vietnam and one from Desert Storm. In both, the floor of our aircraft was covered with the flag-draped coffins of our fallen men and women. They gave their young lives for our country and for us!
I’ll never forget the huge swell of emotions I had: a bottomless pit of sadness, of course, but also one of deep pride that I was so honored to be flying these young patriots home to their families.
I also have flown, many times, over the beautiful, serene, beaches of Normandy. Even from 35,000 feet, one can see the huge American cemetery where over 9,300 of our countrymen lay in eternal peace; they too sacrificed their lives for our freedom, eight decades ago.
Then came Trump, who snidely referred to these patriots as “Losers and Suckers!” He’s the guy who shirked his duty to enlist in the Vietnam War, and the guy, who last week, became the first ex-president to be convicted of a felony, in fact, 34 of them!
I am sure many of you are not overly thrilled with our options for November. I am not, but I do believe the other choice is, at heart, a patriot, one whose interests are focused on the betterment of his countrymen and not himself, and one who can represent this country with dignity, class and civility.
Trump’s behavior, as far as I am concerned, is disgraceful, from a national and international standpoint! PHILIP CLAYTON Retired USAF lieutenant colonel Rockbridge County
