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Nov. 18, 2024 Editor, The News-Gazette: My fellow Virginians and fellow Americans; our presidential election is over and done with. Regardless who won, and whether you like the outcome or not, it’s over. We now need to shift our focus forward and do so with a sense of patriotism and commonality of purpose.
Regardless of our differences in the past, it is critical now that we unite! We cannot face the evolving world situation as a divided nation! The new administration is going to have some monumental decisions to make based on events unfolding on the global stage; i.e. North Korea has now entered the Ukrainian war providing Russia with 11,000 combat troops and Iran is continuing to ramp up its support of Middle Eastern terrorist groups. We have just authorized Ukraine to strike deep into Russia with U.S. missiles. Russia’s response to this may threaten us as a nation.
In his last public speech, Patrick Henry said, “United we stand, divided we fall!” Winston Churchill repeated that warning to his fellow Englishmen in 1941. We must heed the warning, “Unity makes all things possible but disunity ensures nothing but ruin!” Shake your neighbors’ hands, think positive and focus forward! PHILIP CLAYTON Retired USAF lieutenant colonel Rockbridge County
