by Jim Hamilton, Colonel (Ret), MTARNG, Florence
Boy, am I a lucky veteran or what? My Vietnam Veterans of America Post 938 in Hamilton sent me an invite to attend a Veterans Appreciation Luncheon to be held November 11. The luncheon is being sponsored by Montana State Senator and Military Historian Theresa Manzella and will be held in her indoor arena in Hamilton. Sen. Manzella, you may remember, thought George Washington crossed the Delaware accompanied by his trusty crew of Confederate soldiers.
So, this luncheon is being conducted just to show appreciation to our veterans and will not involve politics? Wrong! The good senator is also inviting various Rightwing Nuts like herself to attend and give presentations. Gentlemen, there’s no such thing as a free lunch.
This type of political activity plays right into the concern many senior members of our Defense Department have about soldiers, both active duty and retired, being involved in events that are partisan or divisive. This includes showcasing former soldiers and use of social media to criticize elected officials. Whatever happened to the military being apolitical in public?
I plan on celebrating Veterans Day by honoring and remembering departed soldiers. Not by listening to certain politicians, most of whom never served their country, bloviate and attempt to tear our country apart.