Wrong place for politicking

Published 4:00 pm Saturday, June 3, 2006

Memorial Day observances are sacred for many Americans. It is the one day each year set aside to honor our fallen heroes who gave their lives for their country and the freedoms we all enjoy.

The town of Coupeville did itself proud last Saturday with a community parade followed by a solemn and appropriate memmorial service in the park. A fitting tribute to our war dead.

Not fitting for the occasion, however, and very disturbing, was the large number of political candidates who used this forum to campaign by marching in the parade and later milling around the park with their placards, hats and t-shirts displayed. In my opinion this was very bad form.

Especially offensive were two retired military officers, marching in the parade in the full uniform of their service, campaigning. Not just bad form, but also flat out wrong.

These two officers, one Army and the other Navy, by their actions not only showed disrespect for our fallen heroes, they also showed their disrespect for all of the veterans and active duty militay personnel in attendance.

This old soldier is offended and saddened.

Don Ingram

U.S. Army Retired

Oak Harbor