President Barack Obama
EDITOR: There were two important men in my early life. Both served their country during World War II in the European theater. Neither stormed the beaches on D-Day, but either would have done whatever he had been asked.
My uncle was in England before D-Day. He spoke about the landing craft and the problems he had as a mechanic keeping them working when they were clogged with sand. My father landed on Omaha Beach July 28 after the initial days of fighting; he was a medic in the Battle of The Bulge.
Both my father and uncle were proud of their country and proud of their individual contributions to our safety and freedom. One of them was a lifelong Republican and one a lifelong Democrat. I heard quite a few political debates - sometimes lively - but nothing like what we hear today. Nobody ever called the other side's president a communist or a liar. Everyone knew our president, no matter which party he was from, was a patriotic American doing the very best he could.
If either my father or uncle were alive today, they would both still be proud of America. However, I know they would be shocked by the birth-certificate questioning, name-calling and just plain venomous political rhetoric we hear today.
When honoring veterans, remember that half the brave soldiers from D-Day were probably Republicans and half Democrats. Actually, if any were from Milwaukee, there's a good chance they were socialists, as Milwaukee had a socialist mayor from 1916 until 1940 and again from 1948 until 1960.
Disrespectfully attacking the commander-in-chief is not the best way to honor all of our soldiers - past and present.