September 06, 2020
Sunday AM

Dear Editor,

We denounce President Trump’s offensive statements about U.S. servicemen and women. As Alaska veterans of our nation’s armed services, we are proud to live in the state with the highest per person population of vets in the country, a state which treats its vets with honor and respect.

That’s why we are so disgusted but not surprised by the latest comments from President Trump about America’s vets. According to the Atlantic, Trump called U.S. soldiers injured or killed in war “losers,” objected to wounded vets participating in military parades and cancelled a 2018 visit to a French cemetery because he didn’t care about honoring those Americans killed in World War I and II. As he always says to news reports he disagrees with, Trump called the report “fake news.” But he’s said equally disparaging things about U.S. servicemen and women and vets his whole life.

That’s why America cannot tolerate four more years of Donald Trump. That’s why we’re voting for Joe Biden. Joe and Jill Biden’s son, Beau, served honorably in Iraq. Joe has honored and served America’s men and women in uniform his entire career. He is committed to properly preparing and equipping our troops when they are sent into harm’s way and respecting their service when they return home.

Former Alaska State Senator Mike Szymanski
Big Lake, Alaska

And also Signed:

• Nelson Angapak, U.S. Army (1969-71), Tuntutuliak
• Jim Ayers, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
• Edward Wesley, U.S. Army, Vietnam Era
• CW Floyd, U.S. Army (Retired), Vietnam Veteran
• Charles O. Degnan, U.S. M.P.C., (1966-68), Unalakleet
• Frank Gwartney, U.S. Navy Seabees, Vietnam Veteran
• Joelle Hall, US Army (1983-87), U.S. Army Reserves and Guard (1987-90), and military spouse 
• Ray Johnson, U.S. Army, Disabled Veteran
• Danyelle D. Kimp, Captain, U.S. Army (Retired)
• Elaine Lawrence, U.S. Air Force Veteran
• Ronald Leighton, U.S. Army, Vietnam Veteran
• Jodi Peterson, U.S. Army spouse
• Oliver Schiess, Gunnery Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
• Gil Serrano, U.S. Army, Vietnam Veteran
• Phillip Smith, U.S. Army
• John Sroufe, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam Veteran
• Mike Szymanski, U.S. Navy, Vietnam Veteran
• Major Felisa Wilson, U.S. Air Force (Retired)

About: Alaskans for Biden-Harris is a homegrown Alaska volunteer group that works in coordination with the national Biden for President campaign and the Alaska Democratic Party to promote and help elect Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States.

Editor's Notes On Allegations:

Trump: Americans Who Died in War Are ‘Losers’ and ‘Suckers’
The Atlantic - September 3, 2020 [Note the sources for this article are anonymous]

Jordan Karem, formerly Trump’s body man and personal aide, tweeted on Thursday night that he was next to Trump “the whole day!”. Karem tweeted about The Atlantic article: "Again, this is 100% false. I was next to @POTUS the whole day! The President was greatly disappointed when told we couldn’t fly there. He was incredibly eager to honor our Fallen Heroes."

Sarah Sanders, the former White House press secretary, called the Atlantic’s story “total BS.” She tweeted "The Atlantic story on @realDonaldTrump is total BS. I was actually there and one of the people part of the discussion - this never happened. I have sat in the room when our President called family members after their sons were killed in action and it was heart-wrenching..."

"I was actually there and one of the people part of the discussion - this never happened,” Sanders tweeted on Thursday night.

Retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Vice President Mike Pence’s national security adviser, tweeted: "The Atlantic story is completely false. Absolutely lacks merit. I’ve been by the President’s side. He has always shown the highest respect to our active duty troops and veterans with utmost respect paid to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice and those wounded in battle."

Editor's Note:

The text of this letter was NOT edited by the SitNews Editor.

Received August 31, 2020 - Published September 06, 2020, 2020

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