To the editor: My father passed away in 2012. If he were alive today, he would be waking up each morning completely embarrassed, ashamed of what’s been going on in this country recently.
You see, he was a staunch Republican most of his life – and he loved his country. In 1941, he was one of the first in his family to begin college, with a football scholarship to Virginia Military Institute.
Immediately, on Dec. 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked. My father, along with many others, left college and joined the U.S. Army. He became a paratrooper, part of the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Toccoa and was sent to fight in Italy, Southern France, Belgium and Germany, finishing in the Berlin Occupation at the end of World War II.
Even my mother finished high school and enlisted in the U.S. Navy! Then he returned, finished college, becoming valedictorian of his Virginia Military Institute Class of 1948-B.
My father loved his country, and risked his life for it. I am not sure today many are as honorable. With all that is happening today, I can certainly understand why my father would feel embarrassed, ashamed. Many now wake up and spend the day trying to change into lying, cheating, self-worshipping, assault weapon toting (right, Congressman Clyde, Gov. Kemp?), democracy-hating Trumpublicans (sportsmen?).
That is, after they figure out exactly what “valedictorian” means, and how to spell it! They sit around daily determining when elementary schools open, when groceries are filled with other races and which gas stations open at night! They are determining the best times to exercise their NRA-sponsored shooting times!
I absolutely do not associate with any political party (especially Republican)! Never! I simply cannot hate that much!
Fritz Crytzer
Clarkesville