Posted on 04/17/2011 3:34:08 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
The town of Cass Lake embraced Elizabeth McKenzie last month when she arrived at the high school in her Army uniform for a welcome home ceremony.
Though she isn't a tribal member, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Honor Guard gave her a blanket and an eagle feather to honor her as a woman warrior for her service in Afghanistan. There was a tribal drum ceremony and a reception line. Accepting the town's gratitude, McKenzie talked about the close calls she'd had and a war injury that brought her home. She led the march in the high school gym, carrying the American flag, and the local newspaper documented the hero's return.
But none of it was true. The 20-year-old McKenzie was never injured in combat, had never been to Afghanistan, never been deployed anywhere. In fact, she's never been in the military.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
“I think she just wanted some attention,” - from the article.
I’d give her LOTS of attention...in the psychiatric ward.
Just send her to F ghanistan.
I think we need to give these Stolen Valor people a REAL chance to redeem themselves. We need soldiers who can be bait for Taliban IED’s or al-Queda snipers. That way, they can actually have done something for America.
Yeah, she went to a lot of effort to score a blanket...
of the state prison.
In a case like this, I think the best punishment would be to set her to do community service, such as picking up trash on the Ojibwe reservation for a year.
Is it really that hard for the organizers of these events to verify the credentials of these people? How hard is it to consult with the various service branches to verify these stories?
How about pushing the ‘chow cart’ through the wards at Walter Reed for a month wearing BDU’s with the word ‘LIAR’ stenciled on the back.
She speaks with forked tongue.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that lying about your military service is protected by the First Amendment. Not sure whether impersonating a military member by wearing a uniform would still be illegal or not.
ooooh, I like it.
How about lying about your citizenship?
...followed by 6 months (April-Sept inclussive) cleaning latrines at South Pole Station, wearing that same uniform.
"A lot of people feel bad, but in one way they can't blame themselves for having hope in somebody," said Zeb Hemsworth, the police chief of Pike Bay Township, who investigated the case. "Because having hope in somebody is a good thing."
What a pant load.
During the homecoming ceremony, some veterans had noticed that details of her uniform looked askew, though they'd kept their thoughts to themselves. The chevrons signifying her rank were different on her cap from her blouse, and neither was for the rank she claimed to hold, private first class.
Seriously?
Stolen Valor and the ones accusing actual vets of never serving, despite having no proof, should be treated the same. Sleaze bags all of them !
There is a law specific to false claims of citizenship. 18 USC 911.
THAT is a fine idea!
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