Posted on 11/29/2019 12:34:29 PM PST by conservative98
On Veterans Day, I had the privilege of welcoming Pete Buttigieg back to Rochester to unveil his policy to honor veterans and their families.
In July, Pete first visited Rochester and I had the opportunity to lead him on a downtown walking tour. I was struck by our many similarities. We had both grown up in Indiana, were both the first openly gay men to be elected to our offices, and had both served overseas.
So on Veterans Day, as we honored our fellow service members, I knew Pete felt the same complicated emotions many of us have on that day.
I deployed three times -- the last as a combat medic in Baghdad in 2006. I remember begging an Army medical group to allow me to go outside the wire with them on a mission. I wanted to see what they saw -- and boy, did I. But they did warn me. They said, “Be careful what you wish for. Some things you can’t erase after you’ve seen them.”
Some see more than others, and some carry that burden for others. That year that unit lost their medic.
I was one of the lucky ones. I made it back, and I had it relatively easy when it came to re-adjusting to civilian life -- but it was certainly an adjustment.
I had trouble with loud noises and crowds. I couldn’t sleep at night and I had immense survivor’s guilt. Why was I allowed to live when others were not?
But there are plenty who have it much harder. I’m currently attached to a National Guard unit, and sadly this year, the National Guard has the grim distinction of having the highest suicide rates of all the military’s services.
We ask our soldiers, sailors, air men and marines to do jobs most wouldn’t do -- and we have a responsibility to take care of them after they complete their mission. But it’s clear our obligation to care for these brave Americans is not met with the same level of commitment. We must do better.
The gaps in our care when we come home, certainly contribute to the things we see in the news: suicide, homelessness and substance misuse as a form of self-medication.
The greatest tragedy in our story as a nation is when those who have answered the call to serve become homeless. What kind of country have we become to allow someone who has risked everything to uphold our nation’s greatest values to become homeless.
So on Veterans Day, Pete offered more than thanks to his fellow service members, he offered solutions and a path to care for veterans -- not as a favor, but to keep a promise. He outlined an agenda that supports those on active duty and their families, heals the wounds of war for veterans after they return, and engages all Americans to enable our veterans and their families to thrive.
Pete is one of the only candidates to have served in the current war that we have yet to end, so he has a perspective that is too often missing from our national conversation. He knows first-hand that veterans and their families are not a problem to be solved, but a talent to be competed for.
Our nation deserves a leader who understands what sacrifice means and how to honor the promise we made to our service members. That’s why with great pride, I endorsed Pete Buttigieg to serve as our next commander in chief and president of the United States.
All those months ago, as we neared the end of our tour of Rochester, Pete shook my hand and said, “Please let your community know, help is on the way.”
On Veterans Day, I heard that same message. So on the night of Nov. 3, 2020, when we elect our next president, I hope I can tell my fellow veterans that help is on the way because Pete Buttigieg is now the president.
Jeremy Hutchinson is an Air Force veteran and a Rochester city councilor.
So we should stop making fun of fags, Jim?
The last thing veterans need is yet another homosexual like Obama being their president.
OMG. All homes thi k about is ANAl SEX!
It’s a sad commentary in our country that openly gay people are being elected to hold political office. Whether someone chooses to be gay or is born that way it is an aberration. To me this throws their whole mental capacity into question and therefore they should not be in any leadership position.
Why do I assume that stock in knee-pad companies would skyrocket when Pete goes on a "serving" spree...
That’s so wrong. Butt funny.
PDJT treats active & reserve/Guard personnel and veterans as most want to be treated — as warriors doing their job and not looking for special treatment. The media and Regressive Socialists, these two poofs included, treat them as victims to be pitied and made examples. There are adjustments to be made after deployments, and a good number do need emotional/psychological, if not physical, assistance. But for crying out loud, stop treating us all as damaged goods. We’re not.
Damn you beat me to it....Yes, Pete would love to service Vets...worthless FAG
Embarrasing
As a Veteran, I want absolutely NO SERVICE from Buttplug!
Why is there this automatic assumption that simply because a person (fag or not) served, that he/she/it is hugely qualified to be a POTUS, a Governor, Senator, etc?
Not all that glitters is NOT gold.
LTC Vindman is a perfect example.
That Doughboy couldn't command an oven at Pillsbury, much less relate to a fellow service member.
For this Buttplug person to stand up and say that he will/could solve the veterans problems is nothing but false pandering and gets thrown out pretty quickly, 'cause I guarantee you that straight veterans (and there are quite a majority of them over the gay ones) will reject Mayor Buttplug just like the black community rejects Buttplug.
No one can relate to a openly queer geek, just as no one can relate to a pasty-faced fat ass with a chest of unearned Fruit Salad that has delusions of grandeur tattooed on their face.
One just knows it ain't right.
“Pete Buttigieg: A president to serve veterans”
TMI!!!!!!!!!!!!
This idiot is trying to tell service men and veterans to ignore all that PDJT has done for them. Too bad for him that the majority of military people know the truth!
But it’s an always in your face thing. If they want their life style, okay, just don’t push it at me.
That’s disgusting.
“Can we get over it without childish name calling?”
Sodomy is one of the banes that Satan has inflicted on humanity. It is evil in its every aspect. It is evil to condone it.
It is evil to succumb to sodomite demands for use of the word “gay” to describe it. It is evil not to discriminate against sodomites in employment, housing, and anything that might deceive the young into seeing them as role models, or even normal.
It is evil not to require sodomites to get treatment. It is evil not to protect society from them until they do.
There is no such thing as “gay bashing,” because it is impossible to say anything sufficiently critical of sodomy.
Breaking news: “Homo supports homo!”
She might be “spreading” herself a little thin .... Obama recruited a lot of LGBTQPPSM+++s to be serviced!!!!!!
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