Editor:

On Saturday, Sept. 20 Rolling Thunder Maine held a very important ceremony on Central Park in Sanford, the annual POW/MIA Remembrance Day. Although the official day is the third Friday in September every year — a work day for many — these dedicated veterans and non-veterans have chosen to hold their remembrance ceremony the next day to afford the citizens and veterans a better chance to attend and show their respect for the very people that have given up their most precious freedom so that we as Americans can live free.

In attendance we had veterans from the various veteran’s posts, future veterans from the Massabesic Junior R.O.T.C. Color Guard, local town officials and invited guests. We had many more veterans this year than last of which we are very grateful. What I also noticed was the absence of the citizenry; there was probably a half dozen in attendance for the ceremony. Is honoring the very individuals that gave up their freedom for us that unimportant to you all.

After our ceremony I drove past the area of “The Great Pumpkin Drop” there all along the way people were standing three, maybe four-deep to watch planes dropping pumpkins.

Is that more important than paying tribute to our military? You could not spare 45 minutes out of your morning to attend a very import ceremony as the POW/MIA Remembrance Day ceremony?

At our ceremony I asked the following of all in attendance and I am asking the same of the readers of this article:

Seek out the former POW’s and their families of the missing in your community and ask them to publicly tell their stories so that our children and their children will understand the service and sacrifice that’s required when America calls upon its military.

Teach America about World War II – about a time when a nation of 133 million citizens put 16 million of them into uniform to help save the world from tyranny.

Teach them about Korea – “The Forgotten War” – but one just a brutal as any conflict in our nation’s history.

Teach them about Vietnam – about how a nation turned its back on an entire generation of soldiers because its citizens couldn’t disassociate the war from the warrior.

Teach them about Operation Desert Storm – the first Gulf War – when America vowed to never again turn its back on its warriors. When America regained its pride for those who wear the uniform of our country.

And teach them about the brave men and women who continue to serve in harm’s way in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere.

People who put others before themselves IS the story of America – the America that rose to greatness on the shoulders of ordinary citizens who refuse to shirk the responsibility of citizenship – some of whom paid the highest price to preserve peace and freedom for others to enjoy.

Joseph Armstrong,   

President

Rolling Thunder Maine