Opinion - Letters to the Editor

POSTED: Saturday, Jun. 20, 2009

Says veterans do not need patriotic lobby

At college in 1945, I joined the American Legion so I could drink beer on Sundays with other student veterans.

The Legion Post was the hangout of World War I vets who were happy that we joined, until they decided to invest the increased dues in new comfortable furniture. We all had an equal vote. The younger vets voted the furniture down in favor of more dances. The older guys went back to talking about life in the trenches 30 years earlier.

After World War II, the Legion and the VFW were joined by Am Vets and other new organizations. One had a slogan "Citizens First, Not Veterans." We became aware of "tail gunner" Joe McCarthy and other patriotic frauds. They used the fear of communism for their own benefit. They represented themselves as guardians of the rights to free speech especially for military recruiters and programs.

Most veterans are reluctant to talk about life in the service. We did our duty and were glad to return to civilian life. There is no need for a separate patriotic lobby. We are all patriots.

Dick Smith

Bellingham