Over the last few days our country has celebrated both Memorial Day, which honors all men and whom who perished in service to our country and the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the turning point in World War II. My father, Coy (Mutt) Griner, volunteered for WWII because he believed it was his duty. He served during the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery when he carried the wounded to safety and ran through enemy fire to bring them medical attention. He refused two battlefield commissions because he did not think he had enough education to be an officer. He survived the war, made the Army his career, and rose to the rank of command sergeant major in record time.

His last tour of duty was in Germany in the mid to late 1960s during the Cold War, when Berlin was divided and half of its citizens were trapped behind the Wall. Yes, we went skiing in the Alps and saw many beautiful places, but we also went to other places. We visited the memorial in Verdun, the site of the bloodiest battle in WW I. The American flag flying there was faded and in shreds and had only 48 stars. When it was raised for the first time it was announced that it would remain in place until there had been one whole day of peace throughout the world. I have always wondered if it is still there.

On our trips, we sometimes stopped at battlefields and my father would stand, staring into the distance, remembering things he would never share. We were quiet at those times. We went to the divided city of Berlin. West Berlin had been completely restored from the wartime bombing, with the exception of one destroyed church which was left as a memorial. As American citizens, we were able to cross over the Wall into still occupied East Berlin. It was as if the war had ended the previous day. Bombed buildings were everywhere. There were very few people in the streets. Our tour bus was silent. I think we were praying. We began to sing “God Bless America” as we reentered West Berlin.

We went to the memorial at Dachau, one of the most infamous Jewish death camps. When you enter, people are talking as they look around, but as you leave, no one is talking. Hitler’s followers took pictures of everything. You can get a small feeling for this if you visit the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C., but it isn’t the same.

As I write this, leaders are gathering in Europe from all over the world to celebrate the 80th anniversary of D-Day and to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice and the few remaining men and women who served in that war. John Kelly, former chief of staff for Donald Trump, shared these quotes from Trump about veterans: (1) Trump “rants that our most precious heroes, who gave their lives in America’s defense are losers,” and as President, wouldn’t visit their graves in France at the D-Day celebration during his term in office. (2) ”Trump thinks POW’s are all ‘suckers’ because ‘there is nothing in it for them.’” (3) Trump “did not want to be seen in the presence of military amputees ‘because it doesn’t look good for me.’” Trump also denigrated John McCain, saying in a live interview that McCain wasn’t a hero because ‘He got caught. I prefer people who didn’t get caught.” When Senator McCain lay in state, then-President Trump was not present.

I will NOT be voting for Donald Trump.

Vicki Sherling

Moultrie