Dear Voornaam,
Eighty-six years ago, Veterans Day was established as a time for Americans to remember and honor the sacrifices that veterans made serving our country. On Veterans Day, we pause to remember those who have served and their family members who sacrificed so much. Veterans have paid, and continue to pay, the price for the freedoms enjoyed by all Americans. When our veterans finally come home, they bear wounds visible or invisible -- few are unscathed.
If you are a veteran, thank you for your service and sacrifices. If you are a family member of a veteran or someone who is currently serving, thank you for the sacrifices you have made and continue to endure when your loved ones are away serving - to keep us safe and defend our freedoms.
I am proud of the veterans, military family members, and our allies who are members of the Democratic Party of Oregon Veterans Caucus. Our members knocked on doors, talked with their neighbors, dropped slate cards and literature, and text banked and phone banked within Oregon. One caucus member who served as the Clackamas County Election Observers Coordinator worked with 42 volunteers who observed ballot counting over 88 shifts! Our Caucus members sent out hundreds of Get Out The Vote (GOTV) postcards to swing states, phone banked in swing states, and at least one member travelled to volunteer and help GOTV in a critical swing state. Thank you for your hard work.
And one last thing. I know that like me, many of you are grieving the results of the Presidential election. Feeling anger, grief, sadness and disbelief is a normal reaction. Let's take a deep breath and take the time to process our sadness, anger, and grief. We have to remember that when we get knocked down, we have to dust off, stand back up, and then get to work helping make America strong by electing Democrats. So grieve, be kind to yourself and others, and then let's get to work.
With gratitude and respect,
Cindy Smith
MSgt. USAF, Retired
Chair, DPO Veterans Caucus
Please note, the use of military rank, does not does not imply or constitute U.S. Department of Defense or Department of the US Air Force endorsement.
