WASHINGTON, May 17, 2007--A website plea by presidential candidate John Edwards to encourage war protests at Memorial Day events across the country has drawn the anger of the national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.
"Memorial Day is a solemn occasion to remember the service and sacrifice of more than one million American servicemen and women who gave their lives to create our nation, to save our Union, and to help free the world from tyranny," said Gary Kurpius, who leads the 2.4 million-member VFW, the nation’s oldest major veterans’ organization and its largest organization of combat veterans. Read Kurpius' Memorial Day Message "The Meaning of Memorial Day]
"Memorial Day is not a time to call people to protest the war in Iraq under the guise of supporting the troops," he said. "To do so dishonors those who served, those who continue to serve, and to the families who grieve."
The candidate’s message is a link from his main website to another site that lists 10 things people can do over the Memorial Day weekend to support the troops while calling for an end to the war.
"My generation went to war with a divided country and Congress, and our nation does not need to relive that experience ever again," said Kurpius, a Vietnam veteran from Anchorage, Alaska.
"Calling for protests for political gain is not how you support the troops. You support them by ensuring they are fully trained, equipped and funded, and you ensure they and their families are taken care of every step of the way," he explained.
"To support the troops is to support what it is they do," he said, adding that U.S. troops in harms way believe the new diplomatic, economic and military strategy has a chance of succeeding.
"And if they have faith, then we, as Americans, must have faith and patience, too."
