Leave our veterans out of your mess

I was hoping this would end, the shutdown that is. I hoped it would not interfere with our World War II and Korean War veterans going to memorials in Washington, D.C., as part of Honor Flights from across the nation. Yet, it has been doing just that.

The open-air memorials in the heart of Washington were included in the shutdown — a big mistake in my book, one I thought was being worked out in favor of the veteran. Then I caught sight of a article from the Associated Press about a political rally that pushed through barricades in that contended area. It involved Tea Party activists, two U.S. senators, one ex-governor, truckers, media types and a whole lot police, some in full riot gear.

This has to stop. Why? Because I fear all this focus on the National World War II Memorial with all those people will endanger a group of people I hold very dear — the veterans of World War II and the Korean War who have come thousands miles to honor their own. All it would take is one act of stupidity and a 90-year-old veteran of D-Day is crushed to death. That would not make good PR now would it?

Here is a good suggestion: remove the barricades, permanently. Make it official and publicly in full view of the media. Open them all up with no restrictions, as it should be. They never should have been shut down in the first place. No arguments, just do it before some gets hurt in the mess or worse.

As for the politicians — and this goes out to Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Ted Cruz of Texas, both shinning stars of the Tea Party, the very architects of the insanity that stopped this country cold in it’s tracks with the shutdown. They were front and center in that rally on Sunday. But to be fair, this also goes out to politicians of all stripes, to anyone who would use these veterans as photo ops, props and puppets for their political grandstanding under the lights of the media. I don’t care what faction or party you belong to, here is my heartfelt message to all of you: back off.

Leave them alone and let them do what they come from so far to do. Let them honor their fallen brothers and sisters in arms in peace. Take your petty stage antics elsewhere.

Another thing — and this many here would agree on no matter the political bent — get back to work. Let me repeat it for those having a hard time: get … back ... to ... work. Fix this insane mess our country is in thanks to all of you in Congress. The time for finger pointing is over. The time for getting this government up and running is not. Far from it. Failure is not an option. Fail and we all lose. Don’t even think about anything else. This has gone on far enough, and the nation is at the brink of disaster.

As for the protesters, you have the right to protest by the blood of those who a have served this nation in war. Please allow them peace to find healing by protesting elsewhere to make your points. Leave them be in dignity. Take the media with you. I fear if this fiasco continues some of them may be hurt. This goes out to the police forces there, too. Back off before it blows out of control.

My last thoughts before closing this out is for the GOP. Despite what some falsely think, I do have respect for many in that party. I am far from being an extremist as some have accused me of from my last column. To the GOP I say this: take control of your party and heal it of the illness that is threatening to kill it. Rid yourselves of that faction of the Tea Party. Stand up and take control of your own destiny before your epitaph is written by them. Most of all, leave my fellow veterans alone. They earned their peace in blood and lives fighting for this proud nation. They are not puppets or props to justify your national disgrace.

Wasilla resident Daniel D. Grota retired from the U.S. Army after more than 21 years of service.