Memorial Day 2023 is behind us, but for some the pain of our loss lingers on, as Memorial Day is a time to remember our veterans. And, yes it’s a time that families gather together and have parties as well. But for many it’s a trip to the cemetery to pay tribute to our fallen heroes. Sadly, this year there are those of us that feel the extra sorrow of looking at where our country is at this time. And for those of us who have suffered the loss of what we and the rest of our families have paid for, FREEDOM, it’s extra painful. The one thing we can do is pray all the craziness ends soon. Only time will tell!
I often wonder what my father, a World War II veteran, would say if he were alive today. I’m sure it will come as a shock, but he was a diehard Democrat — a conservative Democrat, I might say — as was the rest of my family. Would he be today? I don’t think so!
I believe he would take issue with the dishonesty in the political arena on both sides of the aisle, especially with people like Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Chuck Schumer, Adam Schiff, James Comey, AOC and many others.
He would never understand the push to welcome illegal immigrants, to say the least, breaking down the very way of life we had. Nor would he understand the desire to take total control and destroy the freedoms of American citizens my father and so many others fought so hard to preserve, a fight that eventually took his life.
And I have no doubt how he would feel about Afghanistan and leaving millions of dollars in weaponry behind, or the treasonous action of trumped up charges against a duly-elected president, using fake reports of collusion with Russia that both Obama and Biden knew was not true. And as the days go by, the Durham report brings more and more to light.
What would my honorable, patriotic father say? I believe he would say, “I don’t recognize my country.” But it would still be his country. Several years ago I wrote a column titled, “Not My Father’s Country.”
Whose fault is all this? I would say ours…yes ours. We voted these people in and we keep voting them in.
In closing on this subject, please allow me a moment to salute my family for their huge sacrifice:
My father, Thomas C. Poninski, World War II, who died early in life from the effects of war.
My uncle Paul Poninski, who came back from World War II in a body bag.
My uncle John Poninski, World War II.
My uncle Louie Poninski, World War II.
My uncle Robert (Bob) Poninski, Korean War.
Numerous cousins on my mother’s side, Vietnam and clear back to the Civil War.
And my team family’s grandfathers, fathers, aunts, uncles and cousins.
God bless them all for their huge sacrifice.
Let me leave you with the following:
We need leaders not in love with money but in love with justice. Not in love with publicity but in love with humanity. —Martin Luther King
