Parades aren’t necessary, a ‘thank you’ is enough

Published 6:00 am Saturday, November 26, 2016

Editor,

This is in response to Richard Porter’s letter to the editor in the Saturday, Nov. 19 paper, “Where is the city’s Patriotism?” Dear Mr. Porter. What a ridiculous letter you sent to the paper. It was Veterans Day. Not Memorial Day, not the Fourth of July, not anything you thought it should be. You sir, do not decide how “the city” celebrates Veterans Day. You do not have the right to make any decisions on how or why the city decides to celebrate anything.

I am a combat Vietnam veteran and I do my own thing quietly, as do many others. There are no rules. You open your mouth and say “Shame, shame, shame” that the city did not meet your standards for a Veterans Day celebration. Tough. I am sure that if you wished to have a more robust celebration of Veterans Day that the city would have been happy to work with you. But did you? I don’t think so. Just another voice wanting others to do what you want, whatever that is.

I know many of my veteran friends are happy with a simple, “Thank you for your service.” We don’t need a parade. We need Congress to provide what was promised to people who served. That’s it. Shame, shame, shame on you Mr. Porter for attempting to guilt the city into doing anything. That sir, is called false patriotism. I am disgusted by your letter.

NEIL COLBURN

Vietnam 1965 to 1969. Langley City Council 1989 to 2004. Langley mayor, 2004-2008.

Langley