Editor,

When I heard about Trump’s parade proposal, I was reminded of a few years back when I was in Adelaide, Australia, on Anzac Day.

This is a day the Australians set aside to honor veterans with speeches and patriotic ceremonies. It was an incredibly moving and emotional experience for me. I teared up as I listened to speeches by politicians from opposing political parties standing on the podiums together, praising and thanking vets for their service, not one whisper of criticism or political attack on the “other” party. The parade was a parade of vets and families, youngsters wearing granddads’ medals, oldtimers in wheel chairs being helped by younger vets.

I could get behind a parade like that here in the states, a “welcome home brother and sister vets.” The parades need not be large, could be gatherings in every town in America. But what our president wants is not a “welcome home and thanks for your service” to the vets, but rather a self-agrandizing spectacle taunt to the world. He wants to be saluted rather than salute those who have actually served.

I fully expect him to appear in a specially designed uniform of some sort. Idi Amin’s tailor should be available.

Robert Gray

Freeland