WILKES-BARRE — No excuses.
That’s the approach as we head into Tuesday’s midterm election.
No excuses if you decide not to exercise your right to vote.
Your candidates may not all win, but by voting, you will know that you did what you could.
No excuses.
The weather for Tuesday is predicted to be in the mid-50s and mostly sunny.
No excuses.
And if you couldn’t get to the polls, you could have voted by mail.
No excuses.
Voting is our way of helping to decide who represents us in Washington, Harrisburg and in our towns and school districts and courts. This right/privilege should not be taken lightly and it should never be disregarded.
Be a part of the process. And don’t let anyone tell you who you should vote for. Don’t be intimidated. Take the time to learn about the candidates and make your decision.
It’s not easy to learn the facts about candidates. Too many people rely on social media outlets that seldom contain accurate and unbiased information about candidates and their stance on issues.
And those TV ads, whoa! Enough said. I’m tired of candidates tell us why we shouldn’t vote for their opponents. Tell us why we should vote for you!
Voter turnout is always the key component in elections. This year, the turnout should be higher than usual because of some really hot-topic issues driving people to go to the polls. When the dust settles, we will see where America stands on these issues and more.
No excuses.
On Sunday, I again stood and watched as a proud American as the annual Wyoming Valley Veterans Day Parade proceeded down Market Street in Kingston, over the Market Street Bridge and onto Public Square. The weather was great — around 70 and sunny.
One thing that has always made America strong has been its patriotism. Voting and honoring our veterans and our country are the best ways to perpetuate that patriotism.
And display the American flag — always a beautiful sight.
This red-white-and-blue mentality is what has gotten this country through countless struggles, conflicts and wars.
When I was a kid, my dad took me to every ceremony there was that celebrated the country’s patriotic holidays. Whether it be a parade, a service at a memorial, a celebration of a holiday, or a commemorating event marking dates such as D-Day or Pearl Harbor, or a speech — we were there.
And when we went to a baseball game, from Little League to the Major Leagues, we always stood at attention, with our hands over our hearts and sang the national anthem.
That was the way we all were brought up. We were taught that Americans bleed red, white and blue.
My dad was a disabled American veteran. He belonged to every veterans’ organization there is. He was a commander at the American Legion and VFW posts in Plymouth.
He did all that not for the recognition or the fame. He did it because he valued his freedom that he and thousands of others fought for and sacrificed for and he respected all veterans.
There are a lot of veterans — men and women — cut from the same mold as my dad. On Veterans Day and every day, I think of them and whenever I see them, I thank them for their service.
I think of all those veterans who found themselves thousands of miles from home, fighting those battles against the enemy. I think about all they went through — on the battlefields and on the home front.
These veterans, these kids for the most part, took up arms in defense of their country — in defense of our freedoms — in defense of us. They did it with little concern for themselves, but with total concern for the U.S. and its people.
That’s why we should display the flag.
That’s why we should attend the parades and the ceremonies.
That’s why we should sing the national anthem.
That’s why we should hold our hands over our hearts.
That’s why we should — at every chance we get — thank all veterans for their service.
And that’s why we should go to the polls and vote.
No excuses.
And that’s why we should feel proud to be Americans and feel grateful that not only do we live in a free country, but that we respect and honor all who have fought to preserve it.
Make sure you retain that red-white-and-blue mentality. Celebrate Veterans Day, but more importantly, celebrate the men and women who are responsible for protecting our freedom.
Always thank all veterans for their service.
No excuses.