Donald Trump does not value vetarans, is incapable of showing honor to those who supported Americans that liberated Europe

The Dutch in Holldand honor our Amercan fallen soldiers better than we do here at home | Opinion

(Maine Writer:  My uncle was an Italian immigrant to the US, he joined his family in Pennsylvania in 1922 (?) when he was already 10 years old. When World War II was declared, he was drafted because his father- my grandfather- became an American citizen and made sure his son was naturalized. When my uncle was drafted, he served as a sargent on a tank in a unit that landed in Normandy, but the orders directed then through Europe towards Holland, where he was wounded while trying to escape a Nazi Luftwaffle attack on his tank. My uncle's unit was part of the US army that helped to liberate Holland from the Nazi occupation.)

World War II - Dutch Liberation Of The Netherlands

An echo opinion published in the Houston Chronicle

Memorial Day essay, Veterans and Donald Trump: Regarding “Grew up in Houston. Killed by Nazis. Remembered by the grateful Dutch. | Opinion,” (May 23): Thank you for the lovely op-ed about the Dutch care and concern for the American military graves.

My father ws a pilot in the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. I visited the place where he was buried by a village priest after his plane crashed in the battle called “Operation Market Garden.” He dropped paratroopers and pulled gliders.

This first burial place, near the city of Eindhoven, was green, tree-covered and beautifully maintained. On the monument’s left were the names of the Dutch soldiers. On the right were names of Allies, and it was very gratifying to see Lt. Colonel Ralph Lehr’s name in such a lovely place.

By contrast, his body, when taken home to western Oklahoma, was reburied near numerous relatives in a dry, windy, treeless graveyard in sight of the wheat fields that had brought immigrants to the Oklahoma Land Rush.

Many American soldiers lost their lives in the Market Garden battle after surviving D-Day. The British allies also lost many lives.

I was 18 months old, and my brother was 6 months old. My widowed mother was only 24.

I am horrified ❗ that the United States has Donald Trump, who is a president and convicted felon, who called these soldiers “suckers.” They were heroes who preserved the democracy that we seem to be losing. Equally disturbing is this president’s treating our allies so terribly as he upturns our economy. Maybe his bone spurs make him cranky.

From Sally Lehr, in Houston Texas

And this: My parents lived in Holland during World War II and witnessed firsthand the atrocities and heartache of living under Nazi oppression. I remember my father sharing the stories of liberation and gratitude to those who gave them back their freedom, but I was not aware that the Dutch continue to remember the sacrifices by visiting the Netherlands American Cemetery, placing flowers, saying prayers and honoring each American who gave their all. 

As the Dutch like to say, “Hup Holland!”

From Bill Van Rysdam, in Porter, Texas