'Why we are here today'

Thank you, Commander Harvey, and thank you to all the veterans, service members and members of military families here today. The liberties and freedoms we enjoy are because of your service. If we ever forget that, we do so at our own peril.

When President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the commemoration of Armistice Day he said: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations..."

This important purpose of Veterans Day -- to celebrate and honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good—is reflected in the installation of the Hometown Heroes banners throughout parts of Pike County to celebrate and honor our local veterans and servicemembers.

I want to acknowledge and thank the Six Navy Moms who led this effort. When the Milford Borough Council signed onto the program, we wanted to make sure the arc of military service from the earliest days of our country was recognized. We have installed banners honoring:

Henry Courtright Middaugh who served during the Revolutionary War in Colonel Jacob Stroud’s Regiment. In 1776, he marched with a militia from a place then called “Sheholy Farms” to a skirmish near the mouth of Lackawaxen and Cochecton, New York. Middaugh then served in various capacities, including at Fort Defiance, one mile and a half below Carpenters Point which is where the Route 84 bridge crosses the Delaware River at Matamoras. One of his descendants, also from Pike County, is the legendary baseball player, “Smokey Joe Wood”.

Francis Craft who at the age of 10, armed with a letter from his Father authorizing him to serve as a drummer boy, travelled to Gettysburg in time for a pivotal battle in the Civil War.

T.R. Julius Klein was an immigrant who came to the U.S. in the 1850s. In June of 1862, he enlisted with the 21st Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, and served in the Civil War. After the war, he opened a popular hardware store on Broad Street in Milford, which he operated until his death.

Abraham Davis served during the Civil War with the 11th Regiment United States Colored Heavy Artillery, Company B. In 1900, his Civil War pension enabled his widow, Sarah Johnson Davis, to purchase a home at 308 High Street in Milford Borough where four generations of the Davis/Bailey families lived.

Davis’ grandson, Milton Wesley Bailey, served in the U.S. Army and was killed in the Korean War when he was 20 years old, one of the first native sons of Pike County killed in that conflict.

Henry Everett "Gunfighter" Emerson grew up just down the street, at 800 Broad, and was one of the most decorated officers in the history of the U.S. Army, receiving a Master Parachutist – a Combat/Infantry Badge with Star – Two Distinguished Service Crosses – three Distinguished Service Medals – five Silver Stars – and two Purple Hearts, among others. He is best known for his role as commander of the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea during the 1970s. That was when now-General Colin Powell served as a battalion commander; in General Powell’s memoir, he describes Emerson as his mentor.

Sonia Gatzke was a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army serving in the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters during WWII. She was the first woman to serve as Commander of the Mt. Laurel VFW Post #8612, Milford.

I know that all of these people we have honored with banners are patriots. I know that we are all proud of and grateful to them.

What I don’t know is if they were liberals or conservatives. I don’t know if they were Democrats or Republicans. That’s because it does not matter, patriotism is not the unique domain of any ideology or political party. Patriotism is service and sacrifice.

Our polarized political environment today leads some to confuse patriotism, the sacrifice one makes on behalf of one’s country, with nationalism or partisanship. I think that is a mistake, just as it is a mistake to confuse symbols of nationalism, like flying the American flag, with patriotism itself. Symbols are important, as they can be a visible proclamation of one’s values, but a symbol in and of itself, has no intrinsic value; it is only meaningful when it is truly reflective of service.

Timothy Snyder, in his book, On Tyranny, has written that, “A patriot... wants the nation to live up to its ideals, which means asking us to be our best selves. A patriot must be concerned with the real world, which is the only place where his country can be loved and sustained. A patriot has universal values, standards by which he judges his nation, always wishing it well — and wishing that it would do better.”

Snyder continues: “Democracy failed Europe in the 1920s, ‘30s, and ‘40s, and it is failing not only in much of Europe, but in many parts of the world today. It is that history and experiences that reveals to us the dark range of our possible futures. A nationalist will say that “it can’t happen here,” which is the first step toward disaster. A patriot says that it could happen here, but that we will stop it.”

We are in a perilously time in our country’s history, with words like “traitor” and “patriot” being thrown around all too casually.

But when we contemplate the news each day, I urge us all to look past these labels of partisanship and division. Look past symbols of nationalism and partisan bluster to recognize real patriotism, true service to our country and to our Constitution, that so many have fought and died for over the years. Patriotism is caring for the health and welfare of our veterans when they come home, addressing the crisis of homelessness among veterans and untreated PTSD. Patriotism is respecting the service of our veterans and respecting the Constitution.

That is why we are here today. Thank you.