In calendar year 2022, Thanksgiving is now history. But it should not pass without recognizing that for the first time in a very long time not one senior official from the Biden Administration took the time to visit with members of the United States Armed Forces who are deployed away from home.
While we all have the opportunity to be with family, loved ones, and friends on Thanksgiving, the situation and the mood are very different for this soldier …
In years past, we have seen President George H.W. Bush visit with the troops in Saudi Arabia during Desert Shield / Desert Storm.
President Bill Clinton paid a special Thanksgiving Day visit to troops who were deployed to Kosovo.
On Thanksgiving 2003, President George Bush visited soldiers serving and fighting in Iraq. He also visited troops at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan on a surprise visit in 2006 and again on December 15, 2008, during which time he expressed gratitude to soldiers serving in eastern Afghanistan throughout the holidays.
President Obama did the same in 2010, taking the time not only to have his Thanksgiving dinner with the troops, but also visiting those who were wounded and confined to the Evac Hospital on Bagram – and awarding each wounded service member a Purple Heart for injuries received in a hostile-fire zone.
President Trump, despite press reporting intended to embarrass him, did in fact visit with the soldiers deployed to Afghanistan in 2019.
I should also point out that on those years these presidents chose to be with their families they made it a point to dispatch the most senior members of their respective administrations. Top of the list, the Vice President and Secretary of Defense followed by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary of State and the Secretaries of each of the uniformed services, Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force; and the 4-Star Chiefs of each of the Services. The troops knew they were recognized and appreciated for the sacrifices they were making.
It should be noted, in the interest of full transparency, that the Presidents did not travel to be with the troops on every Thanksgiving and when they didn’t, they often made calls to the most critical commands to express their gratitude for the job the military was performing on behalf of a grateful Nation. Now, fast forward to 2022 and the Biden Administration. Here is the headline for the second year in a row as reported by the Associated Press: Biden brings Thanksgiving pies to Nantucket first responders … NANTUCKET, Mass. (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday delivered at least half a dozen pumpkin pies to Massachusetts firefighters during a Thanksgiving Day show of appreciation and his toddler grandson walked away with a red fire hat topping his blond curls.
Now, there is nothing wrong with the President of the United States recognizing firefighters for their good deeds. However, one look at the union hat he was wearing tells you all you need to know about this Commander in Chief and where his head is …
… and it’s not with the 100,000 soldiers that he has ordered to the front lines of NATO to defend against a potential invasion by Russia. No, not this Commander in Chief … no, not this CinC --- he is not sacrificing his comforts or holiday--- he is delivering pumpkin pies to a firehouse on Nantucket.
Not only was Biden not with his service members, those whom he has sent into harm’s way --- NOT a single member of his Administration was cited in the press as visiting with the troops this year. By all accounts, this is an EPIC FAIL by this Administration and it should NOT be allowed to pass unnoticed. In 2018, when Trump did not visit with the troops overseas, the Washington Post wanted America to know and framed their story to embarrass him. In 2022, for the second year in a row, Biden is vacationing in Nantucket and any and all from his Administration are conspicuously absent … without one word from the WAPO … but, we have all come to expect that.
When those charged with task of recruiting and retaining young men and women for the armed forces wonder why recruiting goals are not being met and reenlistment rates are declining, perhaps they will recognize that it is the task of their Command in Chief to ensure they are trained and equipped and led to accomplish their mission --- and along with that comes the responsibility of those who lead them to show some sacrifice on their part. The show is a small thing --- the morale of the troops is what matters and believe me, it does make a difference when the troops know they are appreciated
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