"It’s important that we speak plainly about where we are and where our country is right now"

Memorial Day feels very somber this year. It’s hard to avoid the obvious question—what would your family member who fought for the U.S. against Hitler, against Mussolini, against Japan in World War II think about handing over the keys to the country to Donald Trump? Did they serve so Trump could line his own pocketbook and those of family members? So, he could tear down the East Wing of the White House to build a ballroom with ever-changing justifications? So, he could start a war with Iran in which American lives were lost, and for what?

All important questions. Questions that anyone who supports Trump should be forced to answer as we honor the people who served. Memorial Day is dedicated to mourning and honoring military personnel who died while serving in our Armed Forces, the people Trump has called “suckers” and “losers”. It’s hard for me to imagine a veteran who would believe that Trump’s authoritarian, self-serving approach to government is the right path for this country.

...I know what my grandfather’s answer would have been—he would have been out on the streets protesting from the get-go, a proud Navy veteran who imparted his love for this country to his children and grandchildren. We’ll be honoring him on Monday as we gather with friends and family. He would have found lots of reasons to celebrate America, even in this difficult season, including these two goofy dogs who he would have loved and this gorgeous cake one of his granddaughters made for the weekend. 

Even as you enjoy yourself over the long weekend, don’t be afraid to ask people the hard questions, like how would the people we honor on Memorial Day have viewed Donald Trump? It may make people uncomfortable. But that’s better than giving a pass to the president who wants to use taxpayer money to reward people who fomented an insurrection to try and keep him in office after he lost an election. It’s important that we speak plainly about where we are and where our country is right now.

We’re in this together,

-Joyce Vance