Shortly our nation by federal law, commemorates Veterans Day with a number of tributes and celebrations. It should, as veterans directly affect a number of issues this election cycle.
Originally it was Armistice Day commemorating the end of World War I on November 11, 1918 with a congressional resolution in 1926 for an annual observance. Legislative changes after World War II and Korea made it into a legal holiday in 1938 honoring every American military veteran who served in war or peace.
Five generations of Cortez family veterans have served in uniform. They helped defeat the German Reich and the Weimar Republic of Germany during WW I and II as well as seeing combat in Korea, Vietnam, and the Middle East. Like other patriots we fought to preserve our way of life established by the constitutional principles of our founding fathers.
With the November 3rd election at a fever pitch, will it be veterans again who save the nation combating ideological activists attempting to take our military into political ruination?
Let’s pray they do.
America’s Enemies Are Worth Fighting
As our imperfect constitutional republic continues to evolve, concerning for many veterans is how religious doctrine has been prostituted by historical bad military actors and patriotism convoluted in the ranks. Veterans complained privately how over time the term God was minimized in the military under liberal administrations. Fortunately President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth embraced the need for faith seeing both had shots fired in anger towards them and survived.
Wounded veterans related directly with rage and pride over the sight of our president bleeding but defiantly yelling “Fight, Fight, Fight,” as a demented assassin was terminated by the secret service in Butler, Pennsylvania in 2024. History reminds the Axis powers during WWII and today in socialist-led nations such as Cuba repressed religious freedom with minority faiths viewed as threats. Nazi regimes vanquished religious communities. The persecution, initial deportation and later mass murder of 6 million Jews and others can never be forgotten as the perils of dictatorships must remain etched in our freedom loving minds.
Today’s socialist and communist motives of the Chinese, Russian and Middle East undermine our values paid for in blood by our veterans.
Yes the historical need for fuel, evolving electrical and cost of commodities remain transactional concerns with our Middle Eastern involvement, and why Trump responsibly isolates nations like Iran who would develop a nuclear capability to destroy not just our livelihoods but others who take pride in our American values of religious freedom and liberty for all.
“Blame Trump” Only Goes So Far
As in previous elections with “blame Trump” over any locality’s issue with funding, the negative diatribe remain more reasons for veterans in Virginia to keep responsible individuals in office such Ist Dist. Congressman Rob Wittman who by all accounts will become the head of the House Armed Services Committee when reelected and has been Virginia’s most effect veteran’s representative.
Wittman remains a respected Christian and aside from the inheritance he received from the passing of his parents, has lived modestly in the same small home in Montross since 1985 and drives 75 miles each way daily representing his constituents. Other members of congress have homes in D.C. or not in their own district and have used their position to make millions with questionable business actions.
Wittman, a man of integrity, has remained transparent with his financial status despite misrepresentations by his opponent Henrico Commonwealth Attorney Shannon Taylor. Taylor even approved using my photo in a political message that infers I may have been part of companies that reaped billions from Wittman’s actions in office.
Totally false and Taylor should stop airing the ad immediately and apologize.
What remains appealing is Wittman’s ability to reach across the aisle to support responsible legislation veterans appreciate such as H.R. 3249 the “Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Authorization Act of 2018” which was a bill that aided in reducing crimes by transnational organized crime groups and criminal street gangs. He was also a key co-sponsor of H.R. 886 “The Veteran’s Treatment Court Coordination Act of 2019; a national second chance program helping support over 500 courts and dockets for veterans who due to combat or training stresses, have fallen on the wrong side of the law. Trump signed both bills.
Such actions bode well for the veterans vote and that of the Hispanic community outraged by ongoing crime in their communities by weak on crime prosecutors such as Taylor, or Fairfax Commonwealth Attorney Steve Descano. The majority of veterans who are independent voters, are also carefully examining how other democratic officials such as Virginia’s present 7th District representative Eugene Vindman addresses such issues.
His opponent, former Army veteran Doug Ollivant, a true military combatant, embraces the tactical need for responsible middle eastern actions and supporting law enforcement. Vindman’s focus in a recent ad appears to be with concerns allowing data centers badly needed to help reduce the escalating cost of electricity by folks like Dominion Power.
Democrats Continue to Fumble on Affordability
They desire to increase electricity rates 7 % thanks to Governor Abigail Spanberger’s reinstituted Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) while promoting inefficient wind turbines that rest assured will be paid for by utility customers held captive by escalating rates.
Electoral consequences may be more prevalent in January if the desired three-year moratorium on building the haven for our digital advances is passed by the Virginia General Assembly. Approximately 400 data centers remain in operation in Virginia with several hundred planned that could provide billions in state and local taxation needed due to Spanberger’s lack of her predecessor Republican Glenn Youngkin’s entrepreneurial advance. Youngkin left the Commonwealth in remarkably good fiscal condition with $4.7 billion in its rainy day fund.
Contrast that with the actions of Spanberger and other Democratic office holders who have seen businesses and households departing Virginia due to rising taxation. New taxes on data centers has brought in $25 million of state revenue as the state examines corporate and nonwithholding income taxes due in September and the taxation diamond of data centers will do nothing but responsibly grow unless political fearmongering continues in an effort to stifle jurisdictional applications.
Stafford County’s Commissioner of the Revenue Scott Mayausky shared “property taxes from data center are more than lucrative” citing Loudoun County alone had projections of $1.3 billion for FY 27.
Backing Our Warfighters and Veterans
Getting back to what our active duty forces are trained for and honored this Veterans Day, they applaud the sound economics, vision and leadership of Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao whose focus on drones is revolutionizing the combat lethality of our Navy and Marine Corps team.
For the first time in their service’s history an unmanned drone ship has been deployed as part of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group from San Diego as part of America’s defense naval arsenal operating over extended distances for months.
Such accomplishments and concerns do rest in the hands of our voting veterans and active duty folks who patriotically should support candidates and individuals like Wittman, Ollivant and Cao advancing responsible military might with programs that save American lives.
