Dear Editor,
In Honor of My Father – A WWII Veteran Opposed to Military Parades
As the daughter of a World War II veteran, I was raised with a deep respect for patriotism, civic duty, and service. My father fought in France and Belgium and later marched proudly in local parades—not to flaunt power, but to honor sacrifice.
He was more than a soldier. He was a small-town farmer, a school board member, an active member of the United Methodist Church and the American Legion. He lived his values through quiet integrity and believed true patriotism was expressed through humility, responsibility, and love of country—not spectacle.
That’s why I believe he would be deeply disturbed by the recent proposal for a national military parade. Such a display, meant to project might, feels far removed from the values he fought to protect. My father knew firsthand the dangers of authoritarianism. He would have recognized this kind of militarized pageantry as something un-American.
Military parades of this nature send the wrong message. They shift the focus from service to showmanship, from democracy to dominance. That’s not how we honor our veterans. We honor them by upholding the ideals they served: liberty, accountability, peace, and a government by and for the people.
I write in my father’s memory and with his legacy as my guide. Let us not confuse patriotism with militarism. Our veterans deserve better.
Julie Schuler, Sheyenne, North Dakota
Editor: Verified by phone Monday May 26, 2025 – LAO
