While they have opposing viewpoints about which candidate should be the next President of the United States, the friendship among these veterans remains loyal.
As Veterans Day is commemorated on Tuesday, Nov. 11, it is a good time to listen to the voices of those who fought for our country.
All of these soldiers, Glenn Haupt, 54, Bob Hauff, 71, and Gary Merwin, 68, are members of the American Legion, 164 S. Broadway St.
Reminiscing, they said they remember the bonds between soldiers when they were at war, and still have that mutual respect today.
‘We depended on each other in life and death situations,? said Glenn Haupt, a Vietnam veteran.
Haupt said he thinks Sen. Barack Obama should be president, while Hauff and Merwin think John McCain would be the best choice.
‘I think it should be required that a presidential candidate be a soldier before they can be a candidate for president,? said Merwin. ‘A president can’t possibly understand war unless he has been there.?
However, all agreed the United States should not be at war in Iraq.
Haupt said, ‘The conflict in Iraq is similar to Vietnam. The reasons why we are in Iraq just aren’t good enough. I think it’s all about oil and I think President Bush wanted to finish what his father started.?
Hauff said, ‘We should have gone into Afghanistan, not Iraq.?
Merwin said he thinks the Iraq war is mostly about politics.
‘I served during the Sixties in aviation, from 1959 to 1965,? said Merwin. ‘There were protests against the war back then.
When I got off the plane in America after the war, I was spit on, it was humiliating.?
Today, as members of the American Legion in Lake Orion, they pull together to make their community a better place.
With Christmas right around the corner, Merwin said their post will be adopting 12 needy families.
‘The lists will go up this week. If anyone would like to help provide an item or two for these families, anyone can come over and sign up on the lists,? said Merwin.
Proud of some of the other work the legion does, Merwin said placing flags on veterans? graves on Memorial Day is one of their biggest projects of the year.
A ‘Veterans Day Ceremony? to honor all veterans and military personnel will be at 7 p.m. on Veterans Day, Nov. 11 at the Orion Veterans Memorial, located on M-24 and Odanah, located across from Jacobsen’s Flowers.
The Orion Senior Center, 21 E. Church St., Lake Orion will be having their annual ‘Veterans Day Ceremony? from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10.
Two speakers will highlight the event.
Brigadier General James Anderson will talk about the Michigan National Guard.
Larry Pawley a member of the American Legion in Lake Orion will give a talk about the American Flag.
A 1954 fully restored M37 weapons carrier truck will also be on display.