CBS News November 18, 2016, 3:43 PM (Posted here 16:15 19 Nov. 2016).
California family booed on flight bringing home soldier killed in Afghanistan, dad says
STOCKTON, Calif. -- "The father of a slain Northern California soldier said his family was booed on the flight to bring his son’s body home from Afghanistan, CBS Sacramento station KOVR-TV reports.
Sgt. John Perry was killed on Saturday in Afghanistan by a suicide bomber.
His father, Stewart Perry, mourned the loss of his son at a service on Thursday.
“Most importantly, I want people to know about the heroic thing that my son did,” he said.
His son stumbled on the suicide bomber before he could reach his target, a soldiers’ 5K Veterans Day run.
“He would have killed possibly 100, 200, who knows?” Perry said.
Perry said his son’s death comes comes at a time military service is facing disrespect. He said his family was even booed on the flight to bring his son’s body home over a delay.
“To hear the reaction of the flight being delayed because of a Gold Star family and the first class cabin booing, that was really upsetting, and it made us cry some more,” he said.
Perry said his son’s death also underscores why the American flag is sacred for service members, not just a symbol for protest.
“It’s not for protest - it’s for the death of the people that are saving us. That’s what it’s for,” he said.
He also called out recent presidential campaign rhetoric, including President-elect Donald Trump’s remarks about the Khan family.
“One example would be Donald Trump speaking badly about a Gold Star family, who I now am, and it really bothers me, but it also bothers me that people don’t want to talk about the terrorism that killed my kid,” he said.
A soldier’s death defending his country has left a father defending his son.
“My kid was over there to help put a stop to this garbage, and he died,” he said".
1966 to 1983 when President Reagan took us into Grenada as a means of bolstering respect for a very proud and dis-reputed Military. He began the turn around from what is again starting to show its ugly head far too much in Public.
As for the brouhaha over the Gold Star Memorial on the 14th, I would like to invite Mr. Smith to kiss my Royal Derriere. The true Veteran is the one who came home; got a job, bought a home and raised his family while trying to live with the Memories of what he/ she endured. No fancy foolishness; some bells and whistles if God gave them the where with all to stand up and step out.
The whole episode was little more than a scrapbook page for Himself, the Second Coming or so He likes to think. When the media excuse we have for a TV station showed his reflection in the Memorial instead of the REAL VETS who served their Country rather than themselves as he has; it proved it was a "staged" event and not the real Ceremony it would have been with a true purpose. Again, the whole thing was a stage event for Mr. Rapp using the poor Gold Star Families in attendance, the Honorable Mr. Williams, his Foundation and the unsuspecting folks who were props in the play. He is an absolute disgrace as a Politician; but so much an example of what we have today.
Finally on the 16th, the Mayor of Clay did the right thing and resigned. Still don't know what will or has happened to the original poster of the Racist comment? And then right behind it, we now have the allegations on the PHS Employee who got caught up in posting racist comments. What seems to be missing in this State is that those of you with your nose's in the air and the belief in your superiority is that many, many of you will live to become a minority in a Country that you once ruled. It is said it will happen by about 2050? I am going to put a bet of $1.00- 2.98 it will be closer to 2045. Only qualifier is if Mr. Trump throws a few million Latinos out of the Country and builds his wall to stop more sneaking in? But that still will only stem the tide for a few more years. The Latinos are predominantly Catholic, not big fans of birth control and believe in large families. That is a recipe for dominance on their part and while the Blacks are more Protestant, they too do not use a lot of birth control and have good size families too. So wake up, get over your selves and learn to live with each other because the day will come when what was once a Caucasoid majority will have become a lot different blend than today.
Now, I am again going to say that those who want to define Hispanics as a separate Ethnic Group are full of it. Hispanics are made up of all Colors and Sizes based on a common denominator of speaking Spanish and usually following the Spanish Cultural More's. Latino's are just exactly that; people from the Central and South American Countries with an occasional island throw in. The common denominator again is Spanish Rule and the role the Catholic Church played in the conquest of those regions. Oh, let us not forget the Southwest and even Florida that were Spanish in the day.
As many know who have made the journey from the 'hood to the rest of the World, it is getting smaller and smaller by the day. To advance and prosper, one must grab the opportunities. 'nuff said'.