Davis speaks at Memorial Day services
Saying America has not taken care of its fighting men and women, Congressman Lincoln Davis called Monday for the United States to provide for those who put themselves in harm’s way.
“We don’t take care of our troops,” Davis said during Memorial Day services at the VFW Post Home Monday morning. “Of the $447 billion allocated for defense, only a small part goes to the troops. We simply don’t pay our troops what we ought to.”
Davis said the woeful pay scale is especially bad when one considers that almost one million Americans have given their lives in service of their country. Of that number, 131 Warren countians have died in the service, most in World War II. Their names were read aloud Monday by Winfred Casey, followed by the playing of Taps.
Davis said the problem was brought to the forefront for him as he was speaking with a soldier recently who had just returned home from Iraq after losing an arm in battle.
“I asked him what we could provide to our fighting men and women,” Davis said. “I figured he’d say more troops, bulletproof vests or something of that nature. Instead, he said that troops need to be paid more.”
Davis said often people do not realize the financial strain endured by military families, especially when soldiers are off at war. The strain also extends to National Guard families where members are mobilized and have to leave their jobs and families.
Davis, who has toured Bazra and Baghdad, said the country needs to be proud and supportive of their fighting men and women, regardless of what stance people have on the war.
“The young men and women I met over there were proud of the opportunity to serve their country,” Davis said. “Regardless of how people feel about the war, they should never question the efforts of our fighting men and women.