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GOP honors vets at Lincoln Day luncheon
The Elmore County Republican Party honored area veterans during a celebration of the party message at the Lincoln Day luncheon last Wednesday.
All four members of Idaho's congressional delegation were on hand, joining with state and local Republican leaders to spread the message to the party faithful.
Mayor Joe McNeal welcomed the distinguished guests to the city and thanked them for honoring the area's veterans.
Second District Congressman Mike Simpson, one of the featured speakers, assured the audience of nearly 200 people at War Memorial Hall, that Mountain Home AFB "is secure" and not likely to show up on any Base Realignment and Closure Commission lists.
Simpson said, in his opinion, that the primary reason was the "really good vision" on the part of Gov. (then senator) Dirk Kempthorne, and Sen. Larry Craig and Sen. (then congressman) Mike Crapo, who worked tirelessly for the Juniper Butte Training Range, which he said is "vital" to the Air Force.
Simpson also described a recent visit to the Walter Reed military hospital where he talked to wounded veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. "If you ever want to revitalize your faith in America, talk to these young men and women," whom he said all wanted to go back to rejoin their units.
"I want to thank you," he said, "for this opportunity to honor America's veterans, (and) those who are serving today. These people are doing a great job."
He also quoted British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in his recent remarks to Congress. "If we are wrong about weapons of mass destruction, we will be guilty of removing the biggest tyrant from power. For that, the world will forgive us. If we didn't, and the WMD was there, the world would never forgive us."
"We did the right thing," Simpson said. "President Bush did the right thing."
Sen. Larry Craig had four "vets from today," personnel from Mountain Home AFB who were in the audience, stand to be recognized. "We're proud of you and glad you're at Mountain Home and our glorious airbase," he said.
Also commenting on the BRAC process that has just begun, Craig said that "our ability to position ourselves in terms of the base and the (training) range have put us in good stead," and, combined with improvements Congress is continuing to fund for the base, "are not overlooked by the Pentagon."
He announced that at his invitation, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Jumper has agreed to make a visit to Mountain Home AFB this spring.
He described his efforts to battle for a full-strength C-130 squadron with the Idaho National Guard and to help develop a mission for it, and noted the cooperation between the guard and the airbase. "When you strengthen relationships, it helps us all."
He praised President Bush, noting that "we have a commander in chief with great tenacity, who doesn't look over his shoulder in his role to keep this nation safe.
"We are redefining freedom all over the world," he noted.
First District Congressman Butch Otter said that when he was in the service, extensive training was given to recognize enemy uniforms and insignia, "so we'd know who to shoot first."
But today, the Vietnam-era vet said, "this is not our fathers' war, or even Butch Otter's war. We have a whole new enemy. If he has a uniform it's that tattered clothes and the bloody cloth of one of their victims.
"This is a new enemy... with an absolute disdain for freedom."
The power of America today, he said, is on the flight line with men and women ready to deploy at a moment's notice.
And Otter issued a challenge to the area's veterans. "We need your leadership. We need you to saddle up again and send a message (to our enemies) that you cannot hide when you challenge freedom's call."
Sen. Mike Crapo reminded the crowd that "freedom again has become the most significant issue in American politics... (and) it is the veterans who have secured that freedom for us."
He pointed to J.B. Miesegaes, a student at Shiloh Christian School who delivered the invocation at the start of the luncheon, and noted that his father had been among the pilots flying security over the nation's capital last year.
"He was not patrolling the D.C. skies on a training mission, but because the U.S. was attacked.
"Our nation is at war today. It's a new paradigm (model), but it is a war, nonetheless."
Because of that, Crapo said, "I am convinced this election (for president this year) is critical. If you believe that, America must make sure he (Bush) continues to be president. We must maintain that strong leadership."
A number of door prizes were handed out at the event. Ironically, the first one, a silver Republican medal, went to long-time local Democatic leader Mayor Joe McNeal.
Councilman Tom Rist served as emcee of the luncheon.