Several years ago, my wife, Mary and I visited Rome. We were excited to see the Colosseum, Sistine Chapel, and the many other incredible antiquities. As impressed as we were by those sights, it paled in comparison to the profound effect of our visit to the American World War II military cemetery at Nettuno, Italy.

Thousands upon thousands of white crosses, in every direction as far as the eye could see, marked the graves of American soldiers who gave their life for this country. Seeing this gave us an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. These heroes, and millions of other Americans, in war and in peace, gave their lives to preserve our “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

The families of these heroes, the military leaders who sent them into battle, and most Americans have nothing but respect and appreciation for the sacrifices made by all veterans since the Revolutionary War.

Inexplicably we have a candidate for president, Donald Trump, who called those who have died for this country “suckers” and “losers.” That recorded statement was made by Trump at Arlington National Cemetery! Trump said this while gazing at the same vista as Mary and I viewed in Netuno!

It is inconceivable that anyone with this despicable attitude should ever be commander in chief of U.S. Armed Forces. The rights and freedoms enjoyed by all Americans are the direct result of the many battles fought by our military to preserve those freedoms. Ironically, that includes the freedom of speech allowing Donald Trump to say what he did.

Paul Gallo

Barre