Thune speech at U.S. Navy anniversary gathering, protesters’ voices in the background part of great American tradition
I attended two events Saturday.
I was at the Battleship South Dakota with about 250 others as we commemorated the 250th anniversary of the United States Navy and the 80th anniversary of the end of the war with Japan, Aug. 15, 1945. The event took place on the port side near the stern.
A good ceremony. Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen was the emcee. Live military music. Navy white uniforms in abundance. Various booths and some military vehicles.
The main speaker was Sen. John Thune. He did a good job tying the accomplishments of the battleship, his father’s service as a carrier pilot in the Pacific, and the sacrifices and successes of the “Greatest Generation.”
He only got political for a paragraph when he mentioned the increased funding for the military in the recently passed “Big Beautiful Bill.”
His talk was brief and appropriate for the occasion. He received respectful applause.
The other event was the demonstration protesting Sen. Thune’s actions and inactions regarding lack of adhering to his oath to the Constitution, therefore the country and us.
About 150 folks were lined up along the sidewalk on Kiwanis at the bow of the ship. Lots of signs. Lots of horn honking by passing drivers.
I knew people at both events. Talked with many. No acrimony expressed towards the demonstrators. That pleased me.
As of today, we still have the right to assemble. We still have the right of free speech.
The men who served on the Battleship South Dakota were part of the Herculean effort to preserve those rights. It’s important for us to remember and honor them.
It’s equally important for us to speak loudly when our leaders are taking us in the wrong direction. Those who have worn the uniform, both dead and living, are counting on us to keep freedom alive.
Rick Knobe is a former mayor of Sioux Falls and a longtime radio talk show host who is now retired but remains active and involved in his community and state as an independent political observer and commentator. His columns appear regularly on The South Dakota Standard.
Photo: public domain, wikimedia commons
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