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Letter: Veterans who took part in the Capitol insurrection betrayed their oath

FILE - In this Sunday, June 25, 2017 file photo, Stewart Rhodes, founder of the citizen militia group known as the Oath Keepers speaks during a rally outside the White House in Washington. Rhodes, an Army veteran who founded the Oath Keepers in 2009 as a reaction to the presidency or Barack Obama, had been saying for weeks before the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot that his group was preparing for a civil war and was "armed, prepared to go in if the president calls us up." (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Recently, I saw a scroll on CNN, which said that 22 veterans have been charged with crimes against the federal government for actions they committed during the recent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol building. Other news sources indicate that additional veterans are being sought by the FBI for their participation in the destruction and mayhem that occurred on behalf of Donald J. Trump.

As a former soldier who served in Vietnam, it has always bothered me that any veteran would follow this draft dodger who called those who did serve in the military “losers” and “suckers.” By betraying the oath we all took to “defend and protect” this amazing country of ours, they have lived up to the low opinion the former president has of them. They have dragged their reputations in the dirt for someone who does not deserve to hold their deplorable MAGA hats.

A veteran who does deserve praise has now lain in state in the Capitol because he gave his life defending his post, a hallowed building, from fellow veterans who would do harm to those he was sworn to protect. His name will be enshrined in Arlington Cemetery. One can only wonder where the names of the insurrectionists will be inscribed besides a police blotter.

Luciano S. Martinez, Murray

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