VIRUS: Be a patriot

Our country just recognized Veterans Day to remember the brave men and women that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

We are currently at war with an unseen enemy called COVID-19 and we have lost more souls to this single enemy in just the last eight months than we did during more than 20 years of wars including the Korean War, Vietnam, plus Afghanistan and Iraq combined.

We have now lost more than 240,000 people to COVID and another 1,000-plus pass away every day with no end in sight. It is a travesty that tens of thousands of these people would still be alive if we had only followed CDC guidelines.

It will be months before the highly publicized vaccines will become readily available. In the meantime, we could still save thousands of lives by simply wearing masks, social distancing, and avoiding large gatherings.

It is clear that mandates without consequences will not change behavior, so I urge you to simply think of the patriots who have fallen for this country.

Our patriotic soldiers didn’t complain about the discomforts of wearing uncomfortable military garb and equipment as they went to war. The bullets that took our soldiers didn’t care if they were Democrats or Republicans — they were all patriots.

We all love our country so don’t you think we should all do what’s best for our fellow citizens; BE A PATRIOT, wear a mask. The life you save could be your parent, brother, sister, child, friend or even your own.

JOHN SCHWANDT, USN

Coeur d’Alene