Please, keep Memorial Day free of politics

Aaron Grigsby belonged.

Visiting Hayden family, Grigsby attended Monday morning’s Memorial Day ceremony at McEuen Park in downtown Coeur d’Alene. Like he does every Memorial Day, Grigsby attends a ceremony to honor the lives of seven men in his unit who died in combat during his two deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2006-2010.

Grigsby, 32, was an honored member of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne 2/504 PIR (Parachute Infantry Regiment). He completed 361 jumps.

Now a resident of Yuba City, Calif., where he and wife Kelsey are raising two beautiful children, the man who grew up in Kootenai County was disappointed when Monday’s ceremony took a strong political turn.

The guest speaker introduction included references about the border with Mexico, a subtle hat-tip to the John Birch Society, a dig at CNN founder Ted Turner (when he “pretended to be a conservative”), and more.

Grigsby, honorably discharged as an E-5 sergeant, was saddened.

“This isn’t supposed to be about politics,” he told family members who attended with him. “This is about one thing: The men and women who have died defending our country.”

For the record, Grigsby is no Joe Biden fan. He approves of much of what Donald Trump accomplished during his lone term as president. He’s as ardent a Second Amendment defender as you’ll find. He’s got the arsenal and the ammo receipts to prove it. Aaron Grigsby is a proud and loyal American veteran.

That’s why he respectfully asks that local organizers of time-honored military events resist the temptation to dive into the political pools that are drowning our country today. Especially on Memorial Day.

“I promise you, when you’re under fire, you’re doing everything you possibly can to keep your brother next to you alive and he’s doing everything possible to keep you alive,” Grigsby said. “Nobody gives a damn what political party you belong to.”

The Press extends its deepest gratitude to all those who have given their lives to keep us free, and to those who will join them in the hallowed halls of the valiant.

The Press also extends to Mr. Grigsby its thanks for his service and for his willingness to be included in this editorial.

Hopefully, people will hear him.