To the Editor:
I’m a lifetime member of the American Legion and the VFW (Department of NH), a former 1st Vice and Post Commander in those organizations, respectively. I’ve also been a member of the DAV, AmVets, TREA and NCVA for decades.
I’m retired enlisted (Navy), 20 years active, 10 years Fleet Reserve, subject to recall, serving under eight presidents (Eisenhower to George H.W. Bush), all Army or Naval officers, none of whom would have considered, much less attempted, an insurrection to overturn an election to retain power.
I feel betrayed by the veteran community which, by their collective silence, condones the caustic words and reckless, inhumane, and (often) illegal actions of the commander-in-chief. I argue we shouldn’t accept the immorality, corruption, criminality and cruelty of this president or his administration.
Alan Dowd, director of the Sagamore Institute Center for America’s Purpose, in the July 2026 American Legion Magazine, quoted President Trump: In the winter of 2021, there was a “heinous attack on the U.S. Capitol” marked by “violence, lawlessness and mayhem” that “defiled the seat of American democracy.”
Dowd failed to reveal what we all know to be true — it was President Trump himself who (with clear intent and purpose) unleashed that armed mob of thousands on the capitol, attempting to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. This ill-conceived plot to overturn the election resulted in the death or maiming of numerous defenders of our capitol.
Instead of centering the blame for this and the discord, division, distrust, and chaos where it clearly belongs (on this president and his administration), Dowd focuses our attention on “biased bloggers, TV pundits and social media posts.” I’m appalled by the veteran community’s failure to discredit this fabrication for the fiction it obviously is.
Donald Trump spent the entire Biden administration claiming the 2020 election was “stolen” from him, that everything other than FOX was “fake news,” and referring to his myriad of critics as “deranged, demented, whacko, low IQ, crazy,” even “treasonous.”
When he was unbelievably reelected in 2024, the first thing he did was pardon the J6 insurrectionists, many of whom pleaded guilty to the various crimes they obviously committed. With frequent and brazen anti-democratic methods and procedures, Trump continues to erase checks and balances, wrecks law and order and decimates leadership ranks within the military. The veteran community remains deafeningly silent.
Trump has strengthened our adversaries while gravely weakening (if not destroying) our alliances with NATO and allies around the globe. Consider too the far-reaching consequences and destabilizing effects Trump’s policies have on the global economy.
No one describes this president better than U.S Navy Admiral and Seal William McRaven. “He has embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage, and divided us as a nation,” McRaven said.
The American Legion, the VFW (all veteran organizations) should join Air Force Major Jason Watson on the capitol steps and demand Trump’s impeachment, his conviction for all the crimes he has committed and his removal from office.
David L. Snell
Franklin