On Sunday morning, the readers of the Fargo Forum awoke to a letter by former Air Force sergeant Steve McWilliams. A resident of Minot, McWilliams wrote:
During my 11 years, I served beside people from all walks of life. As you can see in any military town, the armed forces bring together folks from around the country – young men and women of different races, religions and upbringings. From the moment service members enter the military, they are told to set aside their differences and focus on the mission at hand. At last, our laws will truly be in keeping with this tradition.
In the coming weeks, as the U.S. Senate votes on the bill that will repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law and as the military’s leaders begin to take apart this discriminatory practice, let’s take a moment to pause. Let’s pause to remember that gay, lesbian and bisexual service members have a long history of military service. These brave warriors have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, in Korea and Vietnam, in the Pacific and the Atlantic. Open service honors the sacrifice of all of the brave men and women who have dedicated their lives to service of their country.
To read the full letter visit: http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/285901/group/Opinion/
All weekend in Bismarck, folks were calling in to Senate offices during Dakota OutRight’s pride events. We filled up the first voicemail box with calls during the dance on Friday night and kept the pressure on throughout the weekend at the Bismarck Civic Center.
This week, gay and straight veterans are sharing perspectives at local Senate offices, and on Thursday I’ll be in Grand Forks for a screening of “Ask Not”. The event is free and open to the public!
When: Thursday July 29th at 7pm
Where: Fire Hall Theater, 412 2nd Ave North, Grand Forks, North Dakota
What: Watch the PBS documentary “Ask Not” and learn how you can take action!
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