Old Shawnee Days was going on tonight, and as usual, in an annual tradition of mine, I was there.
Old Shawnee Town Sign, Old Shawnee Days, 6-14-10 Fri. Shawnee, Kansas
Upon walking in, I saw the pick-up truck of retired Marine, and Congressional Candidate from Kansas’ Third District, Daniel Gilyeat. I had seen it in campaign literature, and realized I was in for a treat, because I might get to meet him.
Daniel Gilyeat for Congress-Kansas Third District, pick up truck of this former Marine 6-4-10-Friday
Up to this point my family had only read his website and I knew this was the candidate I would be voting for in the Republican primary.
This is web site link so you can read about him yourself, and I won’t have to repeat or accidently misstate anything.
http://www.danielgilyeat.com/
Now that the link is above, you can click and read all you want to about Daniel Gilyeat. I will state here and in the next few days, why I support Daniel Gilyeat.
One of my main reasons is that as a Marine Mom, I believe our country during this time of war needs more COMBAT veterans in Congress. My older son served with the Marines for four years and earned an honorable discharge after an Iraq surge tour, and before that two years overseas in Okinawa, Japan. He is now in the U.S. Army Reserve and in college. My younger son also was in Okinawa two years, and in April 2010 returned from just over a year in Afghanistan. He re-enlisted while in Afghanistan, so will remain on active duty in the Marine Corps the next four years.
What does the next four years hold for the American military?
I have not served in the military, so will not ever pretend to even remotely know what our COMBAT troops go through. But, I CARE deeply for our military and our country.
My late father served in the Army Reserves and was a fireman on the Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department.
I can’t speak for my sons, and will never try to, and also, my thoughts are mine alone, and I cannot speak for them, although I believe they generally agree, we need combat veterans at this time in Congress.
There is currently a dispute about the restricted rules of engagement our troops face in Afghanistan. A Gold Star father, retired Marine John Bernard writes well about what is going on, as he lost a son in Afghanistan in 2009. This is his blog:
http://letthemfight.blogspot.com/
I have a college degree, a BA from Wichita State University in journalism, and I would say that Mr. Gilyeat’s college degree is from the Combat College of the Marine Corps with his Master’s Degree from the Combat College of Iraq and equal or better to my college degree from WSU. Some may say that Mr. Gilyeat is not a lawyer, and does not have a college degree, but as one with a college degree, but not a law degree, I think Mr. Gilyeat’s knowledge is what we need now in the midst of 2 wars, His common sense can help lead us out of the mess we are in with the wars we are now in. No law degree can give a candidate the Marine education Mr. Gilyeat has forged in battle.
After reading Mr. Gilyeat’s bio at the link above, and reading his bio, you can see he has characteristics which would serve us well in time of war, so it is to our advantage Mr. Gilyeat is not a lawyer. Well, as one with a college degree, I can say that Dan has paid his dues and has the knowledge needed to serve the next two years in Congress. This is his education, the dues he paid to earn this education the price was very high:
Daniel Gilyeat, artificial leg replacing one he had blown off in Iraq. 6-4-10-Fri. Old Shawnee Days, Shawnee, KS.
We in the Third District of Kansas have choices to make. Daniel Gilyeat put his life on the line for us in Iraq, and paid the price of our liberty and freedom; a high price, as you can see from the above photo that he lost his leg.
But, Daniel Gilyeat does not want you to vote for him out of pity. No, there is no pity in this Marine’s voice. He truly believes he can make a difference in the U.S Congress.
We have veterans coming back from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with all types of injuries, both line of duty, or in combat, or even many psychological disorders, PTSD, TBI, and accidents from falls, vehicle accidents, etc. There are multiple stories on the internet, and anyone who wants to can Google “VA Backlog” and read the situation facing our troops.
The wars are being fought with restricted rules of engagement which you can read about at John Bernard’s web site linked above. This is especially true of the war we are ramping up, the one in Afghanistan.
I never met Daniel Gilyeat before tonight.
Daniel Gilyeat, at a salute to the troops event at Old Shawnee Days 6-4-10 Fri. He is running for Congress in the Third District of Kansas
I would without hesitation, vote for this man. If we don’t like his service he serves at our command, we can vote him out in two years.
With two wars ongoing, this is the time for good men to step forward to lead, as the Marines call it, to go toward the sound of the guns.
Daniel Gilyeat has done just that in Iraq, and now in a run for Congress, a run that very few say he has a chance to win. They say he isn’t a lawyer. They say he doesn’t have a $500,000 war chest as one of the lawyers running against him in the primary does.
Daniel Gilyeat, I noted when he announced his run and my former Marine son was looking at his web site, stepped forward, in the Marine tradition of running toward the sound of the guns, and put his hat in the ring so to speak before the entrenched Democrat incumbent, Dennis Moore, announced his retirement. As he was in the Marine Corps, Daniel was there, stepping out when others thought Rep. Moore was a shoo-in. AFTER Daniel Gilyeat had already announced his run, Dennis Moore dropped out of the race, if I recall, for ‘family reasons’, yet, his wife, Stephanie Moore is going to run for the 3rd District seat now. One saying making the rounds and on bumper stickers is:
No more Moore!!
Knowing Marines, Daniel Gilyeat will make a perfect Congressman for this time in our history. We have a war in Afghanistan which seems to be no where near victory after nine years. In fact, we rarely hear the word victory. Instead, while our men are still dying and being horribly maimed each week, there are reports of talking to the Taliban, the very same enemy which may be responsible for killing and injuring our men! Have the enemy fighters been captured and held accountable for the U.S. troops killed and maimed? The week before last we had one of our brave troops lose three limbs, both legs and a hand, and another one of our troops experienced a broken chin, cracked teeth, and the loss of his right eye, and the bomb-sniffing dog he was working with took the brunt of and IED and was killed. When his mother came into the room, news reports said she cried so uncontrollably at seeing his horribly maimed face and missing right eye that she had to be taken to the emergency room herself.
How long will this go on with no victory in sight, and instead of talks of victory, talks of talking to the Taliban?
I am sure Daniel Gilyeat, as a COMBAT Marine, will know what to do for our troops and how they can fight the war most effectively. In addition to the horrible human cost, as evidenced by Mr. Gilyeat’s personal sacrifice, the financial burden of these wars if they are not fought to be won swiftly, with the U.S. troops then coming home in victory and bringing our money with us, will bring financial ruin to our nation.
So, those are my opinions. Go to Daniel Gilyeat’s web site and check it out for yourself and make your own opinion. I have made mine and my primary vote goes to Daniel Gilyeat!
THE UNITED STATES IS THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. THE UNITED STATES MILITARY CAN WIN ANY WAR WE WANT TO.
So, now back to the 2010 Old Shawnee Days, in Shawnee, Kansas. By seeing simple things such as this yearly event, filled with Americans enjoying a day or night at the park, visiting various food booths often serving the typical fair food, fried Snickers, kettle corn, smoked turkey legs, and other delicacies just brings home to me all the more, the great country we live in.
Some of the many food offerings at Old Shawnee Days, Shawnee, KS 6-4-10 Fri.
I remember coming last year, 2009, and my younger son was in Afghanistan with the Marines for the surge. He had always liked to go to Old Shawnee Days, so last year I couldn’t help but be worried as my son was in a war zone and here I was walking along in peace and enjoying the festivities at Old Shawnee Town.
Old Shawnee Town church at Dusk, 6-4-10-Friday, Shawnee, KS
It hardly seems like it can be true, that four years ago, in 2006, I was at Old Shawnee Days with my younger son, who wanted to hear Eddy Money before he left for Marine recruit training at MCRD San Diego within days. Some days it seems like it was yesterday, I can remember it in all its glory, Money came out onto the stage and sang about four of his very top hit songs, and the rain came and the remainder of the show was cancelled, and the crowd made a run for their cars. Then other days, it seems like it was a lifetime ago before he earned the title of Marine. He joined at age 17 like his brother and was in Delayed Entry a year before leaving for MCRD San Diego after graduating from high school.
Four years later and we are still at war. Granted, the Iraq war is winding down, but as of yet, no Iraq Victory Medals have been awarded, although I have written and contacted my Congressman and Senators, and the President and Senate and House Armed Services Committee and told them that if they continue saying the “surge worked” and that Iraq was a success, then they should ISSUE an IRAQ VICTORY MEDAL!!! Quit taking credit for a ‘victory’ and award the I.V.M. to our men and women who fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).
But as the war rages on in Afghanistan, I see around me in the USA things not possible in other countries: freedom of religion, freedom for boys and girls to attend school, and a freedom of commerce and purpose not seen in many other lands.
Flag waves at Old Shawnee Days in front of church in Old Shawnee Town, 6-4-10-Fri.
What makes America, America? It’s men like Daniel Gilyeat who stepped out for us on the battlefield, and never gave up, going toward the sound of the guns, having his leg blown off, and not missing a step so to speak, healing, and now stepping out again, in another battle, this one for Congress. What makes America, America? It’s our people who have liberty and freedom because of men like Daniel Gilyeat. What makes America, America? It’s towns and cities like Shawnee, Kansas, who sponsor a festival each year at Old Shawnee Town where Americans can come and enjoy our heritage in a fun and festive manner.
America is a place, spanning all 50 states, such as my home state of Kansas, where I can savor my freedom, as the notes of blues music drift through the air, combining with the smell of a wood burning BBQ; the hard wood infusing its flavor in meats,as their aroma filled the air.
America, it’s a place we have to fight to defend, a place where tonight as the sun began to set, the lights came on the carnival rides, and the shrieks and shrill screams and laughter combined with the rock music starting to play on a nearby stage; but they were screams of excitement, joy, fright, all combined into a thrilling ride.
The screams were not from being injured by an IED, the screams were not from civilians, injured in a terrorist bombing, the screams we were hearing were from riding an amusement ride.
Carnival and amusement rides-Old Shawnee Days, Shawnee, Kansas 6-4-10-Fri.
Old Shawnee Days Tribute to veterans 6-4-10-Shawnee, KS. Friday
That's America! Funnel Cakes, Church Steeple, and American Flag: Old Shawnee Days, Shawnee, KS 6-4-10-Fri.
Dispatches from Kansas City in Kansas & Beyond! 