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Veteran Asks John McCain to be Hero Not Politician

Stop littering now!

Stop littering now!

Sedona AZ (September 2, 2013) – In a letter to the SedonaEye.com editor, Cornville Vietnam veteran Gary Chamberlain (combat medal winner) asks if Senator John McCain, R-AZ, is a hero or politician:

Dear Editor.

Is Senator McCain a hero or just another common politician?

I have visited the Hanoi prison where Senator McCain was held captive and it is not a luxury hotel! Visiting the Hanoi Hilton and listening to the stories told about the prisoners held there, throughout history, will bring you to tears.

As a veteran and former prisoner of war Senator McCain has my respect but that respect doesn’t carry over to his political career. I have not a clue what Senator McCain stands for because it seems to always change.

Like the flavor-of-the-month, as with most politicians, they seem to be full of it. As a politician, Senator McCain is just like so many of them from all parties…they tell us what we want to hear that gets them elected or re-elected, then they pit “We the people, from all political parties” against one another.

Questions to Arizona Senator McCain:

  • How proud of our Arizona Veterans Highway (I-17) and two others that are memorials to veterans are you?
  • Our three Arizona veteran’s highways are extremely trashed by Arizona residents, tourists, ADOT and ADOT contractors and I and other vets are offended. What will your office do to “fix” the systemic issues of a bureaucratic agency that accepts no responsibility for improving or performing its government mandate?
  • What are you and your office willing to do to for every other taxpaying citizen who supports ADOT programs but who sees little or no benefit from the taxes collected by government? Without volunteer programs, the highways and byways would be literal dumps.
Gary Chamberlain, Folksville USA Point Man challenges all to get involved in keeping America the beautiful with Folksville USA

Gary Chamberlain, Folksville USA Point Man

It is ironic that the very agency (ADOT) that is responsible for a national beautification program (Adopt-A-Highway) is also responsible for statewide trashing of our Arizona Veterans Highway. I have the photos to prove it – plus this link;

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/20628627/2013/01/18/cleaning-up-highways-is-cornville-mans-mission .

I’m willing to work with Senator McCain, Governor Brewer and ADOT on this issue. We must have national and statewide anti litter education mandates and a nationwide anti litter program. Something must be done before America the Beautiful is America the Ugly.

Again I ask Senator McCain, “What are you prepared to do?” to further this state and national anti litter message and educational program.

Gary Chamberlain
Cornville AZ-USA
Vietnam veteran

For the best in Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!

For the best in Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!

12 Comments

  1. Liked this article on Facebook.

  2. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this sore subject.

    You forgot the most important of all, BUSINESSMAN and that is what he is above all else. A rich, powerful businessman who gets business things done under the guise of a politician plus all the power that goes with it.

    He has been around politics too long, he needs to retire, clear his mind and get back to his core values. Maybe go hang out with Jimmy Carter for a while.

  3. Anna Galland says:

    Yesterday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee began debating whether to authorize the use of military force in Syria in response to reports of chemical weapons use by the Syrian government.

    Because this is such a big decision, we asked every MoveOn member to weigh in on whether MoveOn should support or oppose the congressional authorization to use military force in Syria.

    The results are in, and they are unequivocal:

    73% said MoveOn should oppose the congressional Authorization to Use Military Force in Syria.

    History has shown again and again that even a “limited” military engagement can quickly become a slippery slope to seemingly endless war. But stopping this war is within reach.

    Consistent polling shows that the majority of Americans are opposed to this military intervention, and more than 147 members of Congress are on record as firmly opposed to or leaning against it.2 But mainstream media outlets and many elected officials are trying hard to make us think that strikes are inevitable.

    So we need to unleash the power of our more than 8 million member community right away to make it clear to Congress that we oppose military action in Syria. Congress will vote on the authorization to use military force as soon as next week, and members of Congress are making up their minds right now, so we need to act fact.

    Can you call your Senators and Representative right now and tell them to ‘Vote No’ on the use of military force in Syria? Here are the numbers to call:

    Senator Jeff Flake
    Phone: (202) 224-4521

    Senator John McCain
    Phone: (202) 224-2235

    Representative Ann Kirkpatrick
    Phone: (202) 225-3361

    MoveOn members across the country have been sharing thousands of reasons for voting to oppose the authorization for the use of military force. Here are a few comments that capture some common themes we’re hearing:

    “There is no evidence that the use of force by the US will prevent any further attacks in Syria and it may lead to yet another quagmire in the Middle East.” -Neema B., San Diego, CA

    “Although I am adamantly opposed to chemical warfare, military strikes used as a ‘lesson’ to change this behavior could kill many innocent people as well—children among them.”—Fran S., Houston, TX

    ”It is very unclear what military force would accomplish other than to insert more violence. It seems this authorization is more political than strategic and will not result in a positive outcome. Enough violence!”—Amir R., South Natick, MA

    In the early 2000s, MoveOn members helped lead the charge in opposing the misguided U.S. war on Iraq. Now, just over a decade later, the nation again finds itself positioned to enter a war half-way around the world with a country posing no direct threat to our safety or security and with unknowable consequences for years to come.

    President Obama is proposing a military strike that raises the specter of another Iraq War—and we’re still dealing with the costs of that war today. It’s critical that every one of MoveOn’s 8 million members pick up their phones today to let Congress know plain and simple: We oppose a military intervention in Syria.

    Can you call your members of Congress right now? When you do, be sure to tell them why it’s so important for you that they vote ‘No’ on an Authorization to Use Military Force in Syria.

    Thanks for all you do.

    –Anna, Mark, Susannah, Linda, and the rest of the team

    President Obama says U.S. will take military action against Syria, pending Congress’s approval,” The Washington Post, August 31, 2013

    http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=293097&id=74381-23380940-tRNMF7x&t=4

    2. “Whip Count: Tracking Congressional Support for War With Syria,” Firedoglake, September 4, 2013
    http://www.moveon.org/r?r=293124&id=74381-23380940-tRNMF7x&t=5

    3. “The American People Really Don’t Want To Bomb Syria (POLLS),” The Huffington Post, September 3, 2013
    http://www.moveon.org/r?r=293121&id=74381-23380940-tRNMF7x&t=6

  4. Dear Where to begin,

    Don’t worry about where to begin and end just add the facts that others need to know.

    I really feel pain when I see Senator McCain walk around ….. I can only imagine what it was like to be a prisoner for five years …. if that number is correct.

    As a veteran, I would shake Senator McCain’s hand and say, “I’m proud of you for making it through your ordeal in Vietnam” but the hardest thing I could do is to shake the hand of Sen. McCain as the politician – but I would do it.

    Just think about being locked up in the comfort of your bedroom for five years, then think about it being in the Hanoi Hilton.

    Still don’t like him as a politician!

    Gary Chamberlain
    Cornville AZ-USA
    Vietnam Army veteran

  5. you can admire the vet but not like the politician & that doesn’t make me a bad republican. I liked the younger mccain of years back. now he’s in love with power & accepting getting along with puppet masters & that’s what’s wrong with us .

  6. Dear Jack,

    If Jack Dickerson is your real name, I like your willingness to stand behind your words. “& that doesn’t make me a bad republican.” Not sure why you added this statement? I’m convinced that there are good people in every political party and the politicians “pit” us against each other to benefit their selfish needs.

    Thanks for being a “Good man”.

    Gary Chamberlain
    Cornville AZ-USA
    Vietnam veteran

  7. Glenn says:

    I don’t know how getting shot down during a raid on North Vietnam makes you a hero. Looking totally at McCain he broke all the rules while he was suppose to be learning to be an officer and pilot, ran around on his wife and kids and crashed 3 fighter jets. If that is a war hero then that term is different than mine. He has never been for the people of Arizona especially the conservative side so he should just change parties as he has proven a better fit for the Democrats.

  8. Thanks Glenn,

    I’m with you on your comments.

    Definitions of “Hero” he·ro /ˈ hi(ə )rô/ noun
    noun: hero   plural noun: heroes   noun: hero sandwich   plural noun: hero sandwiches

    1. a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.
    “a war hero”
    synonyms: brave person, brave man/woman, man/woman of courage, man/woman of the hour, lionheart, warrior, knight More
    champion, victor, conqueror “the heroes of the American Civl War”
    • star, superstar, megastar, idol, celebrity, luminary ideal, paragon, shining example, demigod favorite, darling
    informal celeb “a football hero”

    antonyms: coward, loser, unknown, nobody • the chief male character in a book, play, or movie, who is typically identified with good qualities, and with whom the reader is expected to sympathize.

    synonyms: (male) protagonist, principal (male) character, principal (male) role, main character, title character, starring role, star part More (male) lead, lead actor, leading man “the hero of the film”

    antonyms: villain, supporting character, supporting role • (in mythology and folklore) a person of superhuman qualities and often

    My thoughts are …..

    There is a shortage of good folks that put words and actions together …. we should be very grateful to the people that do, they may or may not be heroes.

    The word “Hero” should be used when appropriate.

    I don’t believe you teach people to be heroes however you can teach people to be “Role Models and Leaders” and one day, they may be a hero.

    For me, heroes emerge when they spontaneously respond to a situation that puts them at risk for the benefit of another.

    Gary Chamberlain
    Cornville AZ – USA
    Vietnam veteran

  9. Nice article in the AZ Republic on ADOTs larger highway signs. Arizona Republic ……. Seeing Double on I-17 FVUSA says, ADOT waste our money …. Trash our Veterans Highways

    http://www.azcentral.com/news/arizona/articles/20130904arizona-i-17-road-signs-doubled-up.html?nclick_check=1

    Thanks Sean Holstege Arizona Republic

    If you want to research the wasteful spending associated with ADOTs Adopt-A-Highway signs relative to multiple sizes, designs, colors and message give me a call.

    Through our-my involvement with the ADOT Adopt-A-Highway Program we have seen many examples of wasteful spending and poor work habits of ADOT workers and subcontractors that are costing the taxpayers thousands if not millions of dollars.

    This link will give you some idea of our ADOT experiences to include what I would define as contract negligence and possible contract fraud if you consider being paid-in-full for a incomplete project fraud.

    SedonaEyE.com ….. FVUSA History
    https://sedonaeye.com/?s=folksville+usa

    FOX 10 Interview
    http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/20628627/2013/01/18/cleaning-up-highways-is-cornville-mans-mission

    Patricia Powers-Zermeno is the ADOT Adopt-A-Highway Coordinator. It’s ironic that the very agency (ADOT) responsible for managing a besautification program (Adopt-A-Highway Program) is also responsible for trash among all highways, our Arizona Veterans Highway. John Halikowski is the Director of ADOT.

    We constantly keep Governor Brewer and others posted on our FVUSA effort and the ADOT issues but they seem less than willing to “Partner” in a effort to resolve these issues.

    I’m Cc’ing Laurie Roberts with the Arizona Republic with the hope that both of you will consider the following Press Release in the Arizona Republic.

    ADOT has now paved the way for a widening of 7.7 miles of Highway 260 between Camp Verde and Cottonwood which is $8.6 million dollars per mile …. reasonable project and cost?????

    The Arizona Republic might want to consider doing a story on the trash on our Arizona Veterans Highway (I-17) taking photos of the trash in the median and shoulders.

    The further North from Phoenix you go the worse it gets since ADOT only seems interested in clean medians in the Phoenix area. The Fox 10 interview will show what should be every taxpayers concern.

    Gary Chamberlain
    Cornville AZ-USA
    Vietnam Veteran (928) 202-1186

  10. Dear local Editors and others,

    America the Beautiful Advocates….You’ve been spotted!

    American Legion Post 25 and Faith Lutheran Church both from Cottonwood, Arizona, picked up and filled 23 – 33 gallon bags with litter on two miles of Highway 260 between Cottonwood and Camp Verde, Arizona.

    They are restoring the beauty to America the Beautiful and making our community proud.

    Gary Chamberlain
    Cornville Arizona
    American Legion Post 135
    VFW Post 6739

  11. Adopt-A-Highway Clean-Up is scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2013, from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. for Highway 89, Marker Post 326 to 327, Chino Valley, Arizona. Meet & Join Rep. Gosar in collecting highway trash and Keep Arizona beautiful! Please bring gloves and wear long pants and boots (Garbage bags and safety vests will be provided). Park and meet at the Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce, 175 E. Road 2 South, Chino Valley, AZ. (This lot is right on the corner of Road 2 South, and is directly next to our starting spot at mile marker 326.) Space is limited. RSVP to Julie.Schreiner@mail.house.gov.

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