I listened to as much as I could stomach of President Donald Trump’s commencement speech at the Naval Academy in Annapolis late last week He paid tribute to the fact that these graduates have been surrounded by their heroes these last few years. He singled out at least one from the class of 1929. I am absolutely certain that Bruce Voorhees was indeed an American hero.
But wouldn’t it have been nice and incredibly healing for the president to also name John McCain as one of those heroes? He is a Navy man, 1958 Academy graduate, an asset as a leader and senator, and a wonderful example of service to our country.
Mr. Trump could have healed his past disrespect of the Arizona senator as well as his staff’s recent disrespect. He could have gotten those Republicans, who, like me, despise this president and all that he stands for to give him credit for something positive. In addition, he could have “cleaned the decks,” pun intended, for reconciliation with the McCain family, once the seemingly inevitable happens.
But, alas, it does not seem to be in Donald Trump’s DNA to heal or to reach out to say that we may not always agree, but “John, you done good,” even within his own party.
So, as we remember our heroes this week, let us not miss these opportunities to say thank you.
RICH VOLLER
Richland
