Senator John Glenn

[Bio-T]

Some people still don't understand why military personnel do what they do for a living. The following exchange between Senator John Glenn and
Senator Howard Metzenbaum is worth reading. Not only is it a pretty impressive and impromptu speech, but it's also a good example of one man's
explanation of why men and women in the Armed Services do what they do for a living. This IS a typical, though sad, example of what
some who have never served think of the Military.

Senator Metzenbaum to Senator Glenn: "How can you run for the Senate when you've never held a "real job?"

Senator Glenn: "I served 23 years in the United States Marine Corps. I served through two wars. I flew 149 missions. My plane was hit by
anti-aircraft fire on 12 different occasions. I was in the Space Program. It wasn't my checkbook, Howard, it was my Life on the line. It was not a 9 to 5 job, where I took time off to take the daily cash receipts to the
bank. I ask you to go with me .. as I went the other day ... to a Veterans Hospital and look at those men - with their mangled bodies - in the eye, and tell THEM they didn't hold a job! You go with me to the Space Program at NASA and go, as I have gone, to the widows and
orphans of Ed White, Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee ... and you look those
kids in the eye and tell them that their DADS didn't hold a job. You go with me on Memorial Day and you stand in Arlington National Cemetery, where I have more friends buried than I'd like to remember, and you watch those
waving flags. You stand there, and you think about this Nation, and you
tell ME that those people didn't have a job? I'll tell you, Howard Metzenbaum... you should be on your knees every day of your life thanking
God that there were some men - SOME MEN - who held a REAL job. And they required a dedication to a purpose - and a love of country and a dedication to duty - that was more important than life itself. And their self-sacrifice is what made this country possible. I HAVE held a job, Howard! --- What about you?"

For those who don't remember - During WWII, Howard Metzenbaum was an
attorney representing the Communist Party in the USA. Now he is a Senator!

 

[STSinNYC]

Amen and amen. Six members of my family on active duty for our country currently. One served in the Iraq war last year and has been told he's going back in January. I served in NYC as a volunteer at Ground Zero (World Trade Center) for six weeks after the attack.

Freedom is not free. Our freedom is bought "at a great price", as it says in the Bible. Many people on the far left, Kerry supporters who hate Bush, also hate the military, like that as@#%$^& kid at UMAss who wrote an editorial in their campus newspaper saying that Pat Tillman desrved what he got by enlisting and being killed in action in Afghanistan.

Argue. Debate. Disagree. Vote. Stand tall and proud and applaud when you go to your local parade and veterans march by. Go out of your way to greet a man or woman in uniform, shake their hand, thank them for serving.

Steve

 

[SSDude]

Metzenbaum retired from the Senate in 1995. Both Metenbaum and Glenn are Democrats and represented Ohio in the Senate. Glenn was the junior senator. Both are now retired.

 

[Al]

Here is the link to this information.

Glenn

The speech was not really impromptu but it did occur.

 

[sbc350gearhead]

Metzenbaum was a slaphappy......always was. I have nothing but the utmost respect for Glenn......even though his political ideology often differed from my own.