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by Dr. August Murray, Colonel, U.S. Army, Ret.
The following are my personal thoughts, shaped by my experience as a Vermonter, a Veteran, and someone who cares deeply about the future of our state. I share them to offer a perspective that I believe deserves to be heard. I welcome differing opinions and thoughtful discussion.
This past Saturday’s No Kings rallies drew large numbers of passionate Vermonters and even out-of-staters. To those who participated peacefully, thank you for exercising your First Amendment right to assemble—a freedom I and many others have sworn to protect. That said, there’s another perspective—shared by many across our state—that deserves to be heard.
Vermont Republicans are too often mischaracterized, but the truth is simple: we are parents, small business owners, veterans, farmers, and neighbors. We care deeply about this state and this country. And we’re focused on solving real problems—problems that didn’t arrive overnight. For well more than a century, Republicans helped shape Vermont’s prosperity and civic strength—and after years of policy failure under one-party rule in Montpelier, momentum is shifting back toward common-sense, practical, and fiscally responsible Republican values.
Vermont is in crisis. We have the highest increase in homelessness in the nation. Illegal drugs and crime are running rampant in our communities, leaving broken families in their wake. Property taxes and education costs continue to soar. Healthcare costs are skyrocketing. Affordable housing is out of reach. These are the issues Vermonters face every day—not slogans or political theater, but real-life concerns. And many have been worsened by well-intentioned but misguided legislation passed without balance or restraint.
Republicans believe in the rule of law, public safety, legal immigration, and smaller, more accountable government. We value fiscal responsibility, local control, and community—not chaos. And we know that while presidents come and go, Vermont values endure. Our Republican tradition here has always been moderate, inclusive, and grounded in common sense.
I also want to share a personal disappointment. The date of these rallies—June 14th—was not just any Saturday. It marked the 250th birthday of the United States Army and Flag Day, a moment when Americans should have united to honor our flag and the institution that helped build and preserve our republic. We don’t have kings in this country, and we wouldn’t even have a country if it weren’t for the U.S. Army.
As someone who retired from the Army after a lifetime of military service, I was deeply saddened to see such a historic day overshadowed. Millions of service members, veterans, retirees, and our fallen brothers and sisters deserved better respect and recognition. Nearly 20 million Americans have worn the uniform and served under the American flag. This milestone and this day were not about politics—they were about honor and history.
This raises a hard but important question: Is the hostility toward one president—however controversial—so great that it warranted diminishing Flag Day and the Army’s 250th birthday? I served in uniform under every single president from Ronald Reagan to Joe Biden—including Donald Trump. I respected them all as my Commander in Chief. You don’t have to agree with any one president’s policies or personality to understand that hatred toward the office—or those who support its occupant—can become toxic. What troubles me most is how that anger is increasingly directed not just at leaders, but at everyday citizens who identify as Republicans. How fair is it for a party that claims to stand for tolerance and anti-bullying to shame others simply for thinking differently?
We can disagree—that’s the strength of our nation. But when anger overshadows respect, something important is lost. The harsh rhetoric and personal attacks directed at one man or one party do not reflect the Vermont I grew up in—where political disagreement could still be met with civility and mutual concern for our shared future.
So yes, rally if you feel moved to. Exercise your freedom of speech. But also remember those who fought to protect these sacred rights under the flag of our great nation. Vermonters are watching. We don’t want more division—we want solutions. We want a government that works, a state that functions, and a future that our children can afford to stay in. It’s time to restore what’s been lost in Vermont.
It’s time to stop throwing stones—and start cleaning up our own backyard. The Republican Party welcomes all Vermonters who want to work together to preserve and improve our state for the next generation.
Let’s set aside the anger, refocus on the real challenges facing our state, and come together to restore the Vermont we know and love.
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Categories: Opinion
Well said, thank you August, and thank you for your service to our Country and giving people the Right to speak their mind and peacefully demonstrate their opposing views. Something the Left apparently does not believe in, pointing to frozen water bottle (stealth weapon) incident on Capitol Steps.
Nice article Dr. Murray, I totally agree. While serving in the Marines I had no idea of the political persuasions of fellow Marines, nor did I care. We all took an oath to God, Country and Corps, in that order.
Would be nice if we could all tone down the political rhetoric and realize that at the end of the day we are all Americans.
August, i 100% agree ! 🇺🇸
I was deeply disappointed that the main stream media gave more coverage to the No King rallies than the celebration of the 250 th anniversary of the US Army. Both my parents and my husband served in the army. I wanted to see the parade honoring the Army. Normally this would have been a great event but due to the extreme hatred of Pres. Trump every opportunity to bash Trump was mostly what we heard and saw. I celebrated Flag Day with my own ceremony. I replaced my fading flags with new flags. As I put out the new flags I sang loudly, ” Your A Grand Old Flag” and Happy Birthday Pres. Trump. It was a loving peaceful ceremony.
Thank you, August, for your service and your personal thoughts. They are timely and very much appreciated. And Dorothy, thank your patriotism and for pointing out that main stream media, including the vast majority of Vermont’s media, totally ignored the 250th Anniversary of the US Army and Flag Day.
Basically, Vermont’s printed media is good only for putting under paint cans, cleaning fish on, and lining a cat’s litter box.
Good on both of you.
Mark Truhan,
US Army, Retired.
Mark, You forgot that now that the Sears catalog is no longer available, the product of the Vermont print media is great in the outhouse !
Mark, Thank you as well for your service .
Respectfully, one correction: They are not “well-intentioned”. They are mendacious and malignant.
Please be the Chaiman of the VT GOP.
It’s called subversion.
Thank you Colonel Murray for your service and for reminding us of some important principles we have lost sight of in this country. The party of ultra hatred( The Party of the KKK, of Bull Connor, of segregation is one and the same with the Democratic party. Citizens are encouraged by Party leaders, like Kamala Harris, to engage in violent protests that include attacking police officers and federal agents, looting and burning of private property.
The hatred and disrespect shown to the US Army and Flag Day have been repeated on many other occasions such as the total lack of remembrances of the amazing sacrifices of our armed forces on June 6, 1944 that began the liberation of Europe from the real fascist dictator , Hitler. The endless hate speech that labels President Trump as “Hitler” has simply stoked the flames of hatred we now see burning in the streets of this nation.
Another sign of disrespect for the values that have helped our nation endure is the total lack of mention or respect for Martin Luther King Jr on his National Holiday. His strict adherence to non violent christian methods of protest made his movement powerful. He was a Christian pastor after all. But his holiday comes and goes with no mention or note.
Rather we are bombarded with scenes of violent mobs attacking police officers, burning down black owned businesses by the hundreds, chanting , “What do we want now? DEAD COPS!!” ,covering of faces to avoid accountability, mobs shouting horrific anti semitic hate speech. These activities are promoted by the Democratic party with only one Democratic Senator I have heard of standing up against all this violent bigotry. Senator Fetterman has become a pariah in his party for his stance against this evil.
The philosophy that promotes all this violence and disrespect sees no inherent dignity or worth of each person. You belong to the other tribe so I have a “right” to hate you and attack you and even kill you. What Dr King knew that guided his non-violence is that EVERY PERSON has worth and dignity from being uniquely created in God’s image. This country’s founding documents CLEARLY state this TRUTH: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” in other words our worth and dignity are God given and NOT given to us from The State. For the most part the Democrats’ God is the State.
Nothing short of a revival of respect for and understanding of this TRUTH will suffice to put this nation back on solid footing.
Beautifully and so accurately spoken, Frank Hassler. Thank you.
The No Kings rally I attended and participated in was not mean spirited in any regard. Everyone was having fun and expressing our displeasure with the current administration, which, it seems is backing down from some of it’s earliest rhetoric. The rally was about due process and the constitution. The signs displayed were insightful and well thought out. Almost everyone had an American flag and they were being waved all the time. So don’t mischaracterize what was going on, it was a display of what it means to be an American. It was not Republican vs Democrat, it was all American.
Why were you so late? We had four years of an aspiring King with his unconstitutional rule of Executive Branch Departments and Agencies including unlawful arrests by his Attorney General, not to mention an attempt to replace him by placing a candidate on the ballot by making her a nominee with a SINGLE VOTE from the public only some committee, some Democracy. Now we find that entire Administration, his Court was being run by his Jesters.
Then it was very different from what we saw in the media. Too bad the left has no clue what is really happening. Where were the rallies when people were being fired for refusing an experimental vaccine or when the government was working with media and social media to control free speech? Why no protests when political opponents were being prosecuted? What about violating immigration laws?
Colonel Murray, Thank you for your service, and your no B.S. thoughts about this past weekend’s events .
As a twice wounded United States Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, thank you Colonel Murray. God bless you and all who serve our country.
Thank you Colonel Murray, well said. My dad was in Korea and I did a brief stint at Norwich in the 70’s so I appreciate the men in uniform. Burlington was really fun back then. Let’s bring the fun back.
Dr. Murray,
Thank you for being level headed and inclusive of all Vermonters. I also share your message and hope that we can stop labeling and stop throwing punches and start talking about how we can move forward as a state and in our communities. Lead others by being that person that others want to follow. Too often, people want to beat others into submission to a certain point of view. Let’s commit to taking more time to listen, work toward solutions and understand that we are not all the same. Our neighbor is not on this earth to appease us. Respect for others is hard sometimes but comes much easier when civility is present.
Unfortunately too many liberal transplants in Vermont now.
Again, labeling. Please stop (if you actually want to see things get better).