Dear Daddy,
You would abhor what is happening to your country. You flew 50 missions in nine months as a navigator in B17s out of Northern Africa into Italy. I have always been so incredibly grateful and proud you helped fight and defeat fascism.
I am sorry America did not treasure democracy enough to vote against fascism and autocracy. I am sorry our society now does not even know much about the war you fought in, securing our freedoms and democracy.
Public lands and wilderness that helped you keep your PTSD demons at bay, are being sold to the highest bidder. VA benefits, which helped with your cancer treatment, is being gutted. Medicaid and Social Security systems are being gutted. You and I know how much that helped you in your last days on Earth. I always thought America owed you that much.
Thank you for teaching me to stand up and fight for what I believe in. You’d be glad to know, your daughters are both fierce fighters to the core, like you. I always admired how you lived so simply. As long as you could watch birds and hike, you were happy. I remember you said many times, “I am glad I wasn’t born any later.”
At least the best part of my life was lived in the freedom of democracy, thanks to you and your fellow fighters.
I think of your favorite saying these days: FUBAR. Nothing can go wrong, go wrong, go wrong …
Patty Coen
Mancos
