Sheriff to Marines: Your service is not over!
'Freedoms and liberties which we enjoy under the U.S. Constitution are under siege'
Sheriff to Marines: Your service is not over!
A Colorado sheriff who made headlines for his deliberate non-compliance with the politically correct attitude of his county toward Christmas, today honored the U.S. Marine Corps on its 234th birthday, along with veterans and members of other military branches.
And he implored them to be vigilant now as ever, since their service is not over.
The comments come from Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden, who occasionally releases a personal column called the BullsEye.
He was in the news in recent Christmas seasons when he scoffed at county rules about using neutral themes such as penguins for Christmas decorations and staged the display of his own traditional Christmas tree and accompanying American themes and decorations at his department's facility in Fort Collins, Colo.
Alderden also recently tackled the much-ballyhooed case of a balloon "accidentally" released by a family who reported they feared their child was aboard. The two-hour flight of the balloon captured the attention of networks coast-to-coast until it was discovered no child was aboard.
The family later was investigated for allegedly falsely reporting the child was on the balloon.
Alderden spoke a few days ago at the local Marine Corps Ball and released his remarks in today's column.
He cited bumper stickers seen on vehicles driven by members of the Marine Corps:
U.S. Marines – Certified Counselors to the 72 Virgins Dating Club
U.S. Marines – Travel agents to Allah
The Marine Corps – When It Absolutely, Positively Has To Be Destroyed Overnight
Marine Sniper – You can run, but you'll just die tired!
Alderden told the Marines that when he was elected 11 years earlier, he decided he wanted his office to be the Marine Corps of law enforcement agencies.
He talked about freedom and liberty, asking the Marines to be ready, now more than ever.
"I don't mean for this message to be overly political, certainly not partisan political, but the Marines have shed blood to defend the Constitution," he said. "I fear what is happening in Washington, D.C., particularly with the over-reach of the federal government, intruding into areas beyond what is authorized in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights."
"The freedoms and liberties which we enjoy under the U.S. Constitution are under siege," he said.
He said there has been:
Legislation being proposed that "infringes" on the right to keep and bear arms.
Legislation being proposed that violates the people's rights to be secure in their homes.
Legislation that authorizes the government to seize businesses.
Places in the country that are considering allowing Islamic law.
"I look at the growth of Muslim extremism, even within our borders, most recently demonstrated just a few days ago at Fort Hood, and I fear for our country," he said. "My message to you is simple: be vigilant. 'Once a Marine always a Marine.' Your service is not over."
He quoted from the Marine Corps oath: "I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic."
"Foreign – and domestic," he said. "The United States military is the best in the world. We have the best equipment. We have the finest young men and women. If our country fails, it won't be because our military is defeated. It will be due to the complacency of the politicians in Washington, D.C., and a failed educational system."
He cited some of the early honors earned by the Marines, fighting Muslim pirates in the Barbary Wars in the early 1800s, through the War of 1812, World Wars I and II, and Korea and Vietnam.
"Panama. Grenada. Iran. Somalia. Lebanon. Liberia. Kuwait. Iraq. Afghanistan. Wherever Americans are in jeopardy, wherever freedoms and liberties are threatened - the Marines are there," he said.
Sheriff to Marines: Your service is not over!
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