Category Better Life

May 26 2012

A Memorial Day Column from Senator Susan Collins

 

Susan Collins: The Gratitude of a Nation

column by Senator Susan Collins.

“Let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation’s gratitude — the soldier’s and sailor’s widow and orphan.” These words were written by Union General John Logan, who in 1868 designated a day in which the graves of Civil War soldiers would be decorated on a day that is known today as Memorial Day.

Memorial Day is a time of solemn remembrance of loved ones who have perished for the sake of our nation, and gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy because of their sacrifices and acts of heroism. At the same time, it also signifies the beginning of the summer season, time to spend with friends, family, and loved ones, and anticipation of warmer weather.

From the local community parades highlighted by participants waving our flag with pride to ceremonies filled with bright spring flowers draped in honor over the final resting places of fallen soldiers at cemeteries throughout the nation to the neighborhood barbeque where friends and family gather to commemorate the new season, Memorial Day offers Americans many opportunities to express gratitude to those who lost their lives in our nation’s military conflicts.

When it originated in 1868, Memorial Day was known as Decoration Day, because it was the day designated for Americans to honor the fallen soldiers from the Civil War by decorating their graves with flowers.

The first Memorial Day was observed on May 30, 1868, although roots of the holiday can be traced earlier, to the end of the Civil War when organized women’s groups in the south decorated the graves of fallen Confederate soldiers.

New York was the first state to recognize the holiday in 1873, followed in the next several years by most northern states. And eventually, the day became an occasion to honor all those who died in all American military conflicts. In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a federal holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May.

A national Memorial Day tradition occurs each year at Arlington Cemetery when a small American flag is placed on each and every grave, and a wreath is laid, generally by either the President or Vice President, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. People from across the country will also gather on the National Mall in our nation’s capital for the annual Memorial Day concert, offering Americans an opportunity to come together to remember and to honor the legacy of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

As in years past, Memorial Day will bring opportunities throughout the state for Mainers to pay their gratitude and respects to fallen soldiers. Whether you attend a local parade or ceremony, visit a memorial, or fly the American flag at half-staff until noon, it is important for all Americans, in their own way, to take this time to pay tribute to all those—generations past and present—who have fought for our freedom and the values that Americans hold so dear. We also must demonstrate to loved ones of fallen soldiers that we are a nation of gratitude for the sacrifices these soldiers have made for all of us.

May 22 2012

The endorsements keep rolling in!

Peter Johnson (R.-Greenville), the stellar representative from the Moosehead lake region as issued his endorsement of Bruce Poliquin.  He states his reasons as follows:

“I have been most impressed with Bruce as our State Treasurer.  He came to the job with a great understanding of the fiscal problems that our State faces.  He has been tireless at addressing the problems of excessive cost in bonding, the unfunded pension liability and several issues with the wasteful spending of the Maine Turnpike Authority and the Maine Housing Authority.   His dedication to protecting the taxpayers of Maine and eliminating wasteful and unsustainable programs have saved our state millions of dollars and I am certain he will do the same in Washington.”

May 21 2012

The MCV endorses State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin

Through the Looking Glass of Adversity

The primary is nearly upon us and ‘tis the season for endorsements.  The Maine Conservative Voice has decided to endorse Bruce Poliquin for United States Senate.  Here is why.

Since the Lepage administration took office, bureaucratic elites have been running for cover as accountability’s hot light of scrutiny has been scouring the landscape of Maine State government in search of every misappropriated fund.   The flippant, frivolous and spend thrifty culture of past leadership has found that a new sheriff’s in town, who views every tax dollar as a precious commodity, the charge and the carriage of which is a sacred trust.  Governor Lepage could have found no better an individual to administrate his new culture of frugality into the bureaucratic labyrinth of Augusta than Bruce Poliquin.

From the moment he was appointed to be State Treasurer, Bruce Poliquin has executed the duties of his office looking through the prism of guardianship.  Like a bloodhound on a scent, he has demanded that every penny be accounted for, not because it is his money but because it is not his money.  Unlike administrators of the past, this treasurer understands that it is an awesome and sobering responsibility to be entrusted with the guardianship of the hard earned treasure of the many fine residents of this great State.  It is no small thing.  Thankfully, for Maine, this man has not viewed tax dollars as the means to an end, as was the callous and shallow approach for the past administrations.  He views these dollars as the means of working men and women and should be used effectively not wastefully.

Treasurer Poliquin’s dogged adherence to integrity and accountability has not endeared him to some in Augusta.  There are those that have lost their jobs.  Some are facing criminal charges.  Undoubtedly, many are trying to cover their proverbial “behinder parts” anxiously as Governor Lepage’s fiscal super sleuth keeps searching through buried lockers in search of more shady dealings.  Exorbitant credit card accounts, massages, magic shows, fortunetellers, and expensive luxury suites all on the taxpayer dime.  The media has called these revelations a “witch hunt”.  The courts have called it a crime.  It seems the courts take a dimmer view of misappropriation than Governor Baldacci and Governor King.  These administrations did not commit much capital or energy towards the ferreting out this criminal activity.  Governor Lepage and Bruce Poliquin have.

But the pattern continues at the National level.  Yes, credit cards and the like, again.  From Washington D.C, conservative legislators like Mike Lee have called on Maine to send them Bruce Poliquin to help in the fight against the mountains of corruption and redundancy in the U.S.  Capital.  His strength of will in the face of adversity is sorely needed in the halls of Washington.  I have seen this strength first hand.

I was at the Republican Convention in Portland when Bruce Poliquin was running for Governor.  Bruce was the last to speak.  Most had left the Convention floor to follow then candidate LePage out to the foyer.  The din surrounding the soon to be Governor was nearly raucous, which made it, I’m sure, difficult to speak.  I had made up my mind who I was voting for.  It wasn’t Bruce, but I stayed out of respect to hear each candidate.  What I saw left a lasting impression that I shall not soon forget.  In the face of inevitable defeat, Mr. Poliquin bravely gave his speech, with the same enthusiasm had it been a full auditorium.  He never wavered.  He was determined to finish the job.  I whispered to my wife that it takes a lot of courage to stand in the face of defeat and finish what you began.              A lot can be said about a man in victory.  But much can be said in defeat.  Everything Bruce Poliquin has done since that day has only confirmed what I saw on that convention floor.  He was a man willing to be measured by adversity.  He refused to back down against all odds.  So it is with great enthusiasm that The Maine Conservative Voice endorses our State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin for United States Senate.  His tenacity and refusal to waver on matters of finance and accountability is just the antidote to a corrupt, bloated and spend-addicted Federal Government. Please vote for Bruce Poliquin to be our next United States Senator.  Let’s turn the searchlight on Washington!