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Health & Fitness

Did You Vote... Probably Not

So what do yesterday's primary election and today's anniversary of the Normandy invasion have in common? For many... nothing!

So what do yesterday’s primary election and today’s anniversary of the Normandy invasion have in common?  Well if you look at the results of voter participation in this year’s primary…nothing.  In reality, if it wasn’t for the former, we wouldn’t have our rights to the latter.

Remember, just a couple of weeks ago we celebrated, we remembered, our fallen heroes in Memorial Day celebrations throughout Gloucester County. There were moving, emotional, goose bump events, mostly well attended, in towns large and small.

One of the events I had the privilege to attend was the Kingsway Regional High School’s annual day of remembrance. It was especially touching because, in additional to honoring all who gave everything, Captain Ryan Iannelli was honored by students in remembering “The Day Kingsway Lost a Dragon.” Capt. Iannelli was killed in action during combat operations in Afghanistan on September 28, 2011.

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The teachers, staff, administration, veterans and especially the students, unfolded a flag of emotions, patriotism and old fashioned small town hugs to the parents and family of Capt. Iannelli.  It was heartwarming as I observed some students’ reflection in what the day meant to them.

It was a beautiful, heartfelt demonstration of human compassion and empathy. It will be a day I won’t soon forget.

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What does that have to do with today?  For those that may not know what today, June 6, means to America, I’ll give you a quick synopsis: 

On June 6, 1944, about 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily fortified French coastline to fight Hitler’s Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a “crusade” and that "we will accept nothing less than full victory."

It was the largest amphibious landing in military history with more than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft supporting the D-Day invasion. By the end of the day on June 6, the Allies gained a tentative foothold in Normandy.

The D-Day cost in human lives was brutally high. At the end of the “longest day” more than 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded , but more than 100,000 soldiers began the march across Europe to defeat Nazi tyranny and restore freedom throughout the world.

Which brings me back to yesterday, primary day 2012.  Our right to vote in every election is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and sealed with the blood of ordinary, everyday American citizens. What does that mean to ordinary, everyday Americans? In Gloucester County only nine percent, nine percent, bothered to exercise that right.

There are approximately 190,000 registered voters in Gloucester County out of a population of about 330,000 residents. Not a great percentage either, by the way.

I know, I know. It’s only a “primary” election. So what’s the big deal, right? The winners of the primary earn the right to go onto the general election in November.

The winners of the November election then decide things like: How high your taxes will be. How much debt you and your children will pay for. When roads get paved (if ever). How much teachers’ salaries will be. What laws will be passed that may or may not benefit you, your family or your neighbor. How much it will cost a small business to open.  How many jobs are created so our communities can thrive. Get the point?

Every election has consequences and every election matters. Maybe you need another reason to get involved and at the very least vote.

How about remembering the millions of ordinary, everyday Americans throughout
our history that signed that check.  You know that check payable to the “Citizens of the United States of America”, for a sum up to and including my life!

I don’t know how many people read the West Deptford Patch, but I’m sure it will be even fewer that read this blog of mine. However, if I can get one person, ten people to think a little differently about voting on election day, every election day,
then the 30 or so minutes that it took to put this blog together will have been
more that worth it. God bless our vets and God bless America!

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