I found it very disturbing that the Narrowsburg Fire Department would allow a float in the Independence Day parade depicting the military as a bunch of drunks. These people have the right to freedom of speech and the right to make political statements, thanks to the U.S. military. However, I believe it was disgusting, disrespectful and in extremely poor taste to be shouting profanity and carrying on as drunks in front of the crowd that lined the streets to watch the parade which included many small children.

If people wanted to see a bunch of drunks and listen to profanity they would have gone to the local bar, not an Independence Day celebration. This parade should be a celebration of our independence by honoring our military and its veterans, not depicting them as a bunch of drunks. I am sure that if these people had dressed up in fireman’s turnout gear, were drinking and shouting obscenities, and made reference to “a bunch of drunken fireman” instead of sailors the Narrowsburg Fire Department would have found that offensive.

Furthermore, this float carried political campaign posters. Is this the kind of respect that this candidate has in mind for our community?

George Banta, US Army Veteran 1966-1968

Darbytown, PA