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Friday's Internet Edition, November 21, 2008.
Meredith issues letter of support to Marines
Mayor checks Berkeley for `hateful’ actions
By Rachael Ackerman
Herald Editor
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Galt Mayor Andrew Meredith took pen in hand last month to issue a letter to the United States Marine Corps, praising their efforts to defend the freedoms of the United States, and slamming the city of Berkeley for telling the Marines they were “unwelcome intruders” and asking them to leave that East Bay city.
Meredith, a decorated Iraqi war veteran himself, called the actions of the Berkeley city council “hateful” and “repulsive,” and said the city of Galt is proud to support the military.
“It was with great disbelief that we learned of the repulsive actions of the City of Berkeley in regards to the presence of a United States Marine Corps recruiting office within the city of Berkeley. Apparently, the Berkeley City Council deemed it necessary to voice their objection to the ongoing war in Iraq by offending and insulting the rich tradition and selfless service of one of our nation’s greatest military organizations,” wrote Meredith. “By doing so, Berkeley failed to differentiate the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines of our Armed Forces from the policy makers that chose when and where to go to war; this was a fundamentally irresponsible mistake.”
Meredith’s actions were based on a February 2008, vote of the Berkeley City Council to issue a letter to the downtown Berkeley recruiters office saying they were not welcome in the city of Berkeley, and although the same council voted two weeks later not to send the letter, Meredith said the damage had been done by publicly reading the notice prior to it being sent.
“The hateful message was still sent, nationally, through the news of Berkley’s intent to issue the letter,” said Meredith of the city of Berkley. “It was only after considerable public outcry that the Berkeley city council decided not to send the letter, and although the letter was never sent, neither was an apology issued for the statements made in public by officials of that city.”
Saying he recognizes Berkeley’s constitutional right to freedom of speech in his letter, Meredith questioned the city’s right to use the reputation of America’s fighting men and women to make a political statement about the war in Iraq.
“We find it sad to think that somewhere in the United States, during national press coverage of Berkeley’s actions, the mother of a fallen Marine might have been subjected to the hateful message that the Berkeley City Council was determined to send,” said Meredith. “As a veteran of the war in Iraq, I found the actions of the Berkeley City Council to be particularly hurtful.”
While supporting Berkeley’s right to protest the war in Iraq in any way they see fit, Meredith said other cities are then obligated to take up for the other end and support the many fighting men and women deployed throughout the world.
“In a time when a city like Berkeley feels compelled to disrespect the men and women of the United States military by calling them “uninvited, unwelcome intruders” for operating a recruitment station within its jurisdiction, other cities need to come forward and publicly thank you for your service to this great nation and for the freedoms that you provide us all,” said Meredith. “While many of our residents may continue to feel that the war in Iraq needs to end and the troops need to come home, we all know that a decision of such magnitude is not made by the men and women on the ground.”
In closing, Meredith, on behalf of the city of Galt, offered his thanks, and offered tribute to the fighting forces who serve as they are told, when they are told, under the American flag.
“On behalf of the City of Galt, California, I’d like to offer your Marines, and their brothers and sisters in the Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard, a message: thank you for our freedom; thank you for always answering the call to arms, whether justified or not; thank you for offering to give your life so that others may live free; thank you for choosing to serve the flag of this nation in the stead of others who have not; lastly, thank you for showing us all what it means to put duty before self,” said Meredith. “May the hand of God bless you all in your endeavors.”
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