AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL PERSONNEL
On November the 8th we will once again witness the finest accomplishment of
civilized men. Our cherished freedom will gain new strength when the citizens
of this grand republic go to the polls to register their votes on election day.
It is extremely important that we reflect upon our duties to our country, and
our responsibilities to our fellow man, that are ao integral a part of our
citizenship. All too often we regard our voting franchise as a right inherent
in our citizenship. The right to select our form of government is inherent in
all mankind. As citizens of the United States we are privileged in that we have
been given the opportunity to avail ourselves of this basic right. This privi
lege was not come by easily. Many men and women, both military and civilian,
sacrificed their lives-in order that you and I might cast our ballots.
We in the Military tend to regard the armed forces of our country as the most
essential guardian of democracy. Upon a closer analysis the fallacy of this
belief becomes apparent. The Soviet Union and Communist China have their own
Military organizations, yet it would be foolish to state that their armed forces
act to safeguard liberty. It is the form of the government controlling the
armed forces that determines whether the military exists to defend or to destroy
the democratic way of life. The form of government of any nation depends soley
upon the desires and sacrifices of the people. Therefore our democratic form
of government depends soley upon the individual citizen. It is only by exerciz
ing our voting privileges that we can be assured that this privilege will con
tinue. And going one step further it is clear that our way of life can endure
only so long as we exercize this privilege.
Whether you are making the military a career, or whether you are fulfiling
your military obligation, one very important fact remains^—your service to your
country is a service to freedom. Your period of service is one of devotion to
the principles of liberty that we so highly esteem. It is just as important
that you support liberty from within as it is to safeguard it from without. Ihe
individual that fails to vote for the party or person of his choice has failed
to uphold the trust placed upon us by those who have sacrificed their lives in
o .dor chat we might continue to freely choose our form of government. Only so
long as we participate in our system of free elections will there continue to
b? r. purpose to our service in this armed forces of our country.
RICHARD J. GRUNAWALT, LTJG, USNR VOTING OFFICER