Recruiting is OK

Jere Robings, Tim Smith, Ron Patterson, Henry Tapie, Teddy Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Jimmie Carter, George Herbert Walker Bush, Ronald Reagan, George Washington, Andrew Jackson and George W. Bush all served our country in the military. Some went on to become president of the United States.

I support the right of the military to recruit on campus and I will oppose any policy which appears to discriminate against the military. I deeply appreciate the sacrifice that our veterans have made to keep this country free. In an idealistic world we would not need the military. Unfortunately, we live in a real world where evil men like Adolph Hitler and Saddam Hussein will kill other innocent people until we stop them.

In the No Child Left Behind Act, school districts are required to notify parents of their right to opt out of military recruitment contact of their children.That is a reasonable accommodation. Our district has complied with this provision. Having read of the actions of three anti-militarygroups which want to discriminate against military recruiters, I have decided to take action. I will wear a symbolic token of support and appreciation for our veterans and troops. And I will be wearing to all school board functions a small U. S. Army infantry lapel insignia. It is my father’s. He was a World War II combat veteran whoserved in the South Pacific. He fought and some of his fellow soldiers died because "freedom is not free." I wear this infantry insignia to express myappreciate for our veterans. I wear this insignia as a show of support for our troops which are fighting tokeep our families safe from terrorism.

Michael Dunn

Conejo Valley Unified School District Board of Education