It's shameful Donald Trump used Arlington Cemetery as a political prop

My family and I have visited Arlington National Cemetery many times over the years and most recently to attend the funeral and burial of a fallen soldier from the war in Afghanistan. This soldier was under the command of our son, commander of the 2nd of the 506th Battalion (Band of Brothers Battalion) of the 101st Air Assault Division from Fort Campbell, Kentucky. At the time our son was still deployed in Afghanistan and could not attend the services for his soldier, so we went to the ceremony in his place to share his condolences and ours with the family. This day is seared in our memories, not only because of the connection to the fallen soldier, but because of the sacredness of the place, its history and the dignity it and the event deserves. The playing of TAPS further haunts our memory of this day.

Another of our son’s fallen soldiers was from Kentucky and we, along with a friend, went to that funeral and service in Cynthiana, Kentucky. There, a couple of the soldier’s company mates were there, in addition to all the family and friends. Because the funeral home was on the opposite side of Cynthiana from the cemetery, there was a long cortege of cars that solemnly traveled through Cynthiana to the cemetery. Along the way, there were townspeople lining the streets and American flags were displayed everywhere with small ones along the roadside.

Upon arriving at the cemetery, the cortege was greeted by the large group of Vietnam Veterans on motorcycles who were there to protect the funeral from the infamous Westboro Baptist Church protesters who had been disrupting soldier’s funerals all over the country. The protestors were not there that day. The presence of these veterans and their commitment garnered further tears from all of us, as had the outpouring of support from the town. To experience this American scene is so moving that the emotion is hard to convey in words. Regardless of the townspeople’s views of war, or the war in Afghanistan (and Iraq), the unity of the town in this moment is the essence of America.

As we would have been ashamed if the protesters had shown up in Cynthiana, I am ashamed that Arlington, a national sacred place, was used as a political prop by Donald Trump, someone who has no awareness of, nor any care for, what Arlington is and the sacrifice of those buried there. Because of this indifference, our country, our soldiers and the cemetery have been demeaned beyond words.

—Dee Pregliasco, 40207

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: It's shameful Donald Trump used Arlington Cemetery as a political prop