Thursday morning, just hours after his powerful immigration policy speech in Phoenix, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump spoke to the American Legion National Convention in Cincinnati.
In asking the largest veteran advocate organization for its vote, Trump promised his administration would never let them down. He also addressed an issue near and dear to the American Legion: promoting civics and patriotism in public schools.
“The men and women of the American Legion represent the best of America: strength, courage, selfless devotion,” he said. “Your organization, and its members, have done so much to defend our country, our flag and to advance the cause of Americanism—not globalism.
“We are in your debt. I will never let you down.
“Together, we are going to work on so many shared goals. But I want to begin by discussing one goal that I know is so important to all of you: promoting American pride and patriotism in America’s schools.
“In a Trump Administration, I plan to work directly with the American Legion to uphold our common values and to help ensure they are taught to America’s children. We want our kids to learn the incredible achievements of America’s history, its institutions and its heroes.
“We will stop apologizing for America, and we will start celebrating America. We will be united by our common culture, values and principles, becoming one American nation. One country, under one constitution saluting one American flag.
“The flag all of you helped to protect and preserve. That flag deserves respect, and I will work with American Legion to help to strengthen respect for our flag—and, by the way, we want young Americans to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
“In addition to teaching respect for the flag, we also have to make sure we give our military the tools they need to defend that flag and to deter violence and aggression from our foreign adversaries.”
Trump also pledged to “rebuild” the U.S. military, and to ensure the military is not only properly equipped, but properly trained, as well. He also pledged to oversee a wholesale reform of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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