From time to time the Democrats Abroad Global Veterans and Military Families (VMF) Caucus surveys our members with a poll question. To view our past poll questions and member responses, click here for January and here for February.
At the beginning of March 2026, a handful of members of the Democrats Abroad Global Veterans and Military Families (VMF) Caucus were recently asked:
“The United States is marking its 250th anniversary of independence this year. For many Americans, this milestone raises hard questions about how and whether to commemorate the occasion given the current state of our country and attacks on democracy and freedoms under the Trump Administration. So we want to know: how should the Democrats Abroad VMF Caucus approach America’s 250th birthday, if at all? Should the focus be on celebration, reflection, advocacy, or something else?”
VMF has compiled responses from our members located all around the globe, which are shown below.
_______
“The Democrats Abroad VMF Caucus should, without a doubt, commemorate the milestone of our independence. However, that doesn’t go to say, America is perfect just as it is – the U.S. has several areas that need improvement. No country is perfect, but every day, we can strive to make our home country an ideal society in the best way possible. The caucus should take an advocacy stance on actions we can take to continue and better defend our democracy and freedoms at home. This could be a call to action to re-register using the FPCA [Federal Post Card Application] and ensure each of us is eligible to vote in the upcoming primaries and midterm elections. In addition, we need to seek out American expats in our country of residence and encourage them to apply/renew their FPCA registration and submit their ballots.”
-Katie Gomez, Albania
“As this 250th anniversary rolls around, unfortunately I find it difficult to celebrate given all the negative actions by this president and his administration. Still though, I’m alive thanks to the doctors and nurses at the Minneapolis VA Hospital. Of course, there is one less of my nurses, Alex Pretti, who was murdered by out-of-control ICE agents. May Nurse Pretti rest in peace. Everybody should know by now what this administration envisions for the future of America, just take a look at Minneapolis. Are you scared yet? Does it make Americans living abroad want to go back? I think this is a time for perhaps being with family if possible, and just being thankful for what one has. Yes, have some burgers and beer by all means. But it is a time of reflection, pondering how in hell did we get here, and committing to a time for action. A time for advocacy. A time to think, to plan and above all work for freedom from the dictator in whatever way we can. Thankfully, many U.S. citizens are located outside the homeland and not having to endure things like racial profiling and families being ripped apart. I’ve been back once in 16 years and that was for 8 months in the VA hospital for necessary medical treatment. I’m thankfully still alive, but can’t eat or speak – I’m alive as a disabled combat veteran and I can still go fishing out in the Gulf, but have little reason for celebration. Our so-called ‘leader’ is a bona fide draft dodger, and it’s come to no surprise that he has started another military conflict without any justification to the American people, no authorization from Congress, and no plans shared. With Cadet Bone Spurs having already gotten the U.S. military involved in several conflicts while simultaneously cutting tens of thousands of jobs at the VA, all I can say is, ‘Happy 250th, America!’”
-Wayne Beverly, Thailand
“There is still no other country like the United States of America, even as we are going through some horrific times, and our nation’s leaders are trampling and dismantling the very foundations of our nation. With the 250th anniversary of our nation, this is a time to remember and reflect what America is supposed to be, remind ourselves that freedom isn’t free, which includes fighting for freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom to protest, and so forth, not just the sacrifices of the military. We should be advocating and fighting every way we can to not lose our nation to billionaire wannabe dictators and bigots. We are the land of the free, for liberty and justice for all.”
-Kay, active duty military spouse, Europe
“I’m thinking a good approach may be reflection, allowing for camaraderie and mutual support. Many of us are deeply saddened by the current state of affairs. Having space to discuss, share thoughts and express hope may be beneficial to some folks.”
-Rocio Asuega, Guatemala
“My opinion is that we need to center and focus on how America became America. We need to celebrate the great achievements and reflect on our weaknesses as the challenge for the next decade. ‘E Pluribus Unum’ should be our focus. We are in a dark place yet to lead we have to reflect on the good and provide a vision for the future that is in line with our multicultural society.”
-Andrew Anderson, Spain
“I am a proud veteran. As we mark America’s 250th anniversary, I believe the Democrats Abroad Veterans and Military Families Caucus should ground this moment in respect and reflection. Our 250 years of independence were not secured by ideals alone, but by generations of service members and veterans who defended our Constitution and the democratic principles it represents. Honoring their sacrifice means not only celebrating our history, but recommitting ourselves to protecting the freedoms and rule of law they swore to defend. This anniversary should be both a tribute to their service and a renewed pledge to safeguard our democracy for the next 250 years.”
-Carl Landon Schetter Taylor, Germany
“As someone who’s been around VMF since the beginning, I’m proud of all the work VMF’s done and continues to do. It makes sense to me that despite the chaos and lawlessness of this administration, the good of our 250-year-old country far outweighs the bad. Yes, the current era will be seen by historians as a dark stain on our nation’s history, but in the grand scheme of things I’m betting on American democracy to prevail and weed out this wannabe dictator from power, remove all of his sycophant senior officials, and all of his MAGA allies in Congress. So I’m supportive of the VMF Caucus doing all of the above: advocacy, reflection, and celebration.”
-Michael Ramos, Australia
“We’ll celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday at our 4th of July picnic. Uncle Sam, the U.S. Marines and the Scouts will lead our ‘Kid’s Flag Parade!’ We’ll read excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, sing God Bless America and ‘Reaffirm our Unalienable Rights.’ To our veterans: We hope you can celebrate the Liberty that dwells in you. I could never tell a veteran what to do.”
-Roberta Enschede, The Netherlands
“My two cents: I’ve found comfort in reading books and watching the recent PBS series on the ‘American Revolution’ by Ken Burns, and reading the books ‘The British Are Coming’ and ‘Fate of the Day,’ both by Rick Atkinson, ‘Washington, A Life’ by Ron Chernow, and ‘John Adams’ by David McCullough. But as it’s important to keep voters engaged, the VMF Caucus may wish to consider holding some Zoom type discussion groups. Summer time is pretty precious in Norway, so it’s too hard to predict what could be happening to plan much beyond that. But pay attention to Senator Ruben Gallego if you-know-who starts stealing the midterms.”
-Andrew Stites, Norway
“In the Supreme Court decision of McColloch v. Maryland in 1819, the Marshall-led Court stated, ‘The U.S. is the union of the people, governed by the people (meeting in Congress), for the sake of the people.’ Fifty years ago, I celebrated the words of Lincoln, after four hundred thousand Americans sacrificed their lives to hold these words true for all time: that their lives not be given in vain. Fifty years hence, we are witnessing the sacred halls of Congress smeared with the excrement of greed: Matthew 21:12-13. ‘Jesus entered the temple to drive out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and of those selling doves.’ And ‘13 It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it ‘a den of thieves.’” I love my country and its covenant with the people. Let us pray. Let us vote. Let us drive out the thieves. It is my hope the VMF Caucus joins me in these actions.”
-Isa Kocher, Turkey
“While it is easy to want to ignore our 250th anniversary as a country, due to our dismay with our current situation, I think we need to remember that our most basic function in the VMF Caucus is to celebrate and support our troops, veterans and their families. For 250 years our military has performed with distinction, our soldiers, sailors, pilots and marines have fought and sometimes died with honor, even when serving in unpopular wars such as Vietnam, where I served. This anniversary gives us an excellent opportunity to remember and recognize their service and their sacrifice. That said, it is impossible to ignore the fact that under Traitor Tyrant Trump our country has had its reputation seriously degraded. We are no longer trusted by even our closest allies. This even extends to our military’s reputation. So, while we should certainly reflect on how this has all been allowed to happen, we should also take this anniversary as an opportunity to resolve to work hard to restore our sense of decency, to restore our commitment to democracy, and to restore our and the world’s trust in our government by defeating Republicans all the way up and down the ballot in the midterm elections this year and then the presidential election in 2028. Let us resolve to remove the scourge and stain that has infected us and return to the ideals that have served us so well for 250 years!”
-J. David Markham, Canada
All VMF members are encouraged to share their opinion on the above-posed question or any other VMF-related matter by doing any of the following:
Sending an e-mail to: [email protected]
Speaking up at one of our monthly virtual meetings
Messaging us on Facebook, Instagram, or X (formerly Twitter)
Communicating with any of VMF’s leaders on the Steering Committee.
_________
U.S. citizens living abroad, both civilian and military, are highly encouraged to check your voter registration status and request your ballot for any upcoming elections in your home voting state that you are eligible to vote in.
The VMF Caucus has a membership of over 1,400 members located in dozens of countries and proudly consists of veterans, military family members, Department of Defense civilians, other national security professionals, and strong allies of veterans and military family causes.
For questions or comments pertaining to this statement, please reach out to