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248th anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America

Thomas Jefferson on the Declaration of Independence:

“May it be to the world, what I believe it will be … the signal of arousing men to burst the chains … and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. That form, which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. …For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.”

–June 24, 1826 Monticello, the last letter Thomas Jefferson wrote

It’s time to remember that “We the People” are the government — you and I. Not some force in a distant capital. Not some powerful force that we have no control over. It’s us. It’s “We the People.”  — PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN

Editor’s Message 

Greetings! When we attended the D-Day 80th anniversary ceremony, we were very moved by the resilience of the Veterans present who had landed on the beaches of Normandy in 1944 in order to preserve the freedom of our European allies. During the ceremony, French President Macron, with President Biden beside him, awarded  11 U.S. WWII Veterans the Legion of Honor. While many Veterans have passed, their bravery and devotion to our country will never be forgotten. Today by voting we have the opportunity to preserve our freedom and our democracy, in a less dramatic yet just as important way. As President Biden stated: “To surrender to bullies, to bow down to dictators is simply unthinkable. Were we to do that, it means we would be forgetting what happened here on these hallowed beaches. Make no mistake: We will not bow down.  We will not forget.”

It is time for We The People to make sure that every U.S. citizen overseas, and stateside, votes! Ensure you benefit from all the help Democrats Abroad offers you by going to www.votefromabroad.org We know it is very difficult to submit an absentee ballot in many countries so you need the 45 days advance time you are guaranteed as an overseas absentee voter. Let’s do it! When I met Nancy Pelosi at the D-Day ceremony in Colleville France we chatted about DA and her resounding statement was “We need those votes”! What are you waiting for? Now is the time to come to the aid of our country! Go get those voters to request and return their absentee ballots!

Terese Sarno

Editor-in-Chief

“We the people, elect leaders not to rule but to serve.”   –Dwight D. Eisenhower

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DPCA Convention and Annual General Meeting 

Costa Rica
May 31-June 2, 2024

Martha McDevitt-Pugh Kee Evans, Steve Nardi	NM Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Kee Evans

With more than 60 Democrats Abroad Electors attending in person and more than 100 attending online, the 2024 Convention and Annual AGM was a success. The Costa Rica Country Committee volunteers made it special for everyone - from on-site check-in to making sure the participants had everything needed, they were exemplary. The DA IT team kept everything running smoothly. The Costa Rica team made all the arrangements for the hotel and special events. International Secretary Karen Frankenstein kept everyone up to date by making sure all attendees had completed RSVPs, had voting codes, knew how to vote, and a million other things.

The Delegation Chair Martha McDevitt-Pugh (Netherlands) and DNC Member Steve Nardi (Canada) are both DA VMF members and will lead the way for Democrats Abroad at the Democratic National Convention.

The Global VMF Caucus is honored to have many of our members elected to key positions. They are on their way to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, August 19 - 22, 2024. Delegates to the 2024 DNC Convention - Cory Lempke (South Korea), Katie Solon (Germany), Adrianne George (Sweden); PLEO Delegate Jen Rakow-Stepper (Austria). At Large Delegates - Sue Alksnis (Canada), Rebecca Lammers (UK), Hyungjoon Jin (Guatemala), Christina Skovsgaard (Norway), Malaika Kusumi (Germany); DNC Standing Committee Member - Adrianne George (Sweden); and DNC Members 2024 - 2028 Term - Sue Alksnis (Canada), Cory Lemke (Korea), Art Schankler (Serbia). Platform Committee - Hyungjoon Jin (Guatemala). Congratulations to all!

The entire Convention election results can be seen here and here. 

Kee Evans
Former VMF Chair
Associate Editor

MEMORIAL DAY

The Netherlands

by Tré Shawn Griffin-Noordermee

Democrats Abroad Netherlands participated in the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten. Our delegation (the Chair, Vice-Chair and members) was honored to lay a wreath in the Court of Honor to remember the sacrifice given by the 8,288 U.S. soldiers who rest there and the 1,722 whose names are etched in the wall of the missing. Several veterans who liberated Europe along with their families flew in from the U.S. to pay their respects to their comrades. The U.S. Ambassador, the Honorable Shefali Razdan Duggal, a representative of His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, the Dutch Government, the Republic of Germany, the Allied Countries, and (Dutch & American) Military Divisions spoke and/or laid wreaths. The ceremony concluded with a flyover in the missing man formation. We ended the day at a dinner with three of the veterans. Two were 98 and one was 103 and he played his sax! 

Unique to this American Cemetery, is that members of the local community have adopted the grave sites since 1945. There is a generational-long wait to adopt a grave, Many stay within a family and are passed down. They care for, bring flowers, and sometimes correspond with the soldier's family, sending them photos.  The Faces of Margraten project is on a mission to collect photos of all those buried there and several times a year the photos are exhibited next to the graves. 

Mission Margraten Plus: A Mission of Gratitude and Peace

BELGIUM

Ardennes American Cemetery, Henri Chapelle American Cemetery, Flanders Fields American Cemetery

Justine Tkachenko, the great granddaughter of a WWII veteran, great niece of an uncle KIA during WWII, the grand daughter of a World War II and Korean War Veteran and Army brat to top it off, who has been active with DA Belgium (DAB) since 2003,  organizes the DAB wreaths and attendance through DAB for all three ABMC cemeteries in Belgium for Memorial Day. Her daughter, Briséis, four years old, participated for the first time honoring five soldiers buried at the Henri Chapelle American Cemetery and photos were sent to the soldiers' families in the U.S.

ITALY

Democrats Abroad Italy - Central
by Jane Zaloga

On Monday, 27 May, Americans and Italians gathered together to honor our U.S. veterans at the Memorial Day Ceremony which was held at the Florence American Cemetery, located on the Via Cassia, just past Tavarnuzze.  This moving 70-acre site was dedicated in 1960 as the final resting place of 4,932 American military members who died during fighting in Italy during World War II.  The Cemetery also honors the 1,409 people who went missing in action during that war.

Luxembourg

On Saturday 25 May 2024, the Embassy of the United States of America in Luxembourg, together with the American Battle Monuments Commission, held the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Luxembourg American Cemetery  commemorating the men and women who sacrificed their lives in military service. The ceremony commenced with a Presentation of Colours and a flyover by the 37th Airlift Squadron of the 86th Airlift Wing based at Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany.                  

“Memorial Day serves as a poignant reminder of our responsibility to preserve and defend the freedoms for which so many military members have given their lives. It is our duty to honour their sacrifice by actively participating in our democracy, by standing up against injustice and by working together to build a society that truly reflects the values they fought for.”
     –US Ambassador to Luxembourg, Tom Barrett

Wreaths were presented on behalf of Luxembourg’s Grand Duke, the United States of America, the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies, the Government of Luxembourg, the City of Luxembourg, the past and present men and women of the United States Armed Services, the American Battle Monuments Commission, DA Luxembourg and the DA Germany Veterans and Military Families Caucus.

D-DAY 80

“The eyes of the world are upon you. The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.” –  General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force during World War II

“It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.”
–General Norman Schwarzkopf

American sends World War II veterans off in honor of the 80th anniversary of D-Day
Remarks by President Biden Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of D-Day
D-Day anniversary shines through a spotlight on ‘Rosie the Riveter’ women…
Junior Marine Played Vital Role in D-Day Success

CALENDAR & EVENTS

JULY is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
July is extra special for Veterans because of National Hire A Veteran Day. 

July 4 – What to know about the 4th of July’s origins and traditions

July 4 – Villefranche, France -annual French-American July Fourth Celebration–in the old homestead of the 6th Fleet. Don’t forget GOTV! bring some VFA cards.

July 23 – National Veterans Wheelchair Games kicks off with Bass Fishing Competition July 25-30 – National Veterans Wheelchair Games New Orleans, LA

July 25 – National Hire A Veteran Day

July 27 – National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day

July 28 – National Buffalo Soldiers Day

July 29 – Army Chaplain Corps Anniversary  249th birthday 

Upcoming DA Activities

VETERANS’ ISSUES

Health:        

Five virtual resources for older Veterans to remain active 

Education: 

Compare VA Education Benefits
Virtual Overview of VA Benefits and Services

Veteran Recognition:        

WAVES Veteran on WWII: It Was 'All Hands on Deck'
Pasadena’s ‘Rosie the Riveter’ Honored With Congressional Awards for Work in WW II

Click here for our Spotlight  Independence Day
Get the scoop on why we celebrate the Fourth of July!
Click here for our Podcast & Social Media Recommendations
Click here for our Poetry Corner
Click here for our Film and Book Recommendations
Click here for our Brain-Zone Quiz
Click here for our Educational Resources
Click here for our Virtual Museum

SUGGESTION BOX

Want to help overseas Americans request their absentee ballots? Vote in 2024?   Do you have a suggestion for an event, a special program, or want to share an idea?   Contact [email protected]

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READ WHITE and BLUE

“It's not enough to just want change ... You have to go and make change by voting."

— Taylor Swift

KMC Pride Voter Registration!
DA Germany VMF Caucus and the DA Kaiserslautern-Saarland Chapter
combined forces to Get Out The Vote in the Kaiserslautern Military Community.