Veterans Day in 2020
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Creative Islander Thursday November 12, 2020 T: 582-7800 www.arubatoday.com facebook.com/arubatoday instagram.com/arubatoday Page 9/10 Aruba’s ONLY English newspaper Veterans Day in 2020: quiet parades, somber virtual events Associated Press OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Celebrations marking Vet- erans Day gave way to somber virtual gatherings Wednesday, with many of the nation's veterans homes barring visitors to protect their residents from the surging coronavirus that has killed thousands of former members of the U.S. military. Cemeteries decorated with American flags were silent as well, as many of the tra- ditional ceremonies were canceled. With infections raging again nationwide, several veterans homes are fighting new outbreaks. In New York City, a quiet parade of military vehicles, with no spectators, rolled through Manhattan to maintain the 101-year tra- dition of veterans marching on Fifth Avenue. President Donald Trump took part in an observance at Arlington National Cemetery, while President Donald Trump participates in a Veterans Day wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington President-elect Joe Biden National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020. placed a wreath at the Ko- Associated Press rean War Memorial in Phila- delphia. erans Affairs, and nearly include an untold number chusetts, which had nearly tigation found that “utterly More than 4,200 veterans 85,000 have been infected, who have died in private 80 deaths earlier this year. baffling” decisions caused have died from COVID-19 according to the depart- or state-run veterans facili- Two former administrators the disease to run rampant at hospitals and homes run ment. ties, including the Holyoke were charged with crimi- there. by the Department of Vet- That death toll does not Soldiers’ Home in Massa- nal offenses after an inves- Continued on next page A2 THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2020 UP FRONT state's veterans cemetery put flags on graves earlier this week. "It was beautiful, even knowing that we're not going to be there. I think for veterans this is go- ing to be a hard day," he said. Idaho Gov. Brad Little pleaded with residents to wear masks and socially distance in honor of those who served in the armed forces. "They have endured loss of friends, loss of limbs and loss of mental and emotional security to pro- tect us. Now our veterans need us," he said in a state- ment. At the annual Veterans Day gathering at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, many partici- pants wore masks and kept their distance from others. "Veterans Day looks a lot different this year than it has in the past," said Andy Pat- terson, commander of the Disabled American Veter- ans of New Hampshire. President-elect Joe Biden, and Jill Biden, stand with their hands over their hearts before placing a wreath at the Philadelphia Korean War Memorial at Penn's Landing, on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020, in Philadelphia. Ninety-eight veterans have Associated Press died from COVID-19 in Missouri's seven veterans Continued from Front to the Vietnam-era defo- about four times the num- tober. It honored the vet- homes since Sept. 1, and American veterans are es- liant Agent Orange and ber of American military erans throughout the day Gov. Mike Parson ordered pecially vulnerable to CO- smoke from burning oilfields deaths in Vietnam. with gifts, treats, music and an independent review VID-19 because of their in the Persian Gulf. The Holyoke Soldiers' Home a virtual ceremony. after several deaths in Oc- age and underlying health All told, the coronavirus has has barred all visitors for two Officials also remembered tober. In Oklahoma, more conditions, some of which taken almost a quarter- weeks after a staff member those who died at the than 300 cases of corona- can be traced to exposure million lives in the U.S., or tested positive in late Oc- home in western Massa- virus have been reported chusetts. "Those veterans at six of the state's seven that we lost will not be for- veterans homes and 72 res- gotten, and we'll be sure idents have died from CO- to use their memory that VID-19. Officials believe the a tragedy like that won't two worst outbreaks were happen again," said state caused by an employee Rep. Aaron Vega. who was infected but had In Idaho, 33 residents of no symptoms. the state veterans home in Rusty Elkins said his 84-year- Boise have tested positive, old father Glenn Elkins, who including nine on Tuesday, joined the Navy during the said home administrator Korean War and spent most Rick Holloway. Six have of his career as a public died, and four are hospi- school teacher and admin- talized. On Veterans Day, istrator, was among those the home is normally full of who died from COVID-19 family members, communi- after contracting it at the ty groups and officials who veterans home in Norman, gather to thank the former Oklahoma. members of the military for He said he believes a short- their service. This year, the age of staffers and a rotat- halls were empty, and the ing group of doctors led to home planned to serve res- a lack of leadership at the idents a special prime rib facility that worsened the dinner in their rooms. problem. His father was "It's a different environment transferred to a hospital right now — very, very qui- in Oklahoma City, but his et, and the care we're pro- condition deteriorated as viding is more one-on-one he waited for a bed. activities," Holloway said. "I wanted him to have a Marv Hagedorn, admin- chance, but by then it istrator of the Idaho Divi- was too late," Elkins said. "I sion of Veteran Services, didn't get him here quick watched volunteers at the enough."q A3 U.S. NEWS THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2020 Few legal wins so far as Trump team hunts for proof of fraud By MARYCLAIRE DALE and down its Twitter feed Tues- ALANNA DURKIN RICHER day after it was inundated Associated Press with attacks. The firm did PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Dur- not return messages seek- ing a Pennsylvania court ing comment. hearing this week on one of A second firm, Jones Day, the many election lawsuits said it was representing brought by President Don- not the Trump campaign ald Trump, a judge asked a but the Pennsylvania GOP, campaign lawyer whether in litigation before the U.S. he had found any signs of Supreme Court over the fraud from among the 592 three-day extension to ac- ballots challenged. cept mail-in ballots. The answer was no. Nationally, the strategy is "Accusing people of fraud being run by Trump allies is a pretty big step," said such as Rudy Giuliani, the the lawyer, Jonathan Gold- president's personal at- stein. "We're all just trying to torney; political operative get an election done." David Bossie, who is not an Trump has not been so attorney; and Jay Seku- cautious, insisting without low, a lead lawyer during evidence that the election the president's impeach- was stolen from him even ment trial this year. Bossie A sign hangs in front of an American flag, as a handful of supporters of President Donald Trump when election officials na- continue to protest outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center, in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Nov. recently tested positive for tionwide from both parties 10, 2020. COVID-19. say there has been no con- Associated Press Election law expert Rick spiracy. Hasen said he would ex- On Wednesday, Trump Pennsylvania alone in an Biden rolls out his agenda. "From the inside looking out, pect to see top-drawer took aim at Philadelphia, effort to reclaim the state's "This may be an attempt it feels all very deranged," Supreme Court litigators the Democratic stronghold 20 electoral votes. There is to appease the ego in Schmidt said in an interview involved, such as two for- that helped push President- action, too, in Georgia, Ari- chief, but there are real that aired Sunday. "Count- mer solicitors general, Paul elect Joe Biden over the zona, Nevada and Michi- world consequences for ing votes cast on or before Clement or Theodore Ol- 270 Electoral College votes gan. real people that come out Election Day by eligible vot- son, if Trump had a strong needed to win the race. In court, his lawyers must of that," said Loyola Law ers is not corruption. It is not case. "There are certain The president accused a walk a precarious line be- School professor Justin Lev- cheating. It is democracy." names of elite lawyers local Republican election tween advocating for their itt, a former Justice Depart- Untold voters, however, are that signal to the Supreme official Al Schmidt, of ignor- client and upholding their ment elections official. "The accepting Trump's claim Court that something is seri- ing "a mountain of corrup- professional oath. attempt to soothe the pres- about a rigged election ous," said Hasen, a profes- tion & dishonesty." Twitter Legal ethicists and pro- ident's ego is not a victim- and are donating to his le- sor at the University of Cali- added a label that said the democracy activists have less crime." gal fund. fornia, Irvine. Instead, "the election fraud claim is dis- questioned the participa- Schmidt told CBS' "60 Min- A law firm involved in the campaign announced puted. tion of lawyers in this quest, utes" that his office has re- election suits, Ohio-based that it was putting Rudy Trump loyalists have filed at as Trump clings to power ceived death threats sim- Porter Wright Morris & Ar- Giuliani and David Bossie in least 15 legal challenges in and President-elect Joe ply for counting votes.