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The 17 Best Reasons to Vote | |
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On Tuesday, November 7th -- Election Day -- around 100 million Americans will vote. Historically, over 100 million other Americans who could vote will not vote. Reasons cited for not voting always include voter-apathy, dislike for the political system, or lack of time. But most non-voters say they simply do not feel their one vote counts.
Even
if it does not lead to the election of a single candidate, your vote and every
vote cast on November 7th will count very much for these 17 Americans:
Kenneth Eugene Clodfelter, 21, of Mechanicsville, Va. On Oct.12, 2000, these 17 young American men and women died on the decks of
the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Cole in the Yemeni port of Aden. As so many
Americans have done before them and will do after them, they willingly traded their
lives for our continued freedom. How can we honor these 17 Americans and all
Americans who have paid the ultimate price of freedom? How about giving them the
best Election Day turnout in American history? Even if your vote does not help
elect a single candidate, let it speak as a vote for freedom and against
terrorism and tyranny. In no other country does the voice -- the vote --
of a single citizen have as much impact as it does in the United States. This
year, 17 more Americans have turned their voices over to the rest of us. Speak up for them --
vote on November 7th.
Richard Costelow, 35, of Morrisville, Pa.
Lakeina Monique Francis, 19, of Woodleaf,
N.C.
Timothy Lee Gauna, 21, of Rice, Texas
Cherone Louis Gunn, 22, of Rex,
Ga.
James Rodrick McDaniels, 19, of Norfolk, Va.
Marc Ian Nieto, 24, of Fond du Lac, Wis.
Ronald Scott Owens, 24, of Vero Beach, Fla.
Lakiba Nicole Palmer, 22, of San Diego,
Calif.
Joshua Langdon Parlett, 19, of Churchville, Md.
Patrick Howard Roy, 19, of Cornwall on
Hudson, N.Y.
Kevin
Shawn Rux, 30, of Portland, N.D.
Ronchester Manangan Santiago, 22,
Kingsville, Texas
Timothy Lamont Saunders, 32, of Ringgold,
Va.
Gary Graham Swenchonis Jr., 26, Rockport, Texas
Andrew Triplett, 31, of Macon, Miss.
Craig Bryan Wibberley, 19, of
Williamsport, Md.
Archibald MacLeish, American Poet, 1892-1982 (as recited by President Clinton
at the USS Cole memorial service, Norfolk, Va., Oct. 18, 2000) |
Contributing to the USS Cole Memorial Fund
At the request of the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society has agreed to be the conduit through which public donations (individual, group, and corporate) for USS Cole (DDG 67) victims and their families may be channeled. The Society will administer this fund in compliance with the parameters drafted and approved by the active duty Navy leadership, with input from the commanding officer and crew of USS Cole.Anyone interested in making a donation should make checks payable to Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, or simply NMCRS, and include "For USS COLE" in the lower left corner of the check (the memo).
Mail all donations to:
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
801 North Randolph Street, Suite 1228
Arlington, VA 22203-1978
Thank you for your interest and support!
USS Cole information and support information
USS COLE Care Line
(757) 444-4921
(757) 444-6289
1-800-368-3202
or 1-800-372-5463
ask for USS COLEVia E-mail: COLEDET@NSN.CMAR.NAVY.MIL
Via Telephone: COLE Family Center Toll Free: 1-866-314-4049
- Several states, including California, Idaho, Oregon, Texas and Washington, became states by just ONE vote.
- In 1948, Lyndon B. Johnson, our 36th president, was elected to the U.S. Senate by just ONE vote.
