Sir:

My name is Bert Smith. I am a Democratic Candidate for the U. S. House of Representatives in the 5th District of Oklahoma.

My views on the proposed amendment to the U. S. Constitution are closely aligned with Colin Powell and John Glenn. I oppose the amendment.

IN OUR COUNTRY TODAY, WHEN MESSAGES FROM THE OVAL OFFICE AND OTHER UNDISCLOSED LOCATIONS INDICATE THAT ANYONE WHO CHALLENGES OUR LEADER'S POSITIONS IS UNPATRIOTIC, THE THREAT TO OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS FAR GREATER TODAY THAN THE THREAT OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO OUR FLAG HAS EVER BEEN.

My grandfather served in France in 1917. My late father-in-law served at Anzio and Rome in 1944. My father served on a destroyer tender in the Pacific for a large part of WW II. I flew for an air cavalry troop out of Phu Loi and around the Parrot's Beak in Vietnam in late 1971. My only nephew is an army signal officer and has been serving in Afghanistan since February. And my youngest son is with the security forces of the air force and is scheduled to be deployed to Iraq in August. I feel that I could justify my position on this amendment to all of the patriots listed above.

I retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1997 after 28 years in the Army Reserve. I am a member of the VFW and was recently honored by being asked to speak at the Memorial Day service conducted by Post 16 of the American Legion in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

If elected, one of my very high priorities will be seeing that our government honors its commitment to all of our veterans. I truly feel that this is one of the costs of waging war that our current administration is attempting to forget.

My decision to not support the amendment did not come easily. I sincerely hope that some or all of the discussion above will be considered as the American Legion considers my fitness for office.

Thank you,

Bert Smith