Enzi delivers patriotic message

WORLAND - In a packed room full of veterans in the American Legion and veteran supporters in the American Legion Auxiliary, Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming) delivered a patriotic message Saturday at the state American Legion and Auxiliary Convention at the Worland Community Center Complex, while also discussing some current legislation.

According to Enzi's state director Karen McCreary, the invitation to speak at the state convention was Enzi's main reason for a trip back to Wyoming before heading back for a full week of work in Congress.

Enzi said his wife Diana was with their grandchildren. He said Diana conducts a children's camp and each year she calls on the American Legion to teach an flag etiquette class. His grandchildren, ages 7 and 9, have learned the etiquette well and will point out people who do not stand when a flag comes by.

"When they see a flag they say 'God bless America' and expect everyone else to do that," Enzi said.

Speaking of flags, Enzi said he is still trying to get a constitutional amendment to prohibit the burning of the flag but every two years it takes time to bring new Congressmen up to speed on the importance of such an amendment.

Turning to the Legion, Enzi said, "I want to congratulate the Legion on 99 years, 99 years of helping your community, helping other veterans and having some fellowship together about things only you can share. I want to state my appreciation for the work you do for Boys State and Girls State."

Enzi said Boys State was a tremendous experience for him.

"We call it the drivers ed of politics," he said. "Another thing I appreciated is the military presence. I learned how to make a bed so a quarter would bounce. It really helped me when I was in basic."

He added that his wife and his daughter both attended Girls State. In fact his daughter went to Girls State and ran for U.S. Senator when Enzi was campaigning for the same job (in real life).

"As luck would have it TV crews came to interview some of the winners and so when they interviewed her she said, 'I just hope my dad can follow in my footsteps.' That got enough publicity that it probably did help me follow in her footsteps," he said.

He also expressed his appreciation for the service from the veterans in the room.

"I want to thank all of you for your service. I would also like to thank the families for their service."

He said he speaks at the Freedom Elementary in Cheyenne, which has mostly children from the Air Force base.

"It is interesting to note the strain they go through when parents are either about to go, or are over there or about to come back. I appreciate what you do to help those families," Enzi said.

He also encouraged the veterans to write down their memories of their military service, remarking that everyone's service is unique to them and is important to their families and friends.

He said remembering that service is becoming prevalent as families of Vietnam War veterans are searching to find out if loved ones earned any medals. He said because of the way veterans were treated at home and abroad, many did not accept their medals.

"If you call in about the record you're probably going to hear them say 'I'm sorry those records burned up in a fire in St. Louis.' Don't let anybody settle for that. You know the military doesn't have just one copy of any record," Enzi said. "If you know of anyone who is interested in getting their medals, if you will take that person's name to one of our offices, we will check on it and we don't settle for 'it burned up in a fire.' And consequently, we find that there are records and we get the medals that are deserved by the people that earned them. They're not given away, they are earned, through huge sacrifice."

TOURING WITH THE TROOPS

Enzi spoke about his trips overseas to visit troops at various time. "I've been to Korea. We still have troops because that conflict hasn't ended," he said. He went on the tour with a senator from Arkansas and one from Maine. He said there were five soldiers from Arkansas stationed at the base in Korea and three from Maine. Because there was no soldiers from Wyoming, they flew a soldier in, Enzi aid, and he toured with the senators.

"The sad part to this story is that this young man was later stationed in Iraq. He was one of the soldiers who lost his life," Enzi said. The soldier was from Wright and his remains were flown to Gillette and then taken by caravan to Wright for his burial. He said he was told that visitors were amazed at the number of people who lined the highway to honor this soldier who lost his life serving his country.

He visited Iraq when the world was talking about reports of American soldiers torturing prisoners.

"I met a Wyoming soldier and asked about the torture. He said, 'We don't torture any people. We go out on patrol all the time. We run into people who are armed, who could shoot us. We capture them and we detain them. We don't kill them so why would we just torture them. We already had that choice.'"

Enzi said most of the rich and educated people fled Iraq at the first signs of war leaving most of the people who don't have any education.

"They don't have any skills, so the only thing they know how to do is to get in the military and follow whoever was leading them," Enzi said. "One of things we were doing at that camp was training these prisoners to, well first of all they had to take some classes so they could read Arabic. In about a six-week period they were able to get them to a fourth-grade reading level.

"What they were doing was giving them a basic education and once they could read then they could teach them a skill. So they were teaching them carpentry, plumbing and electrical work. These guys were helping build the prison. They paid them a little bit. Their families didn't want them released because they were making money.

"That's just some of the stuff we do in other countries," Enzi said.

In Afghanistan Wyoming soldiers finished a drip irrigation system started by a Nebraska unit so the people could have productive crops and not grow the poppies.

"We make a lot of difference that we just don't hear about in this country and it's because of an outstanding military that we have," Enzi said.

CURRENT ISSUES

Enzi said his office in D.C. and the offices around the state are there to work on problems from his constituents. He said, "I thought my biggest job was passing legislation. Not true. My biggest job is making sure those people who are having those problems get those problems solved to the best of our ability.

"I've got these experts stationed around the state who can work on those cases and involve my staff in Washington, D.C. and, when necessary, me. I don't really like to shake things up by being the first call. What we're trying to do is correct the system as we go, not just shake a person up."

One of those problems that he continually hears about from veterans is the Veterans Choice Program. He said when veterans in Riverton were having to drive clear to Denver for appointments they were able to get seven VA clinics in Wyoming to help eliminate some of that travelling.

Then came the Choice Program where if a veteran is delayed in getting a procedure done at a VA hospital then the veteran can go to another physician.

But more and more Enzi said he keeps hearing that physicians are not getting paid. He has spoken about the problem with the new VA director. "I am pleased he's working on it but every week we send him a list of people who are having problems with the Choice Program," Enzi said.

He also noted that they just passed the VA Accountability Act that gives the VA director more power.

Before the legislation, which has been signed by President Donald Trump, there was virtually no way anyone could get fired.

He said the act had bipartisan support.

"We don't get that kind of work on everything we do but it's good to know there are some things that can be done that way," Enzi said.

This week, the Senate will be working on the health care bill. "That comes through the budget committee and I'm the chairman of the budget committee. We'll begin debating that next week. I want to assure you that people with pre-existing conditions are going to be taken care of. The kids who are under 26 are still going to have their insurance. There aren't going to be limits on the type of health care they can get. We're not throwing poor people out in the street. We're not taking insurance away from people. One of the big change is allowing people to get back to having health savings accounts."

At same time, Enzi said his budget committee will be working on the 2018 budget bill to have it ready for approval by October.

He said, "I have to trim $7 trillion over a 10-year period to balance the budget. I'm working to do that because if we keep adding to the national debt our kids are never going to be able to afford the interest alone on it. If the interest were to go to the normal 5 percent that would be equal to the amount we get to make decisions on. Defense can't be covered [at that point] and that's the only real requirement in the United States Constitution is to make sure we defend this country and it's a terrible world out there right now. We need to be doing some very important things out there."

He said another issue is tax reform and most people want a simple and fair tax code.

"I think we can do it with bipartisan support," he said. "And then I need to work on debt limit and budget reform."

He concluded, "I want to thank you for the opportunity to be with you. I want to thank you all for your service. Also, for the community work you do and the way you watch out for all veterans, even ones who aren't members.

"God bless you, God bless your families and God bless the United States of America."

SPECIAL GUEST

Prior to Sen. Enzi speaking, Legion Post 26 Commander Jerry Clark introduced one of their members, Jack Levandoski. He was born on the birthday of the Army, June 14, and just turned 91 earlier this month.

Levandoski served in the Battle of the Bulge and competed in the skiing long jumpwith the US Army in the 1946 Olympics.

Levandoski was welcomed with a standing ovation.