Mitt Romney joined fellow Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona to honor the country’s veterans in San Diego Monday. More than 2,000 San Diegans poured into Balboa Park for the Memorial Day ceremony at the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center.
Before the ceremony started Bruce Parks, a Vietnam veteran said he hoped to hear some specific messages about America’s military.
“I don’t want to see it slashed as a way to save money when there’s other ways to do it," he said. "They’re putting people out of work at a time when they shouldn’t be out of work because they served their country and we don’t want them anymore ... not because they’re bad, but because we need to cut money."
Romney focused his remarks on the heroism of the country’s military personnel and veterans. But he didn’t disappoint Parks either. He cautioned against budget cuts looming for the Pentagon next year. He said the country has two choices – one would be to cut back military spending to fund social programs.
“Were we to follow that kind of course there’d be no one that could stand to protect us," he said. "The other is to commit to preserve America as the strongest military in the world, second to none, with no comparable power anywhere in the world.”
McCain opened his comments to the audience by saying that he believes Romeny "is fully qualified to be commander in chief."
City Councilman and mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio and 53rd Congressional district candidate Nick Popaditch also spoke at the ceremony, which focused on the service of Vietnam veterans.
