Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino insults Veterans

Mt. Pleasant's own Rob Astorino has insulted the memory of the 6,000+ brave Americans who were either captured, wounded or killed on D-Day, June 6, 1944.  In an unexplainable act, Astorino has inappropriately used the 70th Anniversary of D-Day as the theme for a fundraising effort for his gubernatorial campaign.  He is using the images of the sacrifice and suffering of America's heroes from the Greatest Generation in a selfish attempt to raise funds for his campaign. 

The Astorino Campaign has sent out an e-mail from the "Rob4NY.com" website, using photos of the D-Day landing and an image of a soldier charging into battle, in an effort to solicit funds for his campaign; using the memory of the blood they shed, the sacrifice they made, and the suffering of their families to fatten his campaign coffers, through what he now calls his "D-Day Money Bomb".   As a veteran, and the son of a veteran who was there on D-Day, I am appalled that Astorino would stoop so low and do such a thing.  Considering that Rob never wore the uniform of his country, and never fought to defend America's freedoms, I don't feel that he has a right to use the heroics of others to bolster his finances.  His website actually had the audacity to show a picture of Rob superimposed into the D-Day battle photo.  How dare he!!  He has nothing in common with those brave, honorable men who put their lives on the line on that historic day.

On that point, one might question why a young Rob, did not step up and join our military during its time of need - the period of the Gulf War/Desert Storm/Desert Shield (1990-1991).  Oh, that's right, Rob was too busy starting his political career then, as a member of the Mt. Pleasant School Board (1988) and then the Mt. Pleasant Town Board (1991) - it's much easier, and safer, to let others shed their blood while you remain behind in the security that the brave provide; and, then use their sacrifice to raise money for yourself at a later date.  Obviously, at that time in Rob's life, his political career took precedence over serving his Country.  Too bad, because maybe if Rob had joined the military back then, he could have named his "Money Bomb" the Gulf War/Desert Storm/Desert Shield "Money Bomb", and he would have earned that right.  However, Rob never earned the right be associated with D-Day - he spilled no blood and made no sacrifice there.        

I find it interesting that Rob Astorino should now use D-Day as the inspiration for donating to his fundraising effort.  During his time in office, has Astorino ever held a D-Day Ceremony in the County?  Has Astorino ever honored the veterans from Westchester County who took part in the D-Day assault?  Has Astorino scheduled a 70th Anniversary Ceremony to commemorate D-Day this year?  I believe that the answer to all of those questions is a resounding NO!! To my knowledge, this is the first time that Astorino has ever made mention of D-Day during his time in office; and he has used it merely as a prop for personal profit. 

Astorino has proven to be another typical politician - willing to do anything for money.  In his quest to raise campaign funds through his "D-Day Money Bomb", he has shown no respect for the dead American heroes who gave their lives on the D-Day beaches, nor the families that they left behind.  Rob Astorino's actions are despicable and I believe that Rob Astorino owes the veterans of D-Day a public apology for his insensitive, inappropriate and highly insulting conduct in authorizing this fundraising scheme.  Further, I would recommend to Rob, that if any funds are raised through this "D-Day Money Bomb", that they be turned over to the local VA Hospital for the benefit of veterans who actually served on D-Day, rather than being added to his political war chest.  Once again, we see a politician trying to benefit off the backs or our veterans.  How shameful!!