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I was in the room when Chuck Schumer told the Gold Star family of a fallen Green Beret that their son was “a great Marine.”
After the meeting, they told me that Chuck was the only elected official who did NOT send that family a letter of condolence.
#caring https://twitter.com/ChadPergram/status/1198784535376388096
After the meeting, they told me that Chuck was the only elected official who did NOT send that family a letter of condolence.
#caring https://twitter.com/ChadPergram/status/1198784535376388096
What made it worse?
It was the first meeting of the day on Chuck’s schedule. He was late. Made the family wait. And then...
When he walked in, after brief pleasantries, he sat in front of them, pulled out their son’s bio and started reading it while they sat there.
It was the first meeting of the day on Chuck’s schedule. He was late. Made the family wait. And then...
When he walked in, after brief pleasantries, he sat in front of them, pulled out their son’s bio and started reading it while they sat there.
It was clear Chuck hadn’t prepared to meet with these Gold Star parents who had lost a son in combat serving our country.
They were NOT random visitors who bumped into him. This was a planned meeting. They were (and STILL are) his constituents.
They were NOT random visitors who bumped into him. This was a planned meeting. They were (and STILL are) his constituents.
They were so unbelievably patient with Chuck — they didn’t correct him — and sat politely through the meeting. It was a profile in grace and humility.
It wasn’t until we left that they told me Chuck was the only elected official who had NOT sent them a condolence letter
It wasn’t until we left that they told me Chuck was the only elected official who had NOT sent them a condolence letter
I felt awful and apologized for setting the meeting up. At the time, I was a Military Congressional Fellow serving a year in a Senate office.
You see, when their son’s former Team Leader told me they would be in town, I offered to set up a meeting.
You see, when their son’s former Team Leader told me they would be in town, I offered to set up a meeting.
Afterward, I gave them a personalized tour of the US Capitol... taking them places you can’t go on the public tour.
We hit it off and became friends. Now, over a decade later, we’re still in touch. In fact, they made the pilgrimage from NY to DC to attend my retirement!
We hit it off and became friends. Now, over a decade later, we’re still in touch. In fact, they made the pilgrimage from NY to DC to attend my retirement!
