Mark Boughton

Happy Thanksgiving! These are difficult and challenging times, but, together, we will see our community to better days.

I am thankful for your vote of confidence this month.

I am also thankful to the men and women of our military who are overseas defending the cause of liberty.

God bless you and God bless America!

The recent decision by the Obama administration to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other accused masterminds of the 9-11 attacks  in New York City is a mistake and should be reevaluated by the Justice Department.

Mohammed, or “KSM”, as the press refers to him, is by his own admission, one of the masterminds of the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the hijackings that occurred on 9-11.

Mohammed freely admits that he played a major role in planning and coordinating the 9-11 attacks. There is no question of guilt to be determined at this trial.

So why have a trial? Because there are two views of the people who committed the 9-11 attacks. The Bush administration believed that the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were an act of war and that people involved in the attacks were enemy combatants, and therefore should be treated as such. The Obama administration has vowed to treat the perpetrators and their actions as criminal in nature and therefore the accused should be given all of the rights and privileges to someone accused of a crime specified in our system of law.

Having a trial in New York will not accomplish anything except tear wounds that we have tried to heal since 9-11. Families and communities that have tried to move on since the loss of their loved ones- husbands, wives,  sons and daughters, will be reminded of that tragic day.

The unrepentant perpetrators of the attacks will be given the opportunity to shout anti-American slogans day after day in court (several have requested to serve as their own lawyer) and be placed on a world stage to spout their extremist views-encouraging more violence and terrorists acts in the United States.

Criminal trials can sometimes take years.  Enterprising defense lawyers seeking to delay punishment will tie up the court with motions, filings, subpoenas, and all types of stalling tactics.

Think of the message a criminal trial sends: commit a terrorist act and get a show trial in New York City, the media center of the world, where you can shout from the roof tops your hatred of the United States and spread your propaganda.

Here in Danbury, and in the New York metropolitan area, we are particularly sensitive to the impact of 9-11. Some of our neighbors perished that day, and many of us know some one who has been touched by the tragedy of the attacks.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his colleagues deserve one fate-to stand in front of a military tribunal, and since they freely admit to their role in the attacks,  accept the punishment that is due them.

No show trial, no motions and appeals, no tv cameras and no court circus.

Swift and speedy military justice.

After all, that is what this country owes the 3000 plus victims of 9-11.

Ladies and gentlemen, veterans of all ages,  as Mayor of the City of Danbury it is once again my privilege and honor to attend our annual Veterans Day service.

President Woodrow Wilson initially designated today, November 11, as a day to remember and honor the veterans of World War I. Later this date was set aside to honor all veterans, past and present as a day of remembrance and a day to say thanks to those who served our country.

That is why we meet here today, at this time, the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of November.

The United States has been described as a “grand experiment”.  That is true. Our founding fathers shaped our government by intense and often heated discussions, the world was not quite sure of what to make of our nation.

The people who came together in Philadelphia in 1776, argued and debated how this new country should be shaped. In doing so, they set forth new ideals, new beliefs, and new values.

These were new ideas about freedom, liberty, and justice that were hatched with the birth of our new nation. They were cutting edge for their time and they were extraordinary in their scope.

Over a period of time, through self examination and the evolution of thought, new ideals about equality and the rights of men and women were added to become part of our value system.

Why do I mention this? Because the United States of America is the first country to base its foundation on ideals instead of a common ethnicity.

And for centuries, people of this great nation from all walks of life, from all races and religions, have been willing to fight for those ideals united in purpose. They fought for our way of life- instead of conquest, ethnic cleansing, or economic gain.

People of our community have left our great city and have fought for, and died for a belief system, a set of values, that are uniquely American.

That is why we assemble here today. To say thank you to the veterans of our city whose service dates from the Revolutionary war to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We are here today to remember those who served and those who helped to protect our unique American value system.

This is what makes our country such a special place.

This is what makes Veterans Day such an important day.

This is also why organizations like the Danbury Veterans Council are so important. They are the keepers of the torch of our democracy. They protect the ideals that our country has been built on.

That is why the civic education of our young people is also so important. The youth of America must understand our ideals and understand that our common value system are the ties that bind the people of this country together.

America means something different to each of us.

For hundreds of years scholars have tried to define what it means to be an American. People like Alexis de Tocqueville to Peter Jennings have traveled all over this great land to try and understand who we are.

While it has been interesting to read, many scholars and pundits have been unable to describe the feeling and the essence of being an American.

However, there is one group of people who know what our country is about and there is one group of people who were willing to fight and die for America- our veterans.

Our veterans don’t need a textbook to understand the ideas of liberty, freedom, equality, justice and democracy- these ideals are part of their spirit.

We come here to honor all of those veterans who were willing to serve and defend the ideals and values of America.

We honor a majestic and noble commitment that our veterans have made to the fundamental value system of our country.

On this Veterans Day, let us reflect on the ideals that Danbury’s veterans fought for.

Let us remember and appreciate the sacrifices of our sons and daughters.

Let us encourage our faith in one another to support those who are far, far away defending the cause of liberty.

Let us understand that our unique American values will see our city and our country through good times and through difficult times.

Indeed, let us tap into the power of our faith in the American system to make our community a better place.

Each Danbury veteran did their solemn duty and it was their belief in the ideals of freedom, and in our way of life that gave them courage to defend our liberty.

As Mayor of the City of Danbury I salute you.  I am humbled, honored and thankful for your service to America, for your belief in our city, for your faith in family, and for your faith in the ideals of the foundation of the greatest country on earth-the United States of America.

To Danbury’s veterans, may God’s grace continue to shine upon your lives. On behalf of the City of Danbury, I thank you for your courage, your passion, and your belief in our nation.

God Bless America, and God Bless the great City of Danbury.

Thank You-