Opinion: Why this 9/11-era war veteran is putting up billboards about democracy around Wisconsin

Veterans in Wisconsin make up 7% of the state’s population and seek a commander-in-chief with sound judgment and genuine ethical principles.

As a 9/11-era war veteran who faced real challenges in Iraq and Afghanistan, I never imagined that just a few years later I’d find myself driving through the rolling hills of Wisconsin, raising money for billboards to defend democracy.

Yet here we are in 2024, facing what many believe is the most consequential election of our lifetimes. As America approaches this pivotal moment, I’ve reflected on my evolving beliefs as a veteran and how we arrived here.

When I left the Army, I emerged with a renewed commitment to independence over partisanship—refusing to be a party hack or pawn in the partisan game. While I’d always considered myself conservative, my time on the front lines overseas strengthened my faith in our democracy, our institutions, and the rule of law that holds our society together while simultaneously allowing us to feel free. In this way, real democracy is a rare and almost magical thing. But it always depends on its citizens to preserve it.

We in Wisconsin are a microcosm of all this, with our rich blend of diverse cultures and opinions—our bratwurst, Kringle, cheese, and beer. Over the next few weeks, we will vote for America’s 47th president across Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, La Crosse, Racine, and every place in between.

While democracy flourishes in such spaces, it only does so when we honor the rules and respect each other. It’s not about dividing and conquering; it’s about celebrating our differences and working together. That’s why I’ve been raising small donations, many from fellow veterans, to fund billboards defending democracy.

Multiple factors have contributed to the discord many Wisconsinites feel, but much of the blame goes to the Republican Party, particularly its Make America Great Again movement. Once a respected piece of America’s political puzzle, the GOP under MAGA has morphed into something unrecognizable thanks to its leader, the angry, vengeful, narcissist, former President Donald Trump.

As a veteran, I find Trump’s behavior especially appalling. His offenses range from orchestrating the January 6 attack on the US Capitol to overturn the 2020 election, to avoiding military service during Vietnam with fraudulent “bone spur” deferments. He’s insulted war heroes like the late Senator John McCain and mocked Gold Star families who’ve lost loved ones in service. Trump doesn’t just fail to understand sacrifice—he can’t. He’s never sacrificed for anything greater than himself.

In this photo supplied by the group, Veterans for Responsible Leadership is purchasing billboards making the case for veterans to not support former President Donald Trump.

When Trump recently compared the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Medal of Honor, it wasn’t just ignorant—it showed a fundamental misunderstanding of heroism.

Most recently, there was his Arlington National Cemetery incident. Over 400,000 Americans rest there, heroes who gave everything for this country. In August, Trump turned it into a campaign photo op, smiling like a cheap salesman promoting real estate. It was another glaring reminder of how little he understands service and sacrifice, let alone that this was a violation of federal law.

Veterans in Wisconsin, who make up 7% of the state’s population, are a powerful force at the polls. We seek a commander-in-chief with sound judgment and genuine ethical principles. Trump has neither, and his support is fading among us. Go check the latest polls. We all know that he’s never been a warrior—just a performer.

Here we stand, banding together. In my case, that means putting up billboards in rural areas and helping explain to folks why Trump is unfit to lead. I know that veterans, their families, friends, and neighbors are doing all we can to defend our democracy.

Because this November, it’s not just an election—it’s a referendum on who we want to be as a nation. And I, for one, refuse to sit this one out.