September 19, 2022Press Releases

Pennsylvania Veterans Sign Open Letter Criticizing Mastriano for Choosing to Wear a Confederate Uniform on U.S. Army War College Grounds, Say He Is “Too Dangerous” To Be Governor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 19, 2022

Contact:

Pennsylvania Veterans Sign Open Letter Criticizing Mastriano for Choosing to Wear a Confederate Uniform on U.S. Army War College Grounds, Say He Is “Too Dangerous” To Be Governor

Nearly 60 veterans call Mastriano’s decision to wear a Confederate uniform “shameful” and an “an insult to those of us who served and those who continue to serve on behalf of the United States of America.”

PENNSYLVANIA – Nearly 60 United States military veterans from across the Commonwealth are calling out Doug Mastriano for his decision to wear a Confederate uniform, calling it “an insult to those of us who serve.” Just a few weeks ago, in a breaking news story, Reuters reported on a newly uncovered photo that shows Doug Mastriano wearing a Confederate military uniform on the grounds of the U.S. Army War College. In response to Reuters’ reporting, the Army War College took the photo down, saying it “does not meet Army War College values.” Now, Pennsylvania veterans are saying Mastriano is too dangerous to be Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The veterans signing the letter include U.S. Congressman Conor Lamb, State Rep. Jared Solomon, and former Under Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy, who all said Mastriano’s decision to wear the uniform of traitors who fought to defend slavery makes it clear he does not embody the values of the United States Armed Services.

See below for the full text and signers of the letter:

As United States military veterans, we were deeply disturbed by Doug Mastriano’s shameful decision to wear a Confederate Army uniform while on the faculty at the Army War College. He did not wear this uniform for a reenactment. He wore it for a photograph when his fellow faculty were wearing their duty uniforms. His decision to wear that uniform is an insult to those of us who served and those who continue to serve on behalf of the United States of America. He wore the uniform of traitors who fought to defend slavery on official grounds of the Army War College. It is not surprising that the Army War College leadership immediately spoke out to say his decision was inconsistent with the institution’s values. They were right, it doesn’t.

Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians fought against the Confederacy to preserve the union and abolish slavery. Tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians died fighting to end the evils of slavery. As veterans, we served to protect our country and the ideals America was built on, freedom and democracy. The very rights and freedoms Doug Mastriano is hellbent on stripping away. We believe Doug Mastriano does not embody the values of the United States armed services.

Unfortunately, it did not come as a surprise to us. Doug Mastriano has spent his entire campaign alienating people and running on these dangerous ideals. From his extreme agenda of banning abortion with no exceptions, to his plan upend Pennsylvania’s elections and his close association with antisemitic extremists, Mastriano continues to prove he is too dangerous to be Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

As proud U.S. military veterans, it is clear who Doug Mastriano is fighting for and the threat he poses to Pennsylvanians. We lay our lives on the line to defend democracy and Doug Mastriano is actively trying to destroy it. His dangerous ideals have no place in an organization that requires unity of purpose and action and no place in Pennsylvania.

Signator,
Name, Branch

Conor Lamb, U.S.M.C., Member of Congress
Jared Solomon, U.S. Army, Member of PA House
Patrick J. Murphy, U.S. Army, 43rd Under Secretary of the Army
Bob McMahon, U.S. Army, Mayor of Media, PA
Joseph Webster, U.S. Air Force, PA House of Representatives
Joshua Lamancusa, U.S. Navy, District Attorney, Lawrence County
Chris Deluzio, U.S. Navy, Dem Nominee in PA-17
Danny Ceisler, U.S. Army
David Henderson, U.S. Army
Peter Amuso, U.S. Army
Agnes Morrison, U.S. Air Force
Colin Unsworth, U.S. Air Force
Andrew Duffy, U.S. Navy
Kenneth Nagel, U.S. Navy
Amber Viola, U.S. Navy
Sharon Laffey, U.S Navy
Fletcher Boyd, U.S.M.C.
Braxton White, Army National Guard
Barry Andrews, U.S. Navy
Bill Hartnett, U.S. Navy
Marco Attisano, U.S. Navy
Craig Romanovich, U.S. Army
Alexander T. Brown, U.S. Air Force
Bracken Burns, U.S. Army
Phil Glover, U.S. Army
Robert C. Beaty, U.S.M.C.
Jesse Hamilton, U.S. Army
Gene Rakoci, U.S.M.C
Aryanna Wagner, U.S. Army
Lewis Portella, U.S. Navy
Laurel A. Foy, U.S. Navy
Bradly L.Foy, U.S. Navy
Craig Harnett Livingston, U.S. Army
Robert Tubbs, U.S. Army
Mike Felker, U.S. Navy
Robert Concilus, U.S. Army
James A. McCall, U.S. Navy
Richard J. Matason, U.S Army, Army National Guard
Kenneth Aquiline, U.S.M.C
John Patrick Flood, Jr., U.S. Navy
Sidney J. Prejean, U.S. Air Force
Len Marcyanis, U.S.M.C.
Robert M. Kebartas, U.S. Army
Dave Correll, U.S. Army
Daniel Kunze, U.S. Army
Ashley Ehasz, U.S. Army
Rodney Little, U.S. Army
Steve Phillabaum, U.S. Navy
Tyrone D Holmes, U.S. Army
Jack Inacker, U.S. Air Force
Rob Yamuzzi, U.S. Navy
Christopher Pielli, U.S. Army
Christopher Kowerdovich, U.S.M.C
Gerard Pyne, U.S. Air Force
Ryan Smith, U.S. Army
George B. Scott, U.S. Army
Paulette Edens Soergel, U.S. Air Force
Daniel F. Carey, U.S. Navy
Alex Creigo, U.S. Army

###