We military veterans took an oath to defend our Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic — an oath without an expiration date. We meant it when we took the oath and we still mean it today.

Maybe that is why hundreds of veterans of all military branches and all ages traveled from far and wide to Washington, D.C., and marched this past Presidents Day in support of Ron Paul and to honor our fallen Veterans.

Veterans traveled from as far as Alaska, and many more were with us in spirit overseas watching on live stream. It is believed that the oldest marching with us were World War II veterans.

The oldest Vets I personally met that day were Korean War veterans.

Our formation also included Vietnam veterans, Gulf War and more recent Iraq and Afghanistan veterans along with Active Duty Military. Some were marching with canes and others still young and fit.

All races, military branches, and ages marched together in one massive formation totaling eight ranks and sixty-three files equaling approximately 504 verified Veterans.

Verification of their service was checked in formation to maintain the integrity of the group.  A deuce and a half (2 ½ ton military style truck) was provided for disabled Veterans to participate.

We marched from the Washington Monument to the White House in one unified massive formation with thousands more supporters attending.

DC police blocked off the streets so the massive formation could march through.

The cadences were deafening as the monumental formation shouted in unison “President Paul” and “End the Fed” to keep in step.

Coming to a halt in front of the White House, in a symbolic gesture doing an about face, we turned our backs on the White House.A salute was rendered to a folded flag representing one second for each Active Duty suicide since Obama took office.

I saw the men in front of me saluting, hands trembling, as I struggled to maintain my own salute for the duration.The salute lasted approximately 8 minutes.

Adam Kokesh, one of the organizers and Iraq War veteran, gave the command “Order Arms” and  “Parade Rest”, then “Let us Pray”.  

Then, at the position of parade rest with our heads bowed, we had a moment of silent prayer; one second representing every Active Duty Military member who has died in the line of duty since our present Commander in Chief took office.  

This moment of silence lasted approximately 20 minutes.  Aside from the march, the entire day was filled with speeches and music, with thousands of spectators sharing in the general camaraderie.

Just what is it that my fellow veterans are so unified and passionate about? They know some things the average citizen is fortunate enough to be oblivious to.

They, more than anyone else, know that all of these unconstitutional and undeclared wars in the name of national security do nothing to make us safer and that we are in fact in more danger because of them.

Our meddling, nation building, and policing of the world do nothing more than incite hatred while bankrupting our country.

They know that in the fictitious name of spreading freedom, we are losing our own at home.

They more than anyone else are fully aware of the fact that if our leaders are truly concerned about our national security they will secure our perimeter here at home and send us to protect our own borders not the borders of Iraq or Afghanistan.

These same Veterans are still willing to die for their sovereign country today. We are willing to die to defend our Constitution, our freedom, and all of the things that have made this country great.

We are not, however, willing to kill and incite hatred through American Imperialism.

The general feeling among veterans is “Save your dumb culture war until after we’ve figured out how to make the government obey the Constitution,” and that we should “Lead by example”, and “Friends with all nations, entangling alliances with none”.

Some may think that the veteran support of Ron Paul is a small group.  The fact is that while companies who have received bailouts tend to be the biggest financial supporters of the other presidential candidates, it is the Active Duty Military who are Ron Paul’s biggest financial contributors.

To bring that point home, I share this fact; Ron Paul’s campaign has received more contributions from Active Duty Military than all other candidates combined including President Obama.

The truth is that the troops know that Ron Paul’s foreign policy is the safest and the only sane foreign policy for that matter.

Maybe that is because he is the only Veteran running.

He is the only candidate who we know honors the same oath to the Constitution that we took whereas the other candidates seem to have not even read the Constitution at all.

Doctor Paul is a man of integrity who can not be bought,  who has walked the walk with consistency for a life time.

With him as our Commander in Chief, we will not be sent into harms way unless it is a constitutionally declared war, or imminent threat to our National Security.

With him in charge, we know that war will have a clear mission, decisive victory, and return home, which has not been the case with our recent unconstitutional, and undeclared wars.

If you really support the troops, you will listen to them and support the one candidate who they overwhelmingly support, Ron Paul for President 2012.

Research the man for yourself. Listen to the debates, watch YouTube videos of him over the past 30 years to see for yourself why the troops support him and I’m sure you will too.

Wendy Vaught is a registered nurse and U.S. Army veteran living in Roanoke Rapids.