Democracy and Justice Fellow Ron Pierce writes with Ronald L. Rice

Life-long New Jersey resident Daryle Pitts served in Vietnam as a combat marine and participated in 25 long range reconnaissance missions and 19 major operations, including the Tet counter-offensive. He was decorated for valor and gallantry and was honored with the Purple Heart for a gunshot wound received during combat. He is now 70 years old and has PTSD and Parkinson’s disease from exposure to Agent Orange.

It is Daryle Pitts and other veterans whom we acknowledge today for their service to our nation – and for putting their lives on the line to protect our democracy.