With permission from Louisiana Democrats, we are republishing the following release, originally posted here:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                     CONTACT: Allyson Sanders

September 20, 2018                                                            [email protected]

                                                                                                       (318) 464-2028

Louisiana Democrats Respond to Senator Kennedy’s Disrespect of Our Veterans

BATON ROUGE, LA – On Thursday, Lamar White Jr. of the Bayou Brief released this tweet detailing an event occurring on September 7th at the National Airport in Washington, D.C. An Honor Flight of veterans arriving at National Airport left their plane to a standing ovation of passengers heading to New Orleans, welcoming them home and thanking them for their service to our country. The only member of the crowd who failed to stand was Louisiana’s Junior Senator John Neely Kennedy.

“The video that emerged today showing Senator Kennedy disrespecting war veterans is shameful,” said Stephen Handwerk, Executive Director of the Louisiana Democratic Party. “Senator Kennedy has said in the past that it’s ‘imperative’ that we as Americans honor our veterans ‘every day.’ He needs to explain to the people of Louisiana—and in particular its 300,000 veterans—why he refused to stand up and honor the brave service-members exiting the Honor Flight. Every person at that airport gate stood up and paid those veterans their due respect except our United States Senator.”

Background on the Honor Flight Program:

Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America’s veterans for all their sacrifices. We transport our heroes to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at their memorials. Top priority is given to the senior veterans – World War II survivors, along with those other veterans who may be terminally ill.

Of all of the wars in recent memory, it was World War II that truly threatened our very existence as a nation—and as a culturally diverse, free society. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, an estimated 640 WWII veterans die each day. Our time to express our thanks to these brave men and women is running out.

Via Honor Flight