August 16, 2011
The Honorable Blake Farenthold
[US Congressional Representative, Texas, Republican]
Dear Congressman Farenthold:
This letter is in support of a request for a House Resolution to acknowledge the actions of Mr. Larry Toenjes, who is sailing a 39-foot sailboat from Galveston, Texas, to international waters north of the Sinai Peninsula to commemorate the 44th anniversary of the unprovoked attack on the USS Liberty on June 8, 1967.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States salutes his actions and the efforts of the USS Liberty Veterans Association to keep this issue alive, despite continued actions by the U.S. Government to forget that 34 died and 171 were wounded in a naval incident never investigated by Congress.
We understand from Liberty survivor and Association President Joseph L. Meadors that the U.S. Embassy to Israel has already rejected an invitation to rendezvous with Mr. Toenjes for the onsite ceremony, citing the lack of seagoing vessels. We hope this request to recognize one American who is sailing 7,000 miles to commemorate those who fell will receive a more favorable response.
Forty-four years is far too long a period to remain silent about an ugly chapter in American history that others refuse to forget.
Respectfully,
ROBERT E. WALLACE
Executive Director
More information on the USS Liberty
Order posters/booklets/buttons on the Liberty
Posts
