I've been out of pocket somewhat the past few months with work and a new granddaughter.

During the past few months I like everyone else has been inundated with television/radio/print ads seeking my vote or at least I thought that was what political ads were supposed to do.

Instead the ads I saw for the most part were disparaging the other candidate or those that supported a certain issue or issues.

My father served in the United States Navy at the age of 16 1/2 during WWII. He was in the Pacific Theatre on a submarine.

If he were alive today the first thing he would say on our morning call would be - Son did you vote? He never asked me who I voted for or why I voted on a particular issue, all he asked was - Son did you vote?

The experts (whoever they are) seemed to settle on one conclusion as a body of political scientists - our nation will be divided these next four years in spite of one candidate or the other being elected.

I choose to differ, my good neighbors in O'Fallon, my good neighbors in Saint Charles County, my good neighbors throughout Missouri and my good neighbors throughout these United States of America are going to unite and move this nation forward.

That's what we do! That's who we are! We are the few, the brave, the patriotic! We are the defenders of freedom!

Yes Dad I voted, my wife voted, my sons voted, my daughters-in-law voted! We voted because you and hundreds of thousands of brave men and women gave us the right to vote and the obligation to vote because of your service to our country! God Bless America! God Bless O'Fallon! God Bless ALL voters! Let Freedom Ring!