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BEN JONES
Alternican Times Political Reporter

All four candidates for President met at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday afternoon in observance of Memorial Day, the national commemoration of the sacrifices of Alternica’s fallen soldiers. Karkat Vantas, Terezi Pyrope, Bro Sweet and Tavros Nitram agreed to set aside politics for the day to pay tribute to the Armed Forces on the first Memorial Day since it was announced last December that the number of soldiers that have died in the last 8 years exceeds the number of soldiers that died in the nation’s first 150 years.

Governor Vantas and Representative Nitram first had the idea, but it was Nitram who officially lead the event. During the event, Nitram revealed that he had once served in the New Mexico Air National Guard, and that it was in a plane crash where he lost the use of his legs. Nitram had long kept the cause of his paraplegia a secret.

“Eight years ago, my former unit was called into national service and sent to Iran,” said Nitram to the assembled crowd of veterans, families of fallen soldiers, and several officials from the Department of Defense, including the Joint Chiefs. Secretary Eridan Ampora of the Department of Homeland Security was also in attendance. “Half of them never returned, and not a day goes by that I don’t think of what they did for us.”

“We have a great privilege and high honor of being able to choose our leaders here in Alternica, and everyone should take time out of their lives to pause and pay tribute to those who fought and died so we could have and keep it that way,” said Governor Vantas.

No candidate made reference to President Mindfang or directly mentioned the increased Alternican military activity during her tenure. Speeches by each candidate were all roughly five minutes and mostly personal statements about the importance of the military. Bro Sweet, a Civil War re-enactor, recited the Gettysburg Address.

Vice Presidential candidate Rose Lalonde sang the National Anthem, accompanied by musicians from the President’s Own Marine Corps Band. After the speeches, candidates laid flowers at the Tombs of the Human and Troll Unknown Soldiers. The candidates did not spend much time conversing amongst each other, though all appeared cordial.