Million Veteran March on Sunday to Show Support for Military

Indignance over the treatment of the nation's military and veterans has spurred a Million Veteran March, to be held nationwide on Sunday.

"We're outraged," retired Army Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin told Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends" on Friday. "It's not just the veterans. It's not just the active duty. I think Americans all over the country are outraged,"

Boykin was Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence under President George W. Bush. He said events of the past week, when the World War II Monument in Washington was barricaded and $100,000 death benefits to the families of fallen soldiers were delayed, were "clearly an effort by the administration to show not only a lack of support for veterans, but absolute contempt for veterans."

Supporters of the military are angry about administration's treatment and want to send a message to the administration of President Barack Obama about the treatment of veterans, Boykin said.

"We're fed up with this. We should not be part of this game that's being played by the administration and the Congress," he said. "Veterans have earned the right to be shown respect and dignity," he said.

Those who participate in the event are "standing for men and women on active duty that can't stand for themselves," Boykin said. Supporters can participate at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., or at any memorial across the country.

"We're going to assemble at the World War II Memorial at 9 o'clock on Sunday morning. We should have some members of Congress there to speak. And, there will also be a rally at the Iwo Jima Memorial," Boykin said.

He said prepared for possible arrest by park rangers because the government shutdown has closed federal parks and memorials across the nation.

"We're not out there to cause trouble. We're out there to send a message. If they start arresting people, then, that's just going to happen," Boykin said.

"It's not our intent to be involved in civil disobedience. But, we feel that we've got to stand up a make a statement, and that the nation's capital has to hear this statement that we're making," he added.

Boykin, who also is executive vice president of the Family Research Council, emphasized the importance of respecting the service that the military provides Americans.

"Jack Kennedy said, 'You'll know the character of a nation by the way it treats its veterans.' This is a low time in the character of a nation," Boykin said.

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