85-year-old veteran casts first vote

FLORENCE, Ala. — David Gregg doesn’t hesitate to name the most patriotic man he knows — his father, Clyde Gregg.

Clyde Gregg, now 85, served in the military as a combat engineer stationed in Germany during the Korean War and for 42 years as a minister and missionary.

Of all the firsts he has experienced, voting in the Aug. 15 U.S. Senate race was one of the most memorable, Clyde Gregg said.

Tuesday’s primary marked his first time to ever vote.

“I know it’s sort of shocking when people hear I’ve never voted, mainly because I’m so patriotic,” he said. “I never liked politics to start with, but I love my country and I don’t like what it’s becoming.”

David said he was thrilled when his parents told him they were going with him to the polls.

Though he had strong feelings politically in the past, Clyde said he doesn’t recall a time more volatile than the present, which he described as being “absolutely out of control.”

National events such as the tearing down of historical statues and violent protests occurring on a regular basis have led Clyde to believe one thing: the country’s Constitution is in grave danger of being destroyed.

That fear drove him to the polls on Tuesday.

“I served this country under that Constitution and I just decided that there are too many people in Washington trying to destroy it and I’m not going to stand for it,” he said.

In response, he and his wife, Nancy, went to the polls. It was the second time Nancy had voted.

“I remember voting when I was about 19 when I went with my mother but I haven’t since then,” she said. “I was like anyone else. I didn’t like things that were going on in our country but I just didn’t voice my dissatisfaction in that way, with my vote.”

The couple moved to Florence from Indiana last year to be closer to their son and his family.

Clyde and Nancy said they won’t let the opportunity to vote slip away again.

“I’m going to vote in every election I can from now on for as long as I have,” Clyde said.

Nancy agreed. “It felt good, like a privilege I have because I’m an American and I’m alive.”

She said she studied her choice of candidates before she voted, and will continue to educate herself for future elections. She will also encourage the younger generation to get out and vote, she said.

Clyde said he knows people question how he could go all his life without voting and has heard all the cliches about non-voters.

“They say if you don’t vote, you can’t complain,” he said. “Well, I say, I pay taxes and I’ve served this country that I love, and I have a right to voice my opinion. But now, I’ll just be voting, too.”