Our Veterans Are Buried in Bourne, Not Burn [OPINION]

In a crass attempt to link her opponent to a "hate group," Senator Warren betrayed her herself. She doesn't know Bourne, Massachusetts, and she doesn't know our veterans.

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren is running for re-election against State Representative Geoff Diehl. She faced off against her Republican challenger the other night in a debate. During the debate, she decided to attack Rep. Diehl as a person who associates and promotes a "hate group."

She launched her attack from a sheet of prepared remarks. The attack was planned in advance, likely by someone other than the incumbent. The senior senator from Massachusetts was waiting for her opportunity to launch her attack, and label her underdog challenger a villain who deserves nothing but scorn because he is outside of mainstream politics and is a candidate of "hate" groups.

Rep. Diehl attended a rally to support the men and women who serve and protect our society as police officers. The rally was in Bourne, Massachusetts, and was held to show support for police officers in the wake of the murder of Yarmouth police officer Sean Gannon. The rally was called "Back the Blue." A police officer was dead, and the local folks held a rally to show support for the dead and the living.

Sen. Warren, reading from a sheet of paper, claimed the rally was organized by an anti-Muslim hate group. She never mentioned the slain officer, Sean Gannon. She didn't mention that it was a rally by local people who love and respect their local police officers. She just read what was put in front of her by the person who put it in front of her, and she did it on television. She falsely labeled some of the people she represents as members of a "hate group" to score a cheap point on her current political opponent.

But she also revealed a tremendous lack of knowledge about the people who elected her six years ago to the Senate.

She called the town of Bourne "Burn" when she attacked the people who rallied in favor of the local police.

How does she not know how to pronounce the town of Bourne?

Bourne is known for many things, including a bridge and a rotary. Anyone who listens to the traffic reports on radio and television in Massachusetts knows how to pronounce Bourne.

We also bury our veterans in Bourne.

Elizabeth Warren is our senator, and she is a member of the Armed Services Committee. How does she not know the name of the town she represents that holds the remains of the men and women who gave all in the defense of the nation she represents?

Most of us have been to the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne for a funeral. I was there when we buried Tyler Trahan. I knew him when he was a child. I watched with tears in my eyes as his parents and his sister Molly buried him as a man and as a hero.

He died in the service of his country on April 30 while conducting combat operations in Fallujah, Iraq. He was assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit Twelve in Norfolk, Va., and was deployed with an East Coast-based Navy SEAL team. He earned the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" (Valor) Distinguishing Device, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

He is buried in Bourne--not in "Burn"--and his senator should know the name of that community. Every U.S. Senator should know where we bury the men and women from their state who have answered the call of duty.

Sergeant First Class Jared C. Monti is also buried in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama on September 17, 2009. He died as a hero on June 21, 1996, in northeast Afganistan.

According to the U.S. Army, "his awards and decorations (prior to earning the Medal of Honor) include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Good Conduct Medal 3rd Award, National Defense Service Medal (2), Korean Defense Service Medal (2), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2), Kosovo Campaign Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral two, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral three, NATO Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge and the Air Assault Badge."

Every member of the Congressional delegation should know how to pronounce the name of the community that holds the bodies of our veterans. Not recognizing the town of Bourne is an indication of how much time an elected official spends thinking about the heroes who are buried there.

Sen. Edward Kennedy wouldn't have made this mistake, and that should hit home with all of the people who have family and friends eternally resting in Bourne.

Chris McCarthy is the host of The Chris McCarthy Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Contact him at chris.mccarthy@townsquaremedia.com and follow him on Twitter @Chris_topher_Mc. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.