Red Words

Gary Cherms, a Loma Linda resident who was recently exposed for pretending to be a veteran after he made a name for himself as an advocate for prisoners of war, has submitted to this news outlet an apology for his conduct.

He has also pledged that he will not fade away in last month's revelation about his history. He said he still wants to campaign on behalf of the memory of POWs.

"I'm not going to sway from keeping my promise," Cherms said in an interview Thursday. "I made poor judgment and a poor choice. I live with that choice and I still have a job to do."

Cherms' name appeared in The Sun's pages a few times last summer and autumn as an voice for American POWs. He flew the black-and-white POW/MIA ensign from the back of his motorcycle and lobbied local governments to fly the famous flag at public buildings.

And he was successful. He convinced the Redlands and Yucaipa City Councils to fly the POW/MIA flag at city buildings. In September, during a Redlands ceremony that commemorated National POW/MIA Recognition Day, Cherms announced that he would walk to Sacramento to collect signatures for a petition calling for the POW/MIA flag to be flown above state government missions.

He said he was a man on a mission to ensure that American history and the sacrifices of the nation's soldiers would not be forgotten.

But there was a big problem. Cherms claimed to have served in the U.S. Marine Corps when he had never spent time in the military.

Cherms' deception collapsed in January. His brother, Don, contacted American Legion Post 106 (Cherms was a member under false pretenses) and the Redlands Daily Facts, The Sun's sister publication. Don said his brother never wore his country's uniform and Gary confessed to The Facts.

Cherms did not contact this writer until earlier this week when he sent me a letter of apology. In an interview, he said that he thought his lie would help bring attention to his cause.

"I saw that as an avenue of going through some doors that wouldn't have been open to me," he said. "By no means was it self-benefitting."

He also said he's still collecting signatures for his petition. He needs about 300,000.

Cherms letter of apology is posted here:

An open letter to Veterans, from a non veteran…

Have you ever lied about something you really wanted? Not the six year old child lying about hiding his peas so he could have ice cream or a sixteen year old boy lying about having his home work done so he could go out with his girl. It is a fifty eight year old that wanted to serve those who served their country.

October 1969, a high school friend was brought home wounded and later died, from Vietnam, where was I? When again in February 1970, when yet another friend came home to a grieving family, where was I? Last but far from least, when a childhood friend, a true to life blood brother, was brought home and I wasn't there for him or my second family, where was I? I can tell you this, I wasn't there in Vietnam fighting or protecting them. I was in Arizona where I was living with a girlfriend who I ran away with to protect her from a molesting father. That relationship did not work out and now everyday since, I have had to live with the thought that maybe, just maybe, if I would have gone with them, one would be alive today.

Years later, when my oldest son went off to war in Iraq, this brought all the pain and memories back of my fallen friends. My fears for my son's safety and knowing I could not be there to help protect him brought back my failures of not being there for friends. CNN and I became very close partners. I would wake up every hour on the hour to see if there was any news about my son's outfit. If I wasn't watching CNN I was listening to radio. It became an obsession for me and a concern for my family. One early morning in I believe it was in October of 2003, I finally realized that I had no control of my son's future, a future he choose, and that all my prayers were only that, prayers. I got out of my warm comfortable chair and got on my knees to lay my son's life in God's hands. I did in fact make a pact with God that if my son, Michael, was spared and came home, I would spend the rest of my life working to bring another son home to his family.

This brings me to my passion, fighting for the "Lost and Forgotten" sons and daughters of all wars. I picked up the banner of the POW/MIA and started learning, teaching and spreading the word of the 93,000 men and women in uniform that never made it home and the lack of support our local, state and federal government to find these heroes. I started off by talking to the youth; the ones who really need to know and keep the memories alive. Then came the city governments. Fighting to get them to do their part by paying back a debt this nation owes and will never be paid back in full by flying the symbol of these forgotten.

Next came a task that as of to date is my biggest fight, getting our elected officials to acknowledge our POW/MIAs and show their support by flying the POW/MIA flag everyday, seven days a week. There has been some success with this task, Redlands, Loma Linda, Highland, San Bernardino, Yucaipa have joined my fight to educate our youth.

Now to what this letter is really about. Why I became involved with the American Legion and mislead a group of true veterans and friends? When I was approached to join, I did not tell the truth, I saw an avenue that would help me keep my promise by giving me not only support, knowledge but a key to doors that may not have been opened in the past. Over time, I not only became a member but a family member of the American Legion.

This is my deepest disgrace because I look back at what I have lost, the friendship of a group of true POWs, ones I have dedicate my life to support, especially one true American hero, George Peterson. Hindsight is easy and looking back I see all the people I have hurt, Bill Harden, who took me under his wing and all the other family members of the Redland's American Legion. All I can say is I am sorry.

I have been asked by some, am I sorry and why? I look back at what has been done, both good and bad. The hurt feelings of a group of people that became like family that is tough and is hard to live with, but I look at what was accomplished, like helping a young widow that was turned down for an honor guard service for her fallen husband by Riverside National Cemetery because she forgot to check a box on a form, and the funeral was a day away and being able to get it done for her. Was it worth helping the Marines taking Christmas to needy families dressed as Santa and seeing the joy and happiness in the children's eyes.

Was it worth teaching the youth about the heroes of our men and women in uniform, having them see that lives were given up for their freedoms? Was it worth getting guys getting off their bar stools and wanting to go out and tell their stories to the young. Was it worth seeing family members of our lost and forgotten getting the energy to go out and get petitions signed so we could force our leaders to fly the flag? Was it worth seeing the gathering of other legionnaires joining together and getting their communities to sign petitions? Was it worth starting a 450 mile walk to Sacramento with five true heroes of World War II, having them walk beside you giving you support and guidance? I want you to answer this for me, yet I know what the real answer is in my heart...

As far as some people saying I stole the valor from our veterans, I can see how this question could be raised only if that person asking, had no knowledge of what was really going on and what was in people's hearts, along with his own selfish desire gain notoriety. Is it stealing valor when some one who was in the service and spent most of his time in the brig for going AWOL time and time again, and then claims to be a vet? Is stealing valor when on any given night there are 194,254 homeless veterans in America, while you go home to your nice warn chair and find fault in others for not doing something about it, if so, we all steal it everyday. If it is stealing valor by standing up for those who can't stand for themselves, then I am guilty. Is it stealing valor for bring happiness to families who have lost their vet in war? I could go on and on but if in reality, if a true veteran and I mean a true veteran, can say I stole his valor; I will stand before him and apologize for his loss.

My mission is even more clear today than in the past and I will NOT be detoured from the path of bringing national attention to the need of remembering these veterans who gave the greatest sacrifice ever, their life. I will continue with my petition drive to the State of California. We will need an additional 300,000 signature to get a measure (750,000) to the State Assembly and I will also continue pushing my efforts to all city governments to do the same.
In the greatest sense of humility, I ask not only my family, but my friends, and all "true" veterans, to forgive my poor judgment and my actions. I also ask you to help with the mission to bring awareness of the "Lost and Forgotten". The least we can do is make sure all those who are real veterans, not just because they say they are veterans, are treated with dignity and respect. They deserve nothing less.
For the last and final time I am sorry!

Gary Cherms, POW/MIA Advocate