Skelton fears ‘chasm’ between military, citizens

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Departing House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton says he fears a “chasm” is developing between U.S. military troops and the rest of the citizenry.

For the 24th straight year, Skelton was the keynote speaker at the Veterans Day ROTC breakfast at Lincoln University. The event was this morning. It was his first public event since losing last week’s election to Republican Vicky Hartzler.

The Missouri Democrat first was elected to Congress in 1976 and has led the Armed Services Committee the past four years. He has made military facilities, troops and veterans the focus of his congressional career.

Skelton said he is concerned people will lose their shared purpose in the fight against terrorists and that the “American military could become isolated from American society.”