Military officer stays apolitical amid criticism of Veterans Day message

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Comedy content material creator and Military officer Austin von Letkemann, referred to as "MandatoryFunDay" on-line, marked Veterans Day with a easy notice of thanks, after which calmly batted away the politics that adopted.

"Blissful Veterans Day!… This isn't an endorsement of the present administration, or any political administration or celebration for that matter," he wrote in a submit from Washington, D.C. "Democrat or Republican, it makes no distinction to me. I simply need veterans taken care of."

Inside hours, the feedback part crammed with each reward and pushback.

"That is fairly an endorsement for a selected political celebration," one consumer wrote. One other added: "My sympathies on having your existence completely politicized, and used as a prop for comfort."

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<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/11/672/378/mandatory-funday-shares-positive-veterans-day-message.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/11/1344/756/mandatory-funday-shares-positive-veterans-day-message.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/11/931/523/mandatory-funday-shares-positive-veterans-day-message.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/11/1862/1046/mandatory-funday-shares-positive-veterans-day-message.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> Austin "MandatoryFunDay" von Letkemann is proven at house in a photograph shared with Fox Information Digital. (Courtesy of Austin von Letkemann)

Von Letkemann, who’s constructed an viewers of greater than 1,000,000 by mixing navy humor with on a regular basis dad life, stored his footing. In an interview with Fox Information Digital, he stated the day must be about service, not choosing sides.

"On the finish of the day, I’m a uniformed service member. I’m apolitical by nature — I’m purported to be," he informed Fox Information Digital. "If the subsequent administration is Democrat, and so they invite me someplace, I’ll go. If it’s Republican, I’ll go. I simply need to assist my group one of the best ways I can."

He’d spent the morning at Arlington Nationwide Cemetery, the place he attended the wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier , a "surreal" second he stated he gained’t neglect. "You hear about this location rather a lot being within the navy," he stated. "It was actually, actually cool… a ceremony as important as this."

The response to his submit, he stated, displays a broader on-line dynamic round veterans. "Individuals are very, very offended," he stated, stressing that frustrations may be legitimate. "However when a determine in authorities asks me to point out up, and it has one thing to do with the navy or veterans, I’m going to do my finest to be there and assist."

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Austin "MandatoryFunDay" von Letkemann poses with service members on the Nationwide Mall in Washington, D.C. (Courtesy of Austin von Letkemann)

He’s making an attempt to maintain the give attention to veterans and on his work. Von Letkemann companions with veteran-led corporations and teams just like the American Legion and Black Rifle Espresso on initiatives meant to assist the group; this fall, he boosted an effort to repay $25M of veteran medical debt .

"It's an absolute privilege after I get to do stuff like this," he stated of Black Rifle Espresso's Operation: Debt of Gratitude. "The navy and veteran group has blessed me in all probability far past something I deserve."

The content material creator additionally talked about why he leans so hard on comedy . "Comedy is like an equalizer — it disarms individuals," he stated. "We create obstacles and division amongst ourselves… but when I could make you chortle, you’re my good friend. If I can hold you laughing, you’re like my finest good friend."

Veterans Day, he added, can also be a day of reflection. "The second I spotted I had misplaced extra associates to them selecting to take their very own lives than I’d misplaced to fight… that second was in all probability probably the most important," he stated. "There are lots of people that aren't with us anymore for lots of causes. I’m very grateful that we have a good time these people."

Austin "MandatoryFunDay" von Letkemann attends an American Legion occasion. (Courtesy of Austin von Letkemann)

He doesn’t fake to have all of the solutions, particularly on points like veteran homelessness, however he factors to 2 priorities: mental health and regular work. "One homeless vet is clearly too many," he stated. "If we bought the psychological well being points that lots of veterans face underneath management and employment underneath management, I believe that will alleviate lots of that."

Principally, he needs the dialog, on-line and off, to arc towards grace. "There’s lots of negativity from the group, and it’s actually disheartening at instances," he stated. "On the finish of the day, we should always all be supporting one another."

As a father of four , von Letkemann says fatherhood modified his tone on-line: "Being the daddy of 4 daughters has positively softened me… I've empathy on the forefront of my thoughts within the content material that I make, and I believe that displaying empathy is a energy." He doesn’t hold strict Veterans Day rituals, however when he’s house, "I prefer to grill… my daughters love the hen wings that I grill."

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If there’s one line he hopes sticks with fellow vets, it’s this: "You'll be able to both chortle or you possibly can cry. I select to chortle."

When requested what comes after service, he stated each veteran has extra to supply than they understand. "The whole lot you discovered within the navy is one thing that may make you profitable," he stated. "Nothing can hold a veteran down."