While everyone was celebrating Veterans Day yesterday, this story unfolded on a Florida expressway:

[Tommy_Carcetti]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fl-man-stops-highway-traffic-20131111,0,3333263.story

Vietnam veteran surrenders after three-hour Veterans Day standoff on busy highway

Of all the memorials and public displays that took place in South Florida this Veterans Day, the one that drew the most attention — and caused the most disruption — took place near one of the region's busiest roadways.

With a noose around his neck and fearing deportation, Vietnam veteran Fredy Gutierrez threatened to leap from a ramp at Florida's Turnpike and Interstate 595 during Monday morning's rush hour.

For nearly three hours, thousands of motorists were stuck on the highways because of Gutierrez's very public and dramatic statement.

"He doesn't want to hurt anyone," Teresa Gutierrez said of her husband of 11 years. "He just wants to live out his life in this country."
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Pretty heartbreaking story. Shows the cognitive dissonance about "supporting" veterans and actually calling for better mental health services for them. Or, God forbid, granting them citizenship after they've served the country.

[gopiscrap]

1. yikes