LT. Gen. William “Jerry” Boykin interview with WTK Tyler

General Boykin: “The Constitution is the cornerstone of America. It’ s our founding document. It gives us the liberties that we enjoy today and it is what defines us more than anything else.”

This open water swim (fixed buoy course) will honor one of America’s finest. Aaron Vaughn, a member of DEVGRU (SEAL Team VI), was KIA on Aug. 6th, 2011 when a Chinook helicopter crashed in the Tangi River Valley of Afghanistan. All 30 American warriors on board lost their lives that day. This crash represented the single largest loss of life in Naval Special Warfare history.

OPERATION 300

While much attention is given to the members of our military for serving and especially to those who have perished in service to our country, Operation 300 seeks to make a positive impact on the children of the families of those who have died in service to honor God and Country while preserving our freedoms. The week long summer camps offered by Operation 300 are a memorial to KIA Aaron Carson Vaughn, Navy SEAL team member who was killed in 2011 in Afghanistan.

WTK INTERVIEW AT FROGMAN SWIM

KBN See Action News reporter Tyler (16) interviewed General Boykin on June 27th at Jensen Beach, Stuart, FL.

Hello General, this is Shona Darress. I have my grandson Tyler here to interview you, it shouldn’t take very long.

General Boykin: O.K., alright.

Shona: O.K. go ahead Tyler and speak, speak up.   OH BOY…GRANDMAS!

Tyler:  Hello General Boykin thank you for letting me interview you.

My first question is where were you born and where did you grow up at?

General Boykin: I was born in eastern North Carolina and I grew up in eastern North Carolina ah, until I graduated from high school and I went to Virginia Tech.

Tyler: Alright, do you have a family and children?

LT. Gen. Boykin: I do, I have five children, I have six grandchildren and I have a
lovely wife, you saw her last night.

Tyler: I did indeed.  Shona Darress: Speak up.

Tyler: When did you join the service?

General Boykin: When did I join the service?

Tyler: Yes, Sir.

General Boykin: I joined the service in December of 1970.

Tyler: Alright. What does the Constitution mean to you and why is it important?

General Boykin: The Constitution is the cornerstone of America. It’s our founding
document. It gives us the liberties that we enjoy today and it is what defines us
more than anything else.

Tyler: What aspects of the Constitution are most relevant to the issues of
today?

General Boykin: I am sorry, say that again please.

Tyler: What aspects of the Constitution are most relevant to the issues of today?

GOOD QUESTION…TYLER!

General Boykin: Well, every aspect of the Constitution is relevant to the issues that we are confronting today. There’s  a couple examples I will give you, one is the freedom of speech, the first amendment; the first amendment provides us freedom of religion, not freedom of worship but there are many who want us to believe that we have only freedom of worship. Secondly, is freedom of speech, today we ought to exercise our freedom of speech without being condemned and ridiculed for exercising that but there are a lot of people who will condemn us for exercising our first amendment rights. We also have in the second amendment the right to keep and bear arms, which is a very important Constitutional right. But, there are those who are trying to take that right away from us. The Fifth Amendment which is the right to be protected from having our property seized is being challenged. So those are all issues that are being challenged today but they are also being protected by our Constitution.

Tyler: Alright. Who is your favorite American hero?

General Boykin: American hero?

Tyler: Yes, sir.

General Boykin: That’s a good question. Ah, well I think the

American that I probably admire the most was Thomas Jefferson.

Tyler: What events in history most speak to you and does it have any impact
to your philosophy?

General Boykin: Yea, I think there are multiple events that have had a
tremendous impact on me. But I think, let me think about that for a
second. You know if we look at the historically, not events I have seen but historical events, I think that the signing of the Declaration of Independence was one of the
greatest acts of courage in the history of America, so I am motivated by the
courage that I see as I reflect on the history of that.

10/18/14 Edit and approved by Mrs. Kimberly Jernigan Tidwell, NC