The Des Moines Register - Donald Trump Speaks to Veterans, Residents in Coralville

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By Andy Davis

Real estate mogul and TV personality Donald Trump told a crowd of more than 240 in Coralville that he could "make America great again."

Trump was the keynote speaker Thursday at a luncheon at the Brown Deer Golf Course to raise money for a proposed Coralville Veterans' Memorial. The memorial is planned to be built at the entrance of the Oak Hill Cemetery along First Avenue.

Karen Fesler, one of several volunteers and Coralville officials who helped bring Trump to the event, said all donations made Thursday will be used to fund the memorial's construction.

The luncheon was one of several campaign-style events Trump has attended in Iowa over the last two months. Trump has not officially announced a bid for the 2016 presidential election, but said he has made up his mind and will make a formal announcement June 16 at Trump Tower in New York City.

"We have to make our country great again. To do that, we need to make our country rich and prosperous, and we have to bring back incentive and we have to bring back spirit," Trump said Thursday. "If these people want to make the country great again, and if on June 16 I announce I will run, I will make the country great again for everybody. We'll bring back the American dream."

Among the attendees was Mitch Chapman, 30, of Davenport. Chapman, who served as an infantryman with the Illinois National Guard from 2007 to 2011, was injured in October 2008 by an improvised explosive device while operating a vehicle in Afghanistan. Chapman and his wife, Lindsey Chapman, 30, said they were grateful Trump was able to make time for the event.

"We need all the help and support we can get to help keep veterans taken care of, getting appointments, getting the proper medical care, getting the issues solved instead of passing them down the line," Mitch Chapman said. "(Trump is) smart, and he really cares about all veterans. I really like him. I think he's a great guy. He's smart, down to earth, and he understands how things operate."

Trump told the Press-Citizen after his speech that, if he were to be elected, he would make veterans and the military a priority.

"I have great respect and great admiration for these great people, and these are people that have not been taken care of. Our veterans have not been properly taken care of," Trump said. "Our veterans have been treated like second- and third-class citizens, and they should be treated better than anybody. They're like forgotten people, and that would never happen with me."

Fesler said she hopes to see more candidates visit Coralville throughout the summer and fall.

"We were just thrilled with the turnout today, and there were people here from across the political spectrum," Fesler said. "While Mr. Trump did talk about politics, and we knew he was going to as a potential presidential candidate, we had broad support here. I'm very proud of the people of Coralville with the way they turned out today."

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