In The Spotlight
Meet Lisa Moretti, Candidate for Pasco County Commissioners
Lisa Moretti is currently a candidate for Pasco County Commissioner. We had the opportunity to meet her at a 9/11 event honoring veterans at Rosebud Continuum in Land O’ Lakes, Florida.
Lisa, what drew you to today’s event?
I grew up as a Marine Corp brat. My dad served in Vietnam for two tours, so we lived in Kaneohe, Hawaii. Then we were stationed to Beaufort, South Carolina. My dad struggled with PTSD, but never for a moment did he or we as his family ever regret his service to our country. But I do recognize how desperately we need to close the gaps in supporting our veterans.
My dad’s father served in World War II at the Battle of the Bulge. My uncle on my mom’s side was a paratrooper over occupied France and was badly burned. The people of the French Resistance smuggled him across the country in a haycart to get him to American help. My dear friend, Joe Klaas, was part of the real Great Escape and survived the POW's long death march. Going even further back, my family has Revolutionary and Civil War roots. I take great pride in honoring the service and sacrifice of my family and friends for our country.
When it comes to the horrific day of 9/11, one good thing happened – we all stopped. We were united as Americans for a moment, and our allies around the world stood with us in our most devastating moment. We put down our partisanship and polarization for a bit.
I hand out heart-shaped flag pins on the campaign trail and tell people, “We need to put the heart back in America.” Not one person has disagreed with me yet. I hope that we can set our differences aside and get back to working together here at home in Pasco County. Our veterans need us to!
Tell us a little bit about your dad.
Thank you for asking about him! My dad was in ROTC in school. He met my mom, and soon they were stationed to Twenty-nine Palms. When I was just months old, he was called up to fight in Vietnam. When my dad was discharged from the Marines, he really struggled with what we now recognize as PTSD.
His service in Vietnam had a great effect on my life. I studied the larger picture of the Vietnam War, and many of my core classes at UCLA were based on what we learned after the war.
What broke my heart when I was old enough to understand more was how poorly our GIs were treated when they came home. Agree or disagree with the war, there is no reason to disrespect our men and women coming home. When I meet Vietnam Vets, I often say to them the thing they never heard, “Welcome Home!” I also try to acknowledge our Korean Vets, because their service in “the conflict” doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves.
Anything else you’d like to share with us?
Two fun factoids: I was a captain of my drill team in high school, and my military team was second in the nation. (So, I can project when necessary, lol.) My teachers worked to get me to apply to West Point, but I’m an only child, and my mom wasn’t quite ready for that. Thanks for the opportunity to chat with you. May God protect all our veterans and active service members. – Lisa Moretti, www.votelisamoretti.com