The journey `unfinished,' Kerry tells black veterans

[CShine]

Drawing on military themes while trying to strengthen support among a key Democratic constituency, presidential candidate John Kerry told black veterans their sacrifices were part of an "unfinished journey" to ensure that blacks need not fight as hard for civil rights as their forebears did when they returned home from war.

Kerry's tribute Friday night kicked off Memorial Day weekend activities designed to bolster his national security credentials and raise doubts about President Bush's performance as commander in chief.

At a salute to veterans organized by the Congressional Black Caucus, Kerry said blacks who had served in World War II "gave their sweat, gave their tears, gave their lives to a country that at that time believed they should sit behind German POWs at a USO concert.

"When we honor the memory of those who have sacrificed and when we honor those of you who lived those lives of patriotism, we're not just talking about the past, we're talking about the future," the Massachusetts senator said. "We're talking about the unfinished journey to make sure that no one else has to fight as hard as you did."

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/politics/2599587