John Flerlage for U.S. Congress | Speeches

Happy Birthday Marines! And thank you to the families and friends who support us and complete our lives.

I was commissioned with my brother Peter in the ceremony the Lt just described. A few months later, my brother and I drove to Quantico, VA, to check into the Basic School and start our active duty careers. When we arrived at O'Bannon Hall, the 2^nd Lt in charge told us it was three to a room, and then assigned us to separate rooms. We told him we wanted to share a room but the Lt refused, saying brothers couldn't room together. We decided to retreat and regroup.  After some discussion, we realized we were the same rank as the 2^nd Lt who was checking us in. We returned to the table where a heated exchange ensued which brought over the only captain in the room. When he came over to us, he may as well have been the Commandant. He was well over 6 feet tall and obviously spent a lot of time in the field. In a deep baritone voice he asked, “What seems to be the problem?”

Douglas County Clinton-Carter Dinner April 25, 2009

Honored guests and Democrats of Douglas County:

A few weeks ago, Senator Gary Hart wrote a book review for the New York Times in which he defines liberalism. Since the election, the other side has been searching for a definition of conservative. None of that concerns me. I am here to define what it means to be a citizen. A citizen supports his family, his community and his country. A citizen takes action. The people of our country are tired of men who sit in rooms and argue about definitions. Citizens take action; like Dan Hernandez in Highlands Ranch, like Bob Owens in Castle Rock. We organize, walk our precincts and stand up and do whatever it takes to move us forward. We use our gifts and talents to the maximum extent for the common good. And we understand that there are certain fundamental priorities; Security and safe communities, the fulfillment and protection of human rights, prosperity and opportunity, and an improving quality of life.

Thank you Mr. Chairman. Honored guests and members of the Central Committee, my name is John Flerlage and I am running for Congress.

I grew up in Boston, surrounded by reminders of the sacrifices of generations of Americans, from the Revolution to the Vietnam War. And this compelled me to join the Marine Corps as a freshman in college. I was commissioned on the USS Constitution, the oldest ship in our Navy, three years later. I flew fighter aircraft for almost twenty years retiring from the Marine Reserve in 2000. In anticipation of settling down, I moved to the city of Littleton in 1995 and later to South JeffCo. I am currently an airline captain and a member of the Air Line Pilots Association. My wife is a first generation American and I have three children, one at college and the other two in the Jefferson County public schools.