Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced his second bid to secure the Republican nomination for president on Thursday with support from some of the highest profile families in the armed forces.
Perry made the announcement in Addison, Texas in front of a military C-130 prop plane, displaying the words “Perry for President.” He was flanked by former veterans and their families. Among them were Marcus and Morgan Luttrell, both brothers, Texans and Navy SEALs. Marcus Luttrell is best known for his book “Lone Survivor,” which actor Mark Wahlberg later turned into a hit 2013 film. It documents how Luttrell was the only surviving member of his SEAL team after a 2005 mission in Afghanistan.
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“If anyone is wondering if America still possesses the character of selfless heroes, I am here to say, 'Yes, I am surrounded by such heroes ...' Heroes like Marcus Luttrell, who survived a savage attack on the side of a mountain in Afghanistan, losing his three teammates and 16 fellow warriors shot down trying to rescue him,” Perry said before a crowd gathered in an airplane hangar.
Also in attendance was Taya Kyle, the widow of Chris Kyle. His story was portrayed by Bradley Cooper in the Academy Award-nominated film “American Sniper,” and became last year's top grossing movie in the U.S.
Perry still faces felony charges for abuse of power and coercion, but the former governor's stamp of approval from both the Luttrell and Kyle families did not go unnoticed on Twitter: