[VOA]

But I myself wonder why there can't be more public respect show for the men
and women in uniform who are dying in Iraq.

An article posted here in the Thanksgiving time-frame (and following posts)
seem to imply that Dubya is HIMSELF writing a letter to the family of each
service-person lost.
(Friendly request: please post if you have info to confirm/deny this)

Besides, if he showed up at a funeral, especially if the bereaved family and friends
were postitive to Dubya...the press would say he showed up to trivialize their loss.

You've probably heard the joke about what the news report would be if Dubya
walked on water..."Bush Can't Swim"

[Criminal Number 18F]

I don't know if the President is still writing individual letters. It would conform to tradition if there was a standard letter of condolence. In FDR's day it was the form you see an example of here. (For more information on the man in the letter, Flight Officer Eugene Rybaczek, and his death in a flying accident, see this page.

The exact wording of this form letter:

In grateful memory of Flight Officer Eugene S. Rybaczek, A. S. No. T-190748, who died in the service of his country at (and the word "at" is crossed out)... in the European Area, February 16, 1944.

He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live, and grow, and increase its blessings.

Freedom lives, and through it, he lives -- in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.

(signed): Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States of America.

But Roosevelt, that heartless bastard didn't attend his funeral... not the one in England in 1944 or the one where his family brought him home after the war (of course, by then Roosevelt was also dead... and Gene Rybaczek didn't attend his funeral either).

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F