Posted on 11/11/2005 7:36:10 AM PST by genefromjersey
Veterans’ Day 2005 – A Bittersweet Occasion
This is the day set aside to honor all who have served, and who now serve our country as part of the Armed Forces.
Many of those who served gave their lives . Even more were casualties,whose chances of a normal life were destroyed because of injuries and wounds ; and there has never been a full count of the "walking wounded" lives were forever scarred by the horrors of war.
My brother was one of the latter, and he well deserved the honors he received at his interment.
Of late (and I speak of the Viet Nam period forward ) there has been another type of casualty: veterans and serving troops who have been scarred by the never-ending drumbeat of criticism emanating from an openly hostile Media , which has seized and engorged itself upon the rantings of the Radical Left, and the Neo-Copperheads – (an odd amalgam of Anarchists,Neo-Nazis,Anti-Semites,and miscellaneous Anti-Government groups-some of whom pass themselves off as “Libertarians”.)
Truly heroic efforts by our troops go unreported , while the misdeeds of a few are made front page news. The whole world knows about Abu Ghraib – but almost nobody knows how Marine Corporal Danny Santos of South Central Los Angeles won the Silver Star in Iraq . ( We have heard, ad-nauseam , of the lesser exploits of John F. Kerry , who won a Silver Star in Viet Nam ……….”But that’s different !” )
1st Lt. Dustin M. Shumney , a Marine Platoon Commander was awarded the Bronze Star with combat "V” for repeated acts of heroism in Iraq over an 11 month period. He was en route to yet another tough assignment on January 26,2005 ,when the helicopter he and his men were riding in crashed, during a sand storm: killing all aboard. (That part made the news: “More US Casualties !”)
Everybody knows who Cindy Sheehan is, and has heard her opinion.How many people have heard what Julie Shumney – wife of the gallant Lieutenant had to say ?
“I am forever grateful that not only do the Marines not leave each other behind,but they also do not leave their brothers’ families behind when they have given the ultimate sacrifice. I feel so grateful that my husband picked the Marine Corps. The Corps was a decision we made as a family-a sacrifice as a family.”
Don’t hold your breath waiting for this brave woman’s comment to be aired in the New York Times – even on Veterans’ Day !
No, last night we joined the DC Chapter and freeped the Code Pink crowd at Walter Reed. I will have to say this was something we did to honor our veterans, our wounded boys coming home from this terrible war. It was a pleasure to be there, supporting our young men and their service to our country. The people we met are wonderful people who have been doing this for countless weeks, countering the antiwar idiots who seem to think we can have an armistice...but with whom? This isn't a war we can end with a treaty, it's not one we can just stop fighting. I don't understand the thinking that says we can! Don't they understand there is no one with whom we can negotiate? No one to whom we can surrender? This isn't a country we are fighting. ARRRGGHHH! There, I feel a bit better.
There's no way we can repay these wonderful young men for what they are doing on our behalf.
Thank you !
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