Glad to see you here today, lavroise, and very much appreciate the thoughtful post of the history of The Missing Man Formation.
With my years in the Marine Corps and as a military wife, this was a sight seen too often, always evoking tears and the deepest of respect.
It would be the greatest of things if those who oppose or vilify the military had just an inkling of the devotion and sacrifices made every single day by its members, dedicated to ensuring peace through vigilance and willingness to act.
The idea that peace will come about only by wishful thinking and opposing those who thus must carry the Heavy Loads has seen the demise of too many nations and groups of persons.
Stopping there, before I really rant - - -
Stopping there, before I really rant - - Well, you got me started here.
I'll just add that there is no peace without truth, and there is no truth with war on the truth. Peace is not earned through power. As for peace protestors, they only protest for their own peace. Meanwhile they make active war on truth.
I always get angry when scums protest the death penalty when there are so many people willing to put their lives on the line in the service of truth, right or wrong. If they plead not guilty and lose, there is nothing personal or hateful in putting them to death, that is just the way the duel is played honorably when one makes war on the truth or or about the truth. If they want to be forgiven, they can spill the beans or surrender custody as any weak or incompetent person can.
End my rant.