May 31, 2004
Remembering the Fallen on Memorial Day
On this Memorial Day, it was nice to see both presidential candidates stop to honor the many fallen soldiers who have fought for out freedom. Let us all take a moment of silence to remember those brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for us.
John Kerry paid tribute to fellow veterans in a solemn reflection on lives lost at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, as he stood with the mother of the late William Bronson, a Navy officer who “died in 1976 from a seizure caused by a head wound he received in combat eight years earlier,” whose name Kerry was able to get added to the wall.
Pres. Bush praised U.S. veterans and war dead with a speech referencing the character "of the men and women who wear our country's uniform in places like Kabul and Kandahar, in Mosul and Baghdad."
Of course, in an (elongated) election season, such as this one, it was as expected that certain political elements seeped into the ceremonies and their media coverage.
During Kerry's walk along the Vietnam Memorial Wall, he "flashed a big grin at one local fan carrying a sign promoting no CARB diet: no Cheney, Ashcroft, Rumsfeld or Bush. " That's a new attention-getting sign slogan, as far as I know, but it sounds pretty good.
The AP articles pointed out some interesting observations about veterans on both sides of Kerry and Bush:
But Kerry's past cuts both ways with veterans.And the startling fact that will likely bring most people from reflecting on the contributions of the past to realizing them today is likely a change in a number of lost lives from one year ago until today:Some admire his heroism in war and his efforts to end the conflict after he returned home; others still are angry over his anti-war activities including his decision to throw away some military awards and his accusation of war crimes committed by American soldiers.
Likewise Bush both benefits and suffers politically from his position in the national security arena. About the same percentage of voters approve of his work against terrorism and see him as a strong leader as disapprove of his handling of Iraq.
A year ago at this time, more than 160 American soldiers had been killed in Iraq. The total since has risen to more than 800, and last week the Pentagon reported that the number wounded in action is approaching 4,700.Politics is politics, but the men and women who have fought and now fight for our freedom must be recognized for the contributions they each have brought to our country. Posted by Anthony at May 31, 2004 02:41 PM
Let me start off by stating the inflammatory. I think that the memorial dedicated was absolute pandering to some degree.
I mean sh*t how many memorials do they need?(hate me yet) they have:
The tomb of the unknown soldier
The marines memorial in Alexandria
Arlington Cemetary
WWII memorial already on the Washington Mall
FDR memorial
Holocaust museum
Normandy memorial
Pearl Harbor memorial where oil is still on the water from December 7th
They have an entire channel practically dedicated to WWII (History Channel)
Every town and city has memorials to WWII veterans
A thousand movies
A gazillion books
Bob Dole?
Isn’t a memorial for remembering? Then this is assuming that we’ve forgotten somehow, right? Like they aren’t being recognized by America. Go into any bookstore and there are shelves dedicated to WWII books and aircraft and other aspects of the war.
And secondly, what an eyesore! I mean did Bob Dole draw that up on a cocktail napkin at a martini lunch? Great archetecture, wow.
“Okay now theres a cupola..”
“What’s a cupola..”
“It’s like a turnstyle without the uh turn or the style..Burp’ and a uh bunch of a’ thingy-majiggies all around it.”
I really do think the stars are a nice touch though.
You don’t think WWII veterans deserve a memorial? Why shouldn’t they? It’s definitely been a long enough wait!
Posted by: Anthony at June 1, 2004 12:40 AMAnthony,
They don’t have them already? There are WWII memorials everywhere! I think there are even several in D.C. already there. There is even a section of the Smithsonian dedicated to WWII. It’s engrained into our culture, okay they waited long enough. World War Two is remembered everywhere. Numerous other memorials the nation over, T.V., books, movies, videos, tv networks, holidays, the little green G.I.Joe plastic armymen that you used to buy by the dozen and blow up with firecrackers as a kid. Every thirty minutes on the History channel another documentary about what? WWII!
I think it is important that we aknowledge the sacrifice of our nation’s fighting men and women who serve past and present. But 300 yards from the dedication there’s a drive by shooting in progress. millions and millions spent on something that’s already there and none of it benefits D.C. The same number of tourists will flock to our nations capitol. I guess it’s important that we have it there as a reminder to those who served valiantly to protect our nation.
Wait until the civil rights memorial gets unveiled, now that thing IS a frickin’ eyesore. It’s a granite post with MLK’s face on it and other posts around it in a circle. It’s like n***a stonehenge!
“Freeee at last..Freee at last…Holy crap! is that my face on a 30 foot granite post?!!!”
Okay that was wrong too. Have you seen the plans for the new world trade center? It has a glass feather on top of it, what the hell is that?!
Posted by: skunkbud at June 1, 2004 02:30 AMThere are history revisionists out there trying to tell us that the holocaust never happened. Taking the American heroes out of textbooks and telling us how bad America was to other countries. Maybe we do need these landmarks and tributes - so kids can get a real history lesson somewhere!
Posted by: flame at June 1, 2004 09:40 AMflame, could you tell us exactly who is saying the holocaust never happened, and who is taking the American heroes out of textbooks and telling us how bad America was to other countries? Name them so we can take action.
