Time to honor those who served

November 11, 2007       Editor: Dave Uphoff
As another Veterans Day is upon us our country is still mired in a war on 2 fronts, Afghanistan and Iraq. Regardless of your feelings on the war against terrorism, our brave soldiers deserve our support and gratitude for their bravery in fighting an unknown enemy in a conflict that has no identifiable resolution at this point in time. Their actions place them in the same hallowed halls as veterans of other wars.

We honor veterans of all wars, popular or unpopular. The type of war does not matter to a person who has lost a loved one in battle. The death and injuries in an unpopular war are just as real as in a popular war. Those who are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan are, for the most part, the youth of our country. Their sense of mortality is probably less than us oldsters who have endured the cruel lessons of life. Therefore, they are the ones with the courage and the optimism needed to make a soldier. That is why it is necessary to rely upon our young to fight our battles. But it also is a tragedy to lose a young person in battle because we lose our future.

For many of our veterans, being in battle was the most exciting time of their life in spite of the hardships and fear. It also was an experience that they cannot or will not explain to those who have not been in battle. Now there is a movement under way to record the stories of our declining veteran population, especially from those in World War II. So much of our history of war has been documented by historians far removed from the heat of battle. The news accounts of World War II was often suppressed or sugar-coated to keep the horror of war away from the public. If our politicians were exposed to the horrors of war as told to them by those who fought rather than by reading news accounts of war, would they drag us into conflicts of a questionable nature?

While we honor our veterans we must also take care of those who are recovering from the wounds of war. The inadequate care of our veterans is a national disgrace highlighted by a Washington Post report of the substandard conditions at Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. The lack of care for our veterans is symptomatic of a poorly thought out plan for warfare and all of its ramifications and must be corrected.

With the presidential election a year away, now is the time for voters to seriously think about who they want to lead our country. We need to decide if the war in Iraq is a just war that will keep terrorism at bay or if it is a war that has incited the wrath of Muslims and given the terrorists a showcase for their opposition to our interference in Middle East affairs. Whatever your feelings, take time today to remember those who have put their life on the line to fight in all wars. The level of bravery is the same regardless of the war.


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                                                             Viewer comments on this editorial

Editor wrote on 11/12/2007 at 18:23:09

Reply to Proud to be an American: What do you mean by my best interest? How about letting me know when someone comes or goes to war? I am not getting paid to do this website nor am I a reporter. I do the best I can with the time and resources I have available. How I am supposed to know when someone comes or goes to war? I would appreciate a little bit more help from those of you out there who have information and expect me to dig out. I did not intend this to be a one man show but it has turned out that way because people expect me to gather all the news. People bring in news to the Woodford Journal. Why not to this website? I requested on this website 2 years for people to send me information on those in the military and did not get one response.


Proud to be an American wrote on 11/12/2007 at 17:41:27

Weather you agree with this war or not, I think it would be in your best interest, to at least mention the soldiers when they are leaving, and especially when they return. Public recognition on Minonk Talk, would mean a lot to them.


Minonker wrote on 11/12/2007 at 12:46:03

Thanks Dave for not interjecting your personal feelings of this war in your editorial on honoring soldiers.


Albin Johnson wrote on 11/12/2007 at 10:44:52

Thanks Dave, for the very nice tribute to all Veterans as well as the GIs who are serving our country now.


A Vet wrote on 11/11/2007 at 17:31:27

Whether the general public agrees with this war or not, everyone needs to understand that either way, we have our troops over in a place they don't want to be and they are the ones who need our unwavering support. Its not for the politicians sake. Its for the troops deployed.If you run across a soldier in uniform take the time to shake their hand and thank them for serving their country. This small gesture can go a long way. And everyone needs to remember that " FREEDOM IS NOT FREE " it comes with a cost.


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