Let us truly honor our fallen heroes this Memorial Day

As we observe this Memorial Day weekend, the news media are full of stories honoring and remembering the million of military heroes who have fallen in the wars our country has fought—as it should be.

In his weekly radio address Saturday, President Bush urged Americans to honor the sacrifices of those who have served our country, and who have made the ultimate sacrifice–as we should.

He also talked about the bravery and dedication of our military men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, “and other fronts around the world”–as he should.

But, on this Memorial Day weekend, absent from the President’s speech was concrete, meaningful support–as there should be–for those who are still fighting the wars that were launched under his command.

I am referring to the new GI Bill of Rights that is presently being debated on Capitol Hill.

I am referring to an improved version of the GI Bill that would provide our Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans with education benefits at least equal to those of our World War II and Vietnam War veterans.

I am referring to the more fair GI Bill sponsored by U.S. Senators Daniel Inouye, John Warner; supported by Sen. James Webb–the bill’s principal backer–and by many other Republicans and Democrats; and the bill that passed earlier this week on a 75-22 vote.

I am referring to the more generous GI Bill overwhelmingly passed by the House earlier.

I am referring to the version of the GI Bill that President Bush has threatened to veto because “it costs too much” and because it may hurt re-enlistment rates. (Supporters of the bill contend that such improved benefits will actually improve retention and enlistments).

The bill is estimated to cost $45 billion over the next 10 years. At the present rate of expenditures for the Iraq war–including the billions of dollars wasted, fleeced and not accounted for–we are talking about an amount equal to what we spend in Iraq in about six months. Is this too much to spend on our troops who are getting shot at, injured and maimed every day?

Now, the president has some support for his watered down GI Bill “Lite.” Among them, Republican presidential candidate John McCain, and my own Senator from the great State of Texas, Senator John Cornyn. There are a few others, but not many.

As a Vietnam War era veteran, I received all my higher education, including a master’s degree, using the G.I. Bill and other military educational programs and assistance. I am thus very disappointed that the “support the troops” Bush administration, gung-ho Senator McCain, and the support Bush-McCain senator from Texas oppose a more robust version of a renewed G.I. Bill of Rights, ostensibly because it costs too much and for other nefarious reasons.

This is a bill that will give our Iraq and Afghanistan wars veterans–who have sacrificed so much more than I did–at least the same educational opportunities that were given my and past generations of veterans by a president who then truly supported the troops.

When President Bush, on Memorial Day, lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery, I hope that he also remembers those who are still living, sweating, and dodging bullets, and sometimes being hit in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan.

I believe that we could offer no greater honor and respect to those who we are remembering this Memorial Day weekend than by promising to take better care of their brethren who are still living, and fighting.