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.
10 Responses to “Let us truly honor our fallen heroes this Memorial Day”
[...] of stories honoring and remembering the million of military heroes who have fallen in the wars ourhttp://themoderatevoice.com/general/19898/let-us-truly-honor-our-fallen-heroes-this-memorial-day/Earthquake kills six in Colombia CNN.comBOGOTA, Colombia AP — A moderate earthquake shook the [...]
Amen, De Wind, Amen.
When I went to college as a young welfare mother, there were huge numbers of vets in all my classes; they were on the GI bill and were getting an education that would serve them well…as they served their country well. Our vets were in wheelchairs, on gurneys , on crutches, walking without aid… every conceivable situation… mostly Nam Vets and Korea.
Ive watched over the years as the benefits for health and education have dwindled and dwindled for vets, not to mention how pay grade remains stuck in the 1950s.
Every time I'm with a group of older vets (in their 50s and 60s) who still work for Uncle Sugar in one way or another, or are ret., I hear the hours and hours it takes re any G.I. benefit, from the most humble upward, to bring it into place actively. As though dealing with a thousand tar-pits at every turn.
The issue is not only the benefits, although that's the over-riding one. There are at least two others.
1. Effective flow of activating benefits quickly without months and years of paperwork, repetition.
2. An end to three tier discrimination where elisted/ nco's are treated differently re medical and others matters, than COs, and than VIP vet Congressmen.
I am reminded daily about how hard the hearts of people at the VA hospitials, for instance, work for the vets. The issue has not been the hearts of those who serve.
It's the big heart at the top. Or lack of it.
Good article, gently and poignantly laid out, with a smart 'attack' on the subject.
dr.e
military wife (husband 21 years USAF (ret.) now in employ of VA processing prostheses for vets, he himself partially disabled)
Yes, thank you, and welcome to the team at TMV. There is so much to remember this Memorial Day, and I'm thinking of my father, a World War II veteran who died six years ago. The GI Bill helped my dad earn a doctorate in agronomy and having already served his country, he went on to serve again in the US Department of Agriculture and then a brilliant and distinguished career as a research geologist. The GI Bill helped my mom, a Navy nurse, get her master's in psychiatric nursing. Veterans benefits helped them buy a modest home and from humble beginnings (my mom was literally a coal miner's daughter) build a successful life. Our grateful country made and kept a serious commitment to our military then.
Now, our politicians hand out billions to bail out investment banks and airlines, forgive billions unaccounted for; “lost” by federal contractors, and pass on trillions in debt to our children, yet they can't open their hearts to those who have put their lives on the line for us. Oh no, that would be too expensive.
I'm also reminded that now, in 2008, we have lost more Americans, 50% more, in this misguided war against Iraq than were killed on September 11, 2001. Osama bin Laden cost us 3,000 American lives. George W. Bush cost us 4,500 (so far). Both are walking around free today.
May we all remember next time the warmongers come whipping up our national pride, what a serious, horrible and devastating thing war is. May we be absolutely vigilant against being misled into war, a war that costs us thousands of young American men and women and wastes our children's future on the desert sands.
And let's renew our commitment to the young defenders of our freedoms and reject those–yeah, you, McCain–who accept the sacrifice of our children but are too stingy and miserly to give back to them a shot at the American dream.
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Thanks, Dorian! I don't understand why the government which expects American soldiers to be willing to give up their lives to protect us, is so cold hearted when it comes to helping those same soldiers build a better life.
Thank you dr e. for your kind comments, and please thank your husband for his service
Dorian
Thank you GreenDreams for your words of welcome and support,
Dorian
[...] being debated on Capitol Hill. I am referring to an improved version of the GI bill that would …http://themoderatevoice.com/general/19898/let-us-truly-honor-our-fallen-heroes-this-memorial-day/Modernized GI Bill passes, despite opposition from McCain, Bush Once in a while, it??s hard to keep [...]
Thank you, “Stockboy.” While the vast majority of comments on my piece supporting the more “generous” GI Bill have been very positive, there have been some (private) comments–and some of them from dear friends– comparing the bill to legislative “pork,” and using this rationale to justify the anti-pork, anti-ear marks McCain opposition to the bill.
My definition of pork is a limited project that only benefits a local audience. An example of legislative pork is that nearly $400MM bridge to nowhere in Alaska that did not benefit many people. GIs and our support of them, is clearly not pork. Next they'll be saying that education is pork and spending on education should be reduced to zero.