Vets' Corner: Dying for freedom
Friday, July 17, 2009 12:46 PM PDT
“Dedicated to the memory of those who made the supreme sacrifice and in Honor of those who served in the Armed Forces of our country in World War II — 1941-1945. How gallantly they served that posterity might live.” “Americanism is a matter of the mind and heart: Americanism is not, and never was, a matter of race or ancestry.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt.
This memorial was erected by the people of Japanese ancestry of Southwestern Idaho and Eastern Oregon on Oct. 30, 1950, in Lions Park.
The other day I received a letter written by an unknown soldier in a war zone, and I share excerpts from that letter. It was ranting about all the hoopla surrounding Michael Jackson’s death. Jackson was an entertainer and made millions of dollars. He also did things that turned the stomach of many people. The soldier goes on to say that he understands that people would mourn his death, and that is not the point of his letter.
The point is: The whole of America has lost its mind with grief for a man whose only contribution to the country was to entertain. People flocked to a memorial, and Congress even saw a need to hold a “moment of silence” for this man. Jackson dies, and he is a martyr. Now what about all those soldiers who have died to give us freedom? Where is their moment of silence? Where are the people flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over them after they made the ultimate sacrifice?
When did this country become so calloused to the sacrifice of good men and women that it can arbitrarily dismiss their deaths and, instead, throw itself into mourning for a pop icon?
If they are going to hold a moment of silence in Congress for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Congress needs to publicly recognize every life that has been lost so the American people can live in freedom that we —- members of the military who are living and those who have gone on —- have provided for them. But that would take too much time because there have been so many willing to make that sacrifice. We have only shed our blood, sweat, and tears so that others can enjoy what they have.
The next time you think of someone who is serving in the military think: “So that others may live.”
I do not know who wrote this letter, but I pass this along because I believe that it is important.
Please folks, keep the pressure on government agencies to put into practice veterans preference. OIE/OEF unemployment is 11 percent higher than the national average, and we need to put pressure on government to help these veterans and veteran businesses succeed. We cannot sit back and let others do it because there are not enough of us involved. If all of us worked in unison on veterans issues, we would get the job done, and each and every one of us would benefit. Think about it, and then act.
We need more accountability from government because a promise on paper without ramifications is just a promise. We now have more Iraq and Afghanistan veterans unemployed then active duty troops deployed in the Persian Gulf. We have nearly 1 million veterans unemployed as of a few months ago.
Reid Holcomb and American Legion Post No. 79 in Nyssa were set up at the Thunderegg Day celebration.
In the center of everything, a jail was set up to collect money for the local post, and a great job they all did to add additional spice to the celebration in Nyssa. Reid you sure have done a great job activating your post in the community, and thanks for all that you do for our veterans.
“All great change in America begins at the dinner table.” — Ronald Reagan.
Ronald Verini is a local veterans advocate who writes a weekly column for the Argus Observer. He can be contacted at (541) 881-8881
