Now, I have been hearing, quite correctly that the members of our armed forces in Iraq are deserving of respect and admiration due to the sacrifices they are making for our health and security.
I also know that weather you are for or against our involvement that this respect should be shown.
I also know that a good number of our soldiers are being killed in the line of duty in Iraq and that while the number is small compared to our losses in previous wars and police actions, it is still significant in today’s mindset.
I also know that when a soldier dies in Iraq is brought home, his returning in the plane cannot be photographed or televised. Now, I understand that these photos repeated night after night will be disturbing and possibly weaken morale. However, I believe it is disrespectful to a soldier who has paid the ultimate cost to be merely a brief mention on the local and national news. They are then reverted back to a number.
My proposal (hopefully not needed for very long): Once a week, the networks will televise the return of one soldier in the flag-draped coffin. No name, a complete unknown. Like the unknown soldier. One hour a week to bring, in visual detail, the sacrifice of our young men and women.
We just buried a local soldier. It was important to his town, friends, family. It was seen by his town, friends, family. It should be seen by all.
IG