Memorial Day 2008

05/24/2008

Paul Munnis


Memorial Day is here once again and our thoughts turn to our American Veterans -- those brave men and women who have assured freedom for America.

To those Veterans who are deceased go our most profound thanks for you have fought in foreign wars and kept our homeland safe.

To those who have been injured and maimed, most often for life, goes thanks that you are still among us and by your presence you bear witness to the real cost of war. The injuries you have remind us that you must live with them all of your life and they are testimony to the futility of war to resolve issues between governments. There are things worth fighting for in this world but it is up to society to make sure war is the last recourse and that you are not sent off on a fool’s errand.

When we look back on the American Experience there are few generations who have not had to stand and protect America. Some volunteered when these wars were obviously "just wars," as when America was attacked; some were drafted and they had little say in the matter. Some enrolled in order to be employed and the military offered them a way out of poverty and a future complete with valid technical training. No matter the motives, when our Veterans had to defend America they did it and they did it with pride.

We thank our Vets from the bottom of our hearts.

I know from experience that when you are deployed that you note the number of days for your tour to end as you begin the countdown of survival. I know what it means to be extended in those tours, and I know that Mr. Bush has done that over and over to you. I also know what it does to your psyche. It isn’t funny although often on tour one must laugh to stay sane.

We are nearing the end of a period now that history will come to call: “Bush’s War.” Indeed he hyped us into an illegal attack and occupation and our men and women served in heroic ways and some 70% of the American people have come to understand the folly of Bush’s War. By this fall the troops will start to come home and after the election a regular schedule of rotation designed to end the occupation will happen. These extractions will be given bad names by war hawks. Our nation decided to occupy Iraq after our troops won the War there and we can choose to end the occupation of Iraq anytime we want to. In fact ending the Iraq Occupation is a choice that is inevitable.

Democrats are working hard right now to get proper veterans benefits into place, we are working to assure that when our troops come home they will get jobs and be reunited with their families and to those continuing in their military career you will be given proper equipment, training, and leadership. We are working to forge a foreign policy that does not need military occupation of foreign nations in order to succeed. The good news is that either of the Democratic Candidates running for endorsement can get the job done because they have a full team ready to help them.

To those who were injured many of us will work to get you proper support and medical care and to help you build a future for yourself. To those who have died or have been casualties of war we can only say once again that “We thank you and we salute you.” To your families we can only say that we grieve with you.

It is through you that God has blessed America.

Some say that America is injured and that as a result of this war our time in the sun is over with. I say nonsense, America is strong because of the strength of our people and our veterans prove it. Americans are leaders and that is our future -- to lead the rest of the world in all things -- big and small.