2-26-03, Comment
Viet Nam Veterans
Couldn't Parade
IPS Features
For
a thousand years Roman soldiers marched through Rome with the spoils of war and
their heads held high in triumph. For 20 years the Viet Nam veterans were not
asked to join in the parades in our of the country with the WW ll and WW l
veterans. For some it is too late, for others it really doesn't mean much at
this late date. The Viet Nam memorial in Washington was a disgrace to most of
us. First memorial organized with private funds, government dollars led by Jim
Sasser (an objector to the war and sponsor of the bill to welcome draft dodgers
back). The memorial itself designed by a Viet Nam national and monument placed
under the Lincoln Memorial "in the ground."
The
veterans were welcomed back with a heritage of Agent Orange to follow them for
generations. It is a
sad legacy to say the least . War is hell for
most foot soldiers and glory for the ones that take so lightly the lives of
others. Democracy is not free. I
cast my lot with the man that kneels beside his bed each night to pray and reads
his bible for guidance. I do not envy the decision to expend the lives of others
in the ghettos of LA or in the deserts of Iraq.
A
Viet Nam Veteran
-30-