Obama awards MH,vows for nation, shameful mistake should never be repeated.
I'm a Vietnam vet.
Sabo died truly heroically. As is most often the recent case with this honor, Sabo died not so much in a decisive battle, but in desperate service to the survival of his comrades. No one can enlarge or diminish the significance of his acts. We can only rightfully acknowledge them as extraordinary self-sacrifice.
Which is why I put my reaction to another thread about comments at the award ceremony here.
I am wondering whether the leaders of this nation will ever get their priorities right about things that shouldn't be repeated?
I note with sad irony--
Sabo died in the invasion of Cambodia ten years into a dubious war that was never declared.
Sabo's posthumous award ceremony took place ten years into another dubious war that was never declared.
I, for one, think getting into protracted undeclared wars of dubious purpose is shameful and disrespectful of the sacrifices asked of the military. It's not the shame of the nation's people or military, it's a shame on the heads of the leaders of this nation.
If our leadership could only get that going to war step right, we might not have a need for comments about shame at posthumous award ceremonies.
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We Ojibwa honor warriors such as yourself. I watched that ceremony on Martin Bashir last night (thank you DVR!) and it was very moving. You could tell the men in his unit were truly touched, even after 42 years. I didn't find out until my dad was dying of ALS that he was a hero in WWII--a Marine Raider, first wave at Guadalcanal and other South Pacific hell holes. It took a friend of his who was there to tell me, and his death to find all his medals. Every year at our Three Fires Pow Wow in Grand Rapids, MI which is held on the Grand River across from the GR Veteran's Facility, we march an Honor Guard in full tribal regalia into the Home to honor the veterans.
So, HereSince1628, Chi Meegwetch for your sacrifice.
Diane
Anishinaabe in MI & mom to Leo, Sophie, Taz & Nigel, members of Dogs Against Romney, Cat Division
"We ride inside--HISS!”