Fort Lewis reconsiders consolidating memorial services

[babylonsister]

http://www.kndo.com/Global/story.asp?S=6597986&nav=menu484_2_12

Fort Lewis reconsiders consolidating memorial services

Associated Press - June 1, 2007 11:15 AM ET

FORT LEWIS, Wash. (AP) - The Fort Lewis acting commander is reconsidering a controversial decision to consolidate memorial services into once-a-month ceremonies.

A spokesman says Brigadier General William Troy will take account of the views of commanders, officers and family groups.

The Army base had said last month it had too many soldiers in harm's way to continue individual services for those who are killed. About 10,000 Fort Lewis troops are in Iraq and Afghanistan

The post's senior chaplain, Colonel Jack Van Dyken, says the Army wants to do what's best. Right now there's a group service scheduled for Tuesday and an individual ceremony the next day.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Catch22Dem]

1. So they only have to think about it one day a month?

Believe me, the commander may be trying to make it look better than it is, but I guarantee, those soldiers are thinking about it every minute of every day.

[stillcool]

2. Jesus H. Christ...

I can't believe what I'm reading.....oh yeah...support the troops.

[MADem]

3. That's pretty cheesy. It's like "assembly line" memorials.

Did the chaplain's office come up with that shit? Christ, they only work one day a week when no one's getting killed, they can suck it up, and step it up.

As for the base commander, he doesn't have to go to EVERY one. In fact, he should delegate it down to the commander of the kid who got killed. It's more personal that day, if the CO can talk without having to watch himself because the base CO is looking over his shoulder.

But anything else is just cheesy. Imagine going to a friend's funeral, and there on display is your friend, and five other guys you don't know. They do a generic so-long and drive them all to the cemetery.

It's just as crummy, trying to do a generic memorial. The reason the people GO to those things is because often the body is sent off far away and they can't go to the funeral, but they want to personally express their feelings of loss about an INDIVIDUAL, not a 'group.'

If I had to bet, I'll bet this fer-shit idea came out of the chaplain's office. That baaastid ain't gonna have a good fitrep this go-round, I'll bet.