Somehow I knew when I heard about the welcome-home parade for our soldiers, I knew there'd be some of this sentiment out there. This letter in the Rapid City Journal's "Letters to the Editor" today sadly proves me right.
Soldier apologizes for traffic inconvenience
Recently we returned from a 15-month deployment to Afghanistan. My family and I went to a local restaurant for lunch a few days later. That’s when I overheard people at the table next to me complaining about the welcome home parade that had occurred when we returned. They were complaining about how they were inconvenienced for 30 minutes. There were many emotions that ran through my mind, the frontrunner being to come at them and physically beat them severely about the head and shoulders.
I then remembered they could never understand. They take things for granted and worry about very remedial things. Soldiers provide them the freedom so they can complain. About 30 minutes of inconvenience to welcome soldiers coming home after 15 months? Not their fault. The parade had been all over the media outlets, when and where. People allowed themselves to be inconvenienced by the parade even though they should known when and where. Anyhow, I am sorry that we took 30 minutes out of their day. I can tell you these soldiers deserved a welcome home for a job well done and the sacrifice of 15 months.
WALT DANSBY
Rapid City
There was a day not too long ago when this kind of petty mentality from American civilians would have been unthinkable.
But in those days, we stood united together, and we understood what evil was, and we understood that evil must be fought.
Mr. Dansby, thank you for your service to our country. I still believe petty, childish talk such as what you heard is still in the minority and does not represent most Americans. We appreciate your sacrifice and the risk you take for us!
3 comments:
There was a day not too long ago when this kind of petty mentality from American civilians would have been unthinkable.
You mean like during Vietnam?
This kind of thinking has and always will be present. That's what happens when you have the freedoms that our military has fought and died for.
You'd have to go back a little farther than Vietnam, Bob. That's really when all this petty self-centeredness began. I know for many nothing existed worth mentioning prior to that, but America actually had a moral compass before the 60's generation of ingrates came along.
This story reminds me of a similar incident last summer when a citizen wrote a letter to the Phoenix newspaper complaining about a jet fly-over that disturbed his day.
The story, with a response letter from Capt. Jeremy Fresces, is recounted at One Marine’s View. If you haven’t seen the story, or even if you have, it is worth reading and getting a little jolt of gratitude and pride for what these brave young men and women do.
http://www.onemarinesview.com/one_marines_view/2007/07/airforce-doing-.html
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