As the daughter of a WWII USAF Lt. Col and the cousin of a USAF Master Sgt. and the mother of a son with friends in Special Ops and the US Coast Guard, as a person who is opposed to the wars in which we are presently engaged but who is supportive of all those who fight for our country, I salute the men and women, past and present, of the United States Armed Forces.
USAF Staff Sgt. Phillip Myers was killed in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan Saturday. He was 30 years old. He was a recipient of the Bronze Star one year ago. He left behind a widow and it was her decision to allow the media to film the return of his body to the United States. Forty journalists and camera crew were on hand to record the moment when this first U.S. soldier's body was to be carried off the plan in a flag draped casket. Why all the interest at this point in our no longer to be referred to War on Terror? Because it is the first time in twenty years the press has been allowed to film a returning soldier's casket to the US. A controversial ban was recently lifted by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates under President Obama.
And what does this say about our country, our leaders, our defense department? Why did they hide these things from us? Why are we just now being allowed to witness the tragedy of war in all its empty glory?
