Where is the support for our veterans?
With Daylight Savings Time coming earlier than ever nowdays, the afternoon shadows ran long Sunday afternoon for the annual Veterans Day Parade in downtown Floyd and the crowd was a far cry from what it once was in a county where service to country was once considered important and worthy of more respect and attention.
Even with Spring-like weather on a November afternoon, the turnout was not large. Perhaps the economy has something to do with the lack of interest. Perhaps the controversies surrounding the unpopular wars in Iraq and Afghanistan kept people away. Perhaps people couldn’t tear themselves away from the football game or NASCAR race on TV. Whatever the excuse, that dog won’t hunt. Those who put on the uniform and stand post to serve our country deserve better,
The poor turnout at last year’s Veterans Day Parade prompted Greg Locke (riding in sidecar below) to write a letter to the Floyd Press asking why people didn’t come out and support those who served their country.
Locke hoped the letter would spur a greater turnout this year.
It didn’t.
The problem isn’t limited to Floyd. In Bedford, the National D-Day Memorial is broke and might close unless the National Park Service decides to take over ownership and management of the monument to those who died in the bloodiest day of World War II. Yet a museum on D-Day in New Orleans is flooded with donations.
Being a vet once counted for something in Virginia. What happened?
Very well said….Thank You to each and every Vet for your help in making this the Land of the Free and home of the Brave.
I was touched and riveted watching “The Good Solider” on Bill Moyers Journal last night. It gave a humanizing and honest look at what soldiers (who fought in WWII, Vietnam, and Iraq) go through. http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/11062009/profile.html
People need to wake up and realize what is truely important these days. People need to return to their roots and remember what respect, honor and integrity are all about. Many could learn a lesson in integrity from Roanoke County Fire and EMS as well as Salem Firemen who all worked a full 12 hour shift without pay so that their fellow brothers in Roanoke City Fire and Ems could attend the funeral of Captain Chris Brown. Not just one fireman, but over 30 fireman!! These men provided the utmost level of integrity.
My son and I attended the parade. He is only eight years old but he felt the need to salute the soldiers!!! My son may not grow up to be the richest man in America but he will know what it means to respect the flag as well as those who have served to protect us!
That was a fine parade!
And the crowd was indeed appreciative.
The VT ROTC rifle drill captured all eyes, the color guards lined up and in step, the old guard well represented by the VFW & Legion, the FCHS marching band played Sousa; the bikes bucked & roared and showed the colors, the fire & rescue companies engines purred and chrome gleamed, the horses pranced and the bucket brigade picked up.
Folks that were there visited and cheered. And shared the moment.
Well done indeed!
Maybe there was low turnout because we honor our veterans on a very important date. November 11. Not some business-convenient, easy-to-schedule Sunday, but on the very day that the “war to end all wars” ended. Honor the date. Remember the forgottten war. Lay aside your priorities and take a day to reflect on the cost of our freedom, paid by a relative few for the many.
My employees will be given the day off. I will do no commerce. And I will contemplate http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/33836331#33836331 “>this address, a reminder of what this day is about.
The problem is that most people have no idea that this country is at war.
Most prefer coming back to cheers rather than being spit upon. But nothing surpasses the trauma of coming home and almost no one knowing that anything is happening.
America is spending a fortune, and the wounded are slowly coming home. But almost everyone one except the few trapped into going over there, and their immediate family, minds are on health care, or trying to use backlash against Obama to destroy the liberal agenda.
Mentioning the football game and NASCAR is very fitting. Why don’t the very few of us who are paying enough attention to the war to call ourselves Doves or Hawks, get together to suggest that all the football games and NASCAR games be postponed until the war is over.