Amazing Photo: Hurricane does not deter guards at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

[pinboy3niner]

310. Yet this is one example of our government honoring its debt to those who served

Ensuring that they will be remembered and honored, not forgotten. Even, in this case, those whose names are unknown. Those who not only made the ultimate sacrifice, in death they were denied even the dignity of their names being known and remembered.

What would be worse--the government honoring the Unknowns in this way--or not honoring them at all?

For all the RW lip service and yellow ribbon car magnets for the troops and vets, there actually have been a lot of initiatives to truly support the troops, veterans, and military families--especially under this administration. It was President Obama's 2010 budget that gave the VA its largest increase in 30 years.

President Obama also has increased funding for TBI and PTSD and expanded mental health and PTSD services both in the service branches and in the VA and its nationwide network of Vet Centers. I once wrote an article about "The Last Vet Center" when the VA opened the last of its planned 186 Vet Centers in Springfield, VA. Today there are more than 300 Vet Centers--including one that opened in my community not long ago.

Challenges remain, but this Democratic Administration and Democratic leaders in Congress are working to honor our nation's promises to those who serve. Our First and Second Ladies have even made it their priority to support military families.

The VA health care system consistently is rated as good or better than civilian health care, but major issues remain in the claims bureaucracy and in appointment waiting times. This Administration has promised improvements, but the jury is out until they produce results. This is something that the veterans' service organizations are watching closely.

Combating sexual abuse in the in the military is now a priority of DoD and its service branches, and in Congress Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) has been a leader on the issue. Another Dem standing up for the troops.

Please understand, too, that many of us here have personal connections to the military and to the fallen that makes this a sensitive issue. I knew more than 60 guys who died in Vietnam, and I have friends who are buried at Arlington--including a friend and roommate who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously.

One of my men volunteered for helicopter door gunner in Vietnam, was shot down and spent 3 1/2 years as a POW. One friend's husband was classified as MIA for years, and she even traveled to the Paris peace talks in an effort to get information from the North Vietnamese delegation.

I've also lost VN vet friends to suicide--including my first radioman in VN, who killed himself shortly after returning to the U.S.

And while I have only one Purple Heart, I have friends who have as many as four.

Many of us are genuinely concerned about our country's treatment of our troops and our veerans. Please do not reduce it to a matter of us getting "all weepy about men standing in the rain." And still, from our perspective, we see the ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington as entirely appropriate. And the Old Guard there has our utmost respect.