Jokesters are absent at local Purple Heart awards ceremony (AZ Republic)

[swag]

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0916montini16.
html

EJ Montini

. . . These days Guard and Reserve members are called to dangerous duty for extended periods of time, and the burden on their families is enormous. So when they come home, having served honorably, some of them wounded, an awards ceremony seems more than appropriate. If anything, it's a shame we only give them one.

News reports of the event indicate that it was both solemn and happy, leading me to believe that those in attendance would have been more than willing to share a laugh. Yet no purple bandages.

Or is the bandage thing the type of joke that's only funny after more than 30 years have passed. Maybe poking fun at someone who risked his neck for his country gets funnier after three decades.

I wonder how many of the Guard members at the ceremony would see it that way? During the awards presentations various members received a total of 11 Purple Hearts, nine Bronze Stars and 12 Joint Service Achievement medals.

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