Soldier: Why is flag at half-staff for Virginia Tech but not troops?

[flowomo]

In Article, Soldier Urges That Troops Be Honored Like Virginia Tech Dead
Published: April 23, 2007 3:10 PM ET

(An AP article cited by editor&publisher at:
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003575145

KABUL, Afghanistan An Army sergeant complained in a rare opinion article that the U.S. flag flew at half-staff last week at the largest U.S. base in Afghanistan for those killed at Virginia Tech but the same honor is not given to fallen U.S. troops here and in Iraq.

In the article issued Monday by the public affairs office at Bagram military base north of Kabul, Sgt. Jim Wilt lamented that his comrades' deaths have become a mere blip on the TV screen, lacking the "shock factor" to be honored by the Stars and Stripes as the deaths at Virginia Tech were.

"I find it ironic that the flags were flown at half-staff for the young men and women who were killed at VT, yet it is never lowered for the death of a U.S. service member," Wilt wrote.


As a side note, I wrote my weekly newspaper column about this as well, citing, anonymously, a posting by LynnThe Dem here on DU. That article is online at:

http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2007/04/23/editorial/rich_lewis/lewis74.txt

[annabanana]

1. I would think that their families would feel the same way. .

Where were the tears and public grief for their loved ones...?

[central scrutinizer]

2. too late now

after ignoring the first 3200+ dead, it would stick out like a sore thumb to start now.

[gratuitous]

3. Oregon flies flags at half staff for local casualties

If there's a local connection to a casualty from Iraq or Afghanistan, Gov. Kulongoski almost always orders state flags flown at half staff for a day. Flags are at half mast so often, I don't know what it is for most of the time. Kulongoski also has made it a point to attend as many memorial services and funerals as he can.

But the commander-in-chief has determined that seeing caskets arrive and reminding folks around the country that thousands of people are dead is bad for the troops' morale. Mr. Wilt should probably address his complaint to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

[Hubert Flottz]

4. Bush put the troops on Ignore from day one!

[blondeatlast]

5. Perhaps those of us who want a pullout should start flying our flags half-mast

for the fallen.

What a powerful message--and yet patriotic too.

[rocktivity]

6. It's because in the eyes of your AWOL nutcase of a commander in chief

you're an inconvenient truth, Sergeant.

:headbang:
rocknation

[MonkeyFunk]

7. Some states do lower their flags for local soldiers

but honestly, if the flags were flown at half-staff for all military deaths, it would be a meaningless gesture - every flag would perpetually be at half-staff.

[Horse with no Name]

8. I hope he understands that many others feel that way too

:(

[shaniqua6392]

9. Michigan does it for soldiers who are from here who died.

I think they should just stay at half-staff permanently because we lose soldiers every day in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[stillcool]

11. me too.

until they all come home.

[misanthrope]

10. Because it's not being driven by the sensationalist broadcast media...

...like the VaTech aftermath was.

[gaspee]

12. Good question

Now to get an answer from this misadministration!

[Virginia Dare]

13. And the chimp took a day off from jokes in honor of the VT victims..

but no such respect for our soldiers, he's back to yukking it up again no doubt.