Posted by
Rich on Thursday, April 10, 2008 12:50:31 PM
In their editorial, "The honor and the burden"
the Sarasota Herald-Tribune just can't keep from taking the opportunity
to hate President Bush using the pretense of honoring the death of an
American hero.
I do not know if any member of the Sarasota
Herald-Tribune editorial board has ever lead men and women in combat or
served in a military leadership position, other than Command Sergeant
Major USMC (Ret.) John Annis, or had someone under their command killed.
Well
we have. We can tell you that the burden felt at the loss of a fellow
soldier by those non-commissioned officers and commissioned officers in
the chain of command lasts a life time.
General Peter Pace, USMC
(Ret.), former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, traveled to the
Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. immediately after his
retirement ceremony on October 1, 2007. When he arrived at the wall he
went to the name of Guido Farinaro
where he stood for a while, then bent down to place a small card
(pictured above) against the Wall. This card said,"For Guido Farinaro,
USMC. These are yours, not mine. With love and respect, your platoon
leader. Pete Pace."
This is the life long burden all military combat leaders carry.
When
Vice President Cheney said, "He's the one who has to make the decision
to commit young Americans." and bears the greatest burden. He was right.
Of
all the Commanders in our Armed Forces the Commander in Chief bears the
greatest burden of all. President Bush was crying when he presented the
Medal of Honor to the parents of Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael
Monsoor.
We know the President will never stop crying in his
heart as he remembers the 4,000 plus men and women who have paid the
ultimate price in the defense of our great nation.
We cry with
the Monsoor family, with his chain of command, and especially President
Bush. But we also are thankful and proud of those like Michael who
volunteered to keep us safe.
We are ashamed of the
Herald-Tribune and the editorial board for using his death as a cheap
political tool to attack President Bush. That is truly hateful and
sickening.