From a Marine Veteran

From a Marine Veteran: My son has recently returned from his second combat deployment with the USMC in Iraq. I can only imagine what he faced over there every day of both deployments and I know that those experiences will be with him forever. Even though he made it back to us safe and sound, I still check the casualty list every day to keep this terrible war at the forefront of my thoughts and to spend a few moments thinking of those brave Americans who have given their lives so gallantly while the "armchair patriots" back home barely give them more than a passing thought. To so many in the United States these heroes are casualties of war. To those of us who have served in the Armed Forces and whose loved ones are serving now, this war and the terrible losses we've suffered so far are a constant reminder of how those who never put themselves in harm's way are always the ones to send others to fight and die. Not only are they protected from the grim realities of their misbegotten war, they even go a s far as to ensure that the majority of the people here in the United States only see a cleaned-up version of the toll this war is taking on our family members. If the right wing conservatives who gave Bush his "mandate" to carry on with this lunacy could see the devastation of human lives and families that is occurring each day, they would surely think differently. It is so much easier to send our brave troops off to war when we can't see the results up close. Every flight bearing our military dead should arrive at Dover Air Base in the middle of the day with the media giving these fallen heroes the honor and recognition they deserve. Pre-empt the game shows, soap operas, and home improvement shows and encourage people to watch in silence what their arrogant President has caused with his lies. Every military funeral should be covered by the media and attended by the members of Congress in whose district these heroes once lived. Only when every American shares in the losses suffered by the families who have made the ultimate sacrifice of a precious loved one will there be a great uprising of conscience that will bring our troops back home to the lives and families they were meant to enjoy. Hiding the truth brought this war to our families. Only baring the truth can end it. Semper Fidelis. Bob Tanner, USMC, 1971-1973