PUBLIC FORUM WE MUST NOT FORGET.To those out there whose families have given America the supreme sacrifice, thank you. Certainly all veterans deserve our deep gratitude, but most especially those who did not return. We must remember them and their patriotic deeds, not just for today but every day. For it is what makes America work. Fidelity, devotion, love of country. To the mothers of American soldiers who did not return, Gold Star Mothers, you have our heartfelt appreciation and awe. Be reassured, all those of us who did return will never forget your sons. They are and will remain the true American heroes. To the military leaders out there whose charge is the protection of American soil and citizens, you have our prayers and support. That so many are asked to give so much must always be respected. To the legislators whose votes cast a permanent imprint on the standard of living of Americans serving in uniform throughout the world, cast those votes carefully, as if freedom depended upon them. To those out there whose lives have been one long uninterrupted successful venture, who may not have served, take heed Verb 1. take heed - listen and pay attention; "Listen to your father"; "We must hear the expert before we make a decision" listen, hear focus, pore, rivet, center, centre, concentrate - direct one's attention on something; "Please focus on your studies and today, please. Your success and freedom were hard won by trusting young men and women in uniform. - Robert Hammer Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. Vietnam veterans This article is about the French band. For veterans of the Vietnam War, see Vietnam veteran. The Vietnam Veterans were a six-person French psychedelic group that released six records in the 1980s. The band was praised by many alternative music publications. So many veterans of Korea and Vietnam have felt unappreciated. In contrast to World War II veterans, who came home to victory parades everywhere, the vets of the wars in the 1950s and 1960s didn't have the accolades and the laurel wreaths. I have seen so many vets who have not been able to get over the horrors of the battlefields in 'Nam and some who've been unable to adjust to the home-ground battlefield. Almost 30 percent of our homeless population today are veterans. I have just returned from the Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta (Vietnamese: đồng bằng sông Cửu Long in Vietnam, where I visited those fields and jungle-like terrain in which our men fought 30 years ago. I wanted to see what it was like; to smell the smells and feel the heavy, sticky air over the canals and ditches and to walk on that terra cotta cot·ta n. pl. cot·tae or cot·tas A short surplice. [Medieval Latin, of Germanic origin.] red soil. I came away with even more affection and respect for those who fought there in that hellhole of a battlefield and for those 58,000-plus who paid the ultimate price for us at home. We hear and read a great deal today about claimed atrocities brought about by our troops. Yet, very little is mentioned of the torture, imprisonment Imprisonment See also Isolation. Alcatraz Island former federal maximum security penitentiary, near San Francisco; “escapeproof.” [Am. Hist.: Flexner, 218] Altmark, the German prison ship in World War II. [Br. Hist. and deprivation of our POWs and MIAs at the hands of the enemy. So few seem to understand that war is horrible, especially when you are close to the ones who are trying to kill you; and even worse when enemies look the same as friends. Innocent people die in war ... it has been that way from the beginning. ``War is hell.'' It should be avoided whenever possible but never avoided when it comes to the protection of home, family and country. The Vietnam War Vietnam War, conflict in Southeast Asia, primarily fought in South Vietnam between government forces aided by the United States and guerrilla forces aided by North Vietnam. was a politician's war. I would like to remind my countrymen today to pause and thank God for the brave men and women who have said ``yes'' to our country's call even when it wasn't popular, and to thank those vets of all wars who are among us daily, especially the Vietnam vets. - Don Clinton USN 1945-46, Air Sea Rescue-Saipan Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Build it now I am a spouse of a World War II veteran, and I am in support of the memorial to be built as planned at the reflecting pool
A reflecting pool is a structure often used in memorials. It generally consists of a shallow pool of water, usually quite calm. site on the National Mall National Mall: see National Parks and Monuments (table). , and I want construction to begin without delay. This memorial is being built with donations from veterans and no tax money will be used. I believe these vets should be recognized before they are all gone. This should have been done years ago. - Marilyn C'Dealva Woodland Hills Let's say thank you I believe it's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a we got behind the efforts of veterans and citizens concerned with showing a ``thank you'' to the men and women who put their lives on the line that we in this country might enjoy the freedom guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The fundamental law of the United States. 2. It was framed by a convention of the representatives of the people, who met at Philadelphia, and finally adopted it on the 17th day of September, 1787. . The project was approved and was about to go ahead when a few malcontents put in a petition delaying the construction because they said it blocked the view from the Lincoln Memorial Lincoln Memorial, monument, 107 acres (45 hectares), in Potomac Park, Washington, D.C.; built 1914–17. The building, designed by Henry Bacon and styled after a Greek temple, has 36 Doric columns representing the states of the Union at the time of Lincoln's to the Washington Memorial. I've seen pictures of the proposed memorial and if anything, it enhances the Mall without obstructing any view. The time is now, before we lose all the World War II veterans. They're passing away at an alarming rate so we should act now. - D. Acevedo Northridge Before it is too late For six years, the National Capital Planning Commission The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) is a government agency that provides planning guidance for Washington, D.C. and the surrounding communities. In addition to the District of Columbia, the NCPC has planning authority in Montgomery County, Maryland; Prince George's has been holdingmeetings, reviewing and changing designs for the World War II Memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C. All of the concerned agencies and commissions are agreed on the design, and ground was broken Nov. 11, 2000. Now a small group has filed suit that the former chairman of the above-named commission still sat on the commission after his term ran out. So the National Capital Planning Commission must hold more hearings June 13-14 and rule on this again. The veterans of WWII WWII abbr. World War II WWII World War Two deserve a memorial and on the Mall is the most fitting site. WWII veterans are dying at the rate of 30,000 a month. Please help to stop this outrage and get this memorial built before all of us are gone and don't get to witness it. - John L. Graves Infantry veteran from WWII Sun Valley The hero of today Why are we equating heroism with error making? We now treat mistake makers as heroes. If a member of the military errs, they are brought to the White House for recognition. There is a huge difference between getting lost behind enemy lines, letting hostile aircraft get too close, and doing something truely courageous. Thousands of this country's finest young men and women courageously fought or served in Viet Nam. They were never given parades in their home town or feted in Washington. This Memorial Day we should recognize the true heroes and not those who received all the attention due to mistakes in judgement. - Patrick A. Murphy West Hills |
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