Black Box Report

Like many of you, I have not worn a uniform. But also like many of you, I have had family serve with distinction and pride in the armed forces. I was raised to respect the soldier even if you disagreed with the war and, unlike a generation ago, I’m proud that our nation has learned that painful lesson. But as we've learned these last few years, our soldiers need a lot more than respect and even acknowledgement when they come home. They need and deserve for the compact of nation and veteran to be honored when it comes to care and benefits. To this point, without scandal or shocking revelation, the right thing is too often the rare thing. Our vets have been shortchanged at every turn and that is a national shame.

To be fair, progress is being made. But for the authors of this elective war, I suggest the bureaucrats take a field trip to places I’ve been privileged to see, places that have forever changed me.

The powers that be should go to Normandy, France. If they can stand at that cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach and not be moved by the symmetrical rows of crosses and Stars of David, they are more hardened than me.

They then should go to the Pacific and Pearl Harbor and visit the U.S.S. Arizona. Stand on that haunting bridge and you will begin to appreciate the sudden sacrifice.

Closer to home, they should leave their offices in our nation's capitol and visit the World War II Memorial, Korean Monument and the Vietnam Memorial. If they aren't humbled by the etched names on that black wall, they need to find a new line of work.

While we all should take a moment and remember that today is about more than snarled traffic and overcooked barbecue, lets hope we do more than just honor our fallen. Lets demand that we do right by the living too. Our soldiers and our veterans sacrificed for us, the least we can do is repay the favor.