By Michael Shaver Santa Monica
First of all, I am a vet, like my fathers before me. I never saw war (1980-86). I did grow up in a military family, and I clearly understand — up close and personal — the sacrifice that intelligent, industrious, hard working and brave Americans make in service.
We now, shamefully, live in a time when we no longer honor our dead, but rather fly them in C-147s under the cover of darkness, away from the press as if to hide our fallen in shame. No band, no clergy, just a dark runway that welcomes them back to America.
I also am troubled by the Arlington West message (“Arlington West exploits the dead,” May 28). I told them so. They talked to me. I discovered that these volunteers set this display up only to let us see and honor our dead, so that we might remember them.
Because I live across the street, it’s hard to miss them every Sunday. Arlington West volunteers are a collection of mostly women; American women who, as men, we know pay the highest price when thier child, husband, father dies, and is forgotten by a nation more concerned with Lindsey Lohan or Paris Hilton.
I am so very proud of this city, of these people who live here, who roll up their sleeves and “do” something, seemingly for every social issue, while it seems every other city in America just talks. Arlington West is nothing more than the best volunteers of our citizens honoring the best volunteers of our solders. They both make me very proud to live in Santa Monica.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 29, 2007. Read the original PDF.