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Stare Master
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An enlisted service member killed in battle and posthumously awarded the Silver Star for heroism is rendered lesser honors at Arlington National Cemetery than an officer who dies in a car crash the day after being commissioned. That statement took officials at several veterans’ organizations by surprise. But it is true: Burial honors at Arlington, the nation’s most storied military cemetery and home of the Tomb of the Unknowns, are accorded strictly by rank, not by the circumstances of death. http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/03/marine_burialdisparity_032508/ This is wrong. Those who are killed in combat, regardless of awards or rank, should be given full honors.
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American GI. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
"History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over." COLONEL BULL SIMONS
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Seasoned Vet
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I agree with you, but they have some pretty good logic as to why it is not done. Man power alone is a key factor. The fact is that is the way it has been for as long as I can remember. Enlisted Ranks just do not get the same treatment as Officers. Not fair by a long shot, and I would support a change, but how would it be done?
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Stare Master
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My suggestion is that those not KIA in combat(such as the hypothetical officer killed in a car accident the day after being commissioned) get the reduced honors.
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American GI. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
"History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over." COLONEL BULL SIMONS
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Seasoned Vet
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509Trooper (3/26/2008)
My suggestion is that those not KIA in combat(such as the hypothetical officer killed in a car accident the day after being commissioned) get the reduced honors.Going to stomp on someones feet no matter what here. Traditions are hard to change.... well unless it comes to things like berets and jump boots I guess.
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Harmony Church Survivor
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Arlington is sacred ground to me. So, no damn bueracrat should be making the rules about this. The military should be making these rules. And I bet a crap load of PO'd vets who show up to the gates of Arlington to protest something as stupid as that, the rule will be changed quickly. Just tell me the weekend, and I'll drive down!!
......."If you dream about shooting me, you better wake up and apologize" Reservoir Dog
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Regular Joe
 
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509Trooper (3/26/2008)
An enlisted service member killed in battle and posthumously awarded the Silver Star for heroism is rendered lesser honors at Arlington National Cemetery than an officer who dies in a car crash the day after being commissioned.
That statement took officials at several veterans’ organizations by surprise. But it is true: Burial honors at Arlington, the nation’s most storied military cemetery and home of the Tomb of the Unknowns, are accorded strictly by rank, not by the circumstances of death.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/03/marine_burialdisparity_032508/
This is wrong. Those who are killed in combat, regardless of awards or rank, should be given full honors.
AMEN BROTHER
Man it don't look good, I wouldn't Jump that
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Green GI
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| Regardless of tradition its not right. You and I both know the passing of a fellow soldier regardless of their rank or how they passed strikes a chord with all of us. They are our brothers and sisters with a special bond to us no matter if we knew them or not.BUT when one of our comrads takes one for the team (KIA) that should be automatic hero status with full blown honors.PERIOD! I 'm writing my congressman to let him know how I feel about this-it's not much but it's something. [url=http://militarysignatures.com] [/url]
Stay Alert-Stay Alive!
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Seasoned Vet
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A. I have not said it is right. B. It is how it has been for as long as I can think of, but still does not make it right. C. In order for them to change this, they will be pissing off another group entirely who have always been afforded this as a part of their benefits of being officers. D. If they change this, what criteria is to be met? Will it only apply to Silver Star recipients?Or Bronze Star w/"V"or how about the ARCOM with V?
I say change it if they can do it, but how and under what conditions?
Is this something that is irritating to me, that someone is elligible for Full Honors regardless of their time in service or manner of death, and someone else who has died in a manner that merited the Silver Star? Of course it does, but what else should be changed, and how?
Traditions are a major part of the Military, what else do we not like that is unfair that should be changed? Rank has its priveleages.... Change it if we can, but lets work on it with more than our emotional anger at what we view as a slight, but has been a long standing practice and tradition. They are not going to change anything based on righteous indignation alone. INE proved that.....
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