TAPS

My outrage knows no boundaries on this issue....

In a story I have linked to on the right it appears that a portion of the funeral services for our fallen soldiers has been banned by the VA, presumably under the approval of the White House. Due to a complaint by left-wing anti religion zealots in Riverside California, citing the separation of church and state, all 125 veteran's graveyards across this nation are now prevented from conducting the 13 point folding of the flag, which is then handed to the grieving widow. In this long standing tradition words are recited at each fold (a number which represents the original 13 colonies). At the first fold they speak of life, the second a belief in eternal life, and they continue at each turn, paying a much deserved homage to the sacrafice of the soldier. It is perhaps the most reverent tradition preformed by our armed services. The complaint was over the 11th fold in which the words recited celebrate Jewish war veterans and “glorifies the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.”

The VA issued this memorandum on September 27th citing a need to have a "uniform procedure." And they noted that the surviving relatives of the fallen hero may contract out ex-soldiers or other private citizens to preform this ritual during the burial ceremonies if they so choose, but no current serving member of the military, or other government employee may conduct that portion of the ceremony. Why not? We contract out certain security aspects of the war to private citizens, right?

I learned of this disgrace just today, over a month after the fact. And to his tribute our local conservative radio host, Jerry Doyle (whom is syndicated nationally, but certainly not in the top tier of hosts) is the one whom brought it to my attention. Why is that? Why have I not heard about this gross abuse of government power and slavish caving into the fringe movements among us from every single conservative commentator alive? If it were a President Hillary Clinton allowing this to occur the speed at which Rush et al would run to their microphone could only be measured in Mach. So today I issue you in the conservative chattering class a challenge. We, your audience, have handed you record ratings; we have patronized your advertisers; we have defended your comments and positions .... and we now ask for something in return. We will take note at whether you call the administration out on this unjust decision. Will you rise and act out the patriotism you so claim to have? Or will you shrink from this challenge and allow the morals, institutions and traditions that we hold so dear to evaporate amongst the shifting sands of political correctness? The very definition of a conservative is one "resistant to change." Well, resist this. Take your influence and bully pulpit and effect pressure where pressure is needed. And yes, do it on behalf of all your fans, but more so, do it for the WWII veteran that will die by the time you finish reading this post. For the Iraqi veteran that will die before the end of this war; for the last living WWI combat veteran whom has witnessed this tradition for eight decades and who no doubt assumes that when his time finally comes, he will be afforded the same honor as his fallen comrades in arms.
And lastly do it for all those whom will join in the future. For those young boys who are now playing with their tanks and toy guns, dressing up like soldiers at Halloween who will one day be called upon to defend, some with their lives, this country that has given you so much.

Do it .... and do it now.
FR