There is a War Protest with a cemetery display at a college in St Louis. They have tomb stones with the names of those that were killed in the war. I am sending this out so that any family who has a loved in who was killed in Iraq if you want to call or write the Dean of Students and let them know how upsetting this is to you please do so
Need to know how disgusting this display is? Here is a picture of the referenced display (from a previous event), organized by the St. Louis Instead of War Coalition:
This is typical of the response that has been received to requests for removal:Dear Ms. M---:
Per your request, I have seen to it that the tombstone with the name of your loved one has been taken down.
Please let me say that I am extremely sorry for your loss. The students who set up the memorial on our campus did not mean to add to your pain. They were simply trying to bring honor to those soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve those freedoms that we enjoy.Hmmmmmm...somehow, I don't think so. This hero's widow didn't think so, either:Mr. Brady,
I am responding to your comment "They were simply trying to bring honor to those soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve those freedoms that we enjoy."
It is my understanding that there was a tombstone with simply D----- M---- on it. (Name withheld pending permission from this hero's widow) No branch of service, no rank. Exactly how were you honoring a "soldier" when you excluded his military experience? My husband EARNED his rank by being in the Marine Corps for 13 years and doing his job well. His intention was to be in for 20 years. Your students erased his dedication to defending their freedoms by erasing his military background. Your students have made him just a name. Really I can't even dream up something as distasteful. I would not have called if I didn't feel this was truly just a display for visual impact....by no means "honoring" anyone. Please save your empty condolences and sarcasm.
Deborah M------
Proud Wife of SSgt. D----- M------, Jr.
KIA on March 25, 2003 And if you haven't lost your lunch yet, not only do these "tombstones" completely eliminate any reference to rank or branch of service, but our Heroes are sharing space on them with Iraqi names, as well.
Some are particularly disturbing - like this one removed from the display. This is how these people saw fit to "honor" a member of the Soldiers' Angels family:
For the record, that's PFC Gunnar Becker, 2nd Platoon "Bandits," Bravo Company 2/63 AR Battalion, US Army
Another picture of the display:
Freedom of expression is one thing. This is...I don't know what this is. Wrong, is all I can come up with. Wrong, wrong, wrong. This kind of thing needs to be addressed. The Respect for Fallen Heroes Act is a start - more information on that below.
The two pictures above come from Jan's album of photos of the display and some of the stones they've been able to remove:
The display does come down on Thursday March 30, 2006 at 3:30 after Taps is played...
Here's some background:
It appears that the tombstone display actually is borrowed from this group: http://www.insteadofwar.org There is a picture of the display at a previous event.
Here is their contact info:
St. Louis Instead of War Coalition
438 N. Skinker Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63130
(314) 725-5303
staff@insteadofwar.org
So at this point I think everyone needs to email the group and also email their Senator and Congressman regarding the pending legislation regarding the upcoming Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act to have these such displays be added to that legislation. Below is a copy of what I have been sending, plus the link to sign the petition.
Petitions can be signed at www.mikerogers.house.gov/fallenheroes.aspx
I encourage you to forward this site to your friends and family and ask them to help protect military families.
Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act is upcoming legislation, I do not feel this bill goes far enough. I believe that it should also include the use of our Fallen's names on crosses and tombstone in protest against the war without the family’s written permission. The visual impact would be the same if they put up 2400+ cross/tombstones without the names. Our men and women have died to protect the right of free speech but they have not given them the right to assume those who have died agree with their protest. The use of the names of our fallen give the impression they would have supported the protest.
The anti-war crowd, unfortunately, never ceases to sicken me with the complete lack of respect they show our Heroes and their families. Just one more reason I don't buy the "I'm anti-war, not anti-troop" line.
Here is further information on the Respect for Fallen Heroes Act (forwarded by Sara of Soldiers' Angels:
Rogers Proposes the Respect for Fallen Heroes Act
While attending the funeral of a Michigan soldier who died of combat wounds suffered in Iraq, protestors attempted to disrupt the funeral by shouting vile and harassing slogans at the family and other mourners. Military families mourning the loss of a loved one killed in the defense of our nation deserve the right to say their final goodbyes in peace. America honors and respects our soldiers, and none more than those who die defending freedom and our nation.
Next week, I will be introducing federal legislation to protect grieving military families by banning protestors from military funerals. This legislation, the Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act, will prohibit demonstrating one hour before and one hour after the service for a fallen solider and keep the protesters 500 feet from the grieving family. No family burying a son or daughter, a husband or wife, a brother or sister, should be faced with the insults, verbal attacks, and intimidation that these protestors were screaming or displaying on signs. This common sense legislation will help to protect military families in their most difficult hour and is narrowly tailored to fit within the time and place restrictions consistently upheld by the Supreme Court.
Giving citizens an opportunity to participate in the process and support the legislation, I launched an on-line petition. The petition will allow citizens to express honor and respect for our American soldiers who make the ultimate sacrifice for the nation, as well as support for the people they love and leave behind. The petition and comments from citizens will be presented to the House Veterans Affairs Committee at an April 6 hearing in Washington. Petitions can be signed at www.mikerogers.house.gov/fallenheroes.aspx
I encourage you to forward this site to your friends and family and ask them to help protect military families.
