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We can learn from the French about honor
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by dunkelberg | September 4, 2008 at 08:07 pm
422 views | 39 Recommendations | 6 comments
If you can, before you read this, watch the video.
It is a commemorative ceremony at Les Invalides in Paris. This occasion honors ten French soldiers killed in Afghanistan as they arrive in France on their final trip home.
Troops are turned out and stand ramrod straight to salute their fallen comrades. At one point, a young officer fights back tears as he stands at attention saluting.
You see the loved ones. They are hugging. They are crying. Some look in bewilderment, others in shock and some just stare.
One man stands alone in the courtyard, not flanked by aides or handlers, facing the frag-draped coffins. It is French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Each one of the coffins pass by him as he stands there to honor the fallen and their families.
This may not happen in all cases. I do not know. My point is it happened at least once, and it was very moving.
As of this writing, there have been 4,152 confirmed U.S. military deaths in Iraq alone.
The latest were just today.
Two Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers were killed while on patrol as a result of a terrorist attack using an improvised explosive device in eastern Baghdad at approximately 12:15 p.m. Sept. 4.
Not one of them has been met upon arrival as the French soldiers in the video.
This has not gone unnoticed by the troops.
Once, Stars and Stripes brought it up. For those not familiar with Stars and Stripes -
Stars and Stripes is a Department of Defense-authorized daily newspaper distributed overseas for the U.S. military community. Editorially independent of interference from outside its own editorial chain-of-command, it provides commercially available U.S. and world news and objective staff-produced stories relevant to the military community in a balanced, fair, and accurate manner. By keeping its audience informed, Stars and Stripes enhances military readiness and better enables U.S. military personnel and their families stationed overseas to exercise their responsibilities of citizenship.— Revised DoD Directive 5122.11
As a matter of fact, the question led off the report of an exclusive interview.
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE — President Bush has met hundreds of families of fallen soldiers, but he has yet to attend a servicemember’s funeral, he said Tuesday.
“Because which funeral do you go to? In my judgment, I think if I go to one I should go to all. How do you honor one person but not another?” he said.
The appropriate way to express his appreciation to the family members of fallen troops is to meet with them in private, he said.
I have no idea what is best for the families or what they want. I do not pretend to know.
I think the nation might appreciate a public showing to "express his appreciation".
I am guessing, and it only is a guess, if the troops were asking about it, they might appreciate it too.
[Honor is due for inspiration on this piece. I discovered the video as I was reading the poignant and disturbing piece about the ambush aftermath by Johnny Summerton. He often writes of French politics, but truly excels in pieces about life and culture in France (for which he gets some ribbing at times). It was a piece he labored hard over and it shows. My thanks.]
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (6)
at 22:22 on September 4th, 2008
dunkelberg, I like this story. It's good stuff.
It's unfortunate that we're at war, and that our troops are dying (understatement - I have friends in Baghdad with our military currently). I wonder, however, what historically presidents have done - during WW1, WW2, and Vietnam, for example. Did they go to a (or multiple) funerals for fallen service personell? If so, then it would show yet another stomping on historical tradition by the current administration. If not, then perhaps what they are doing is correct and respectful and going with the traditions of our nation and culture.
at 01:17 on September 5th, 2008
dunkelberg, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 01:47 on September 5th, 2008
...
at 03:23 on September 5th, 2008
dunkelberg, I like this story. It's good stuff.
I am not sure about the last link here.
The German even though all have mandatory Military service do not honour their Soldiers nor they Flag, If one is a professional soldier and dies so it is once duty and what one gets paid for. Maybe we do not want to repeat what has happen in WWII and are extra careful.
at 03:52 on September 5th, 2008
dunkelberg, I like this story. In contrary to the US, where vietnam veterans often end in a $5 hotel; the french honour their soldiers. The point however, the french are "triste"(sad) what have their young guys to do in a war they never agreed. The question is open, how could it happen, was it a trap from a secret service ? The shock about 63 more soldiers send today to Afghanistan makes the people angry. No solution in sight like Algeria war. A desperate fight for Cheny's secure energy partners BP/Chevron but not Total. So why fighting.
at 04:46 on September 5th, 2008
Point well taken, Dunkelberg.