Service people need to be recognized and honored

Aug 17, 2011 1 min read

To the editor:

The death of twenty-two Navy SEALS in Afghanistan certainly qualifies as a national tragedy and President Obama did the right thing by going to Dover Air Force Base to pay his and the nation’s respects when their remains were returned. (Of course, if he hadn’t, the Republicans would have hammered him for being “uncaring.”)

The troops who volunteer for “Special Ops”, whether prompted by super-patriotism or simply thrill seeking, are indeed special and deserve to be recognized as the best of the best.

At the same time, during the course of our two current highly-questionable wars, several thousand “non-special” service men and women, including company clerks, medics, cooks and motor pool mechanics, also died in the service of their country. They also volunteered to serve; they also went where they were sent and did what they were trained to do.

They are also just as dead. Their families are also just as devastated. And they also deserve to be honored just as much. Let us never forget their sacrifice either.

Jay Light

Fort Myers Beach