As a proud NIU veteran student I am pleased to see the In Focus section of “Honoring the Military.” However I do take issue with one of the columnists.

America does indeed honor its servicemembers well, but to say that it is sufficient is missing the point. America should always be reassessing its assistance to its servicemembers with the aim of constantly improving servicemembers’ ability to be as productive and successful in the civilian side as they were in uniform.

Second, to say that servicemembers should realize that active combat is an embedded facet of military is incredibly patronizing. As a person who served a combat tour in Baghdad can attest to, servicemembers do indeed realize the contemporary hazards of military service. That fact in and of itself is a huge testament to the courage, integrity and devotion these relatively few men and women possess when volunteering for a profession that is incredibly dangerous and requires great personal sacrifice.

I appreciate the opportunity you have taken to honor America’s servicemembers, however your article suggesting that your ‘parade will be rained on’ because tangible benefits cannot be achieved in the current war on terror is not only misleading but also misses the point.

America’s servicemembers realize that keeping America safe will require persistence and a long-term commitment to a cause that is higher than any one person. For that very reason, it is they who should be receiving the parade sir, not you.

 

Paul Fribert

Senior

Political science major