Disgusting memorial day ceremony.
Did the Celebration at the Station Sunday night. It was as good as the first time we went for Memorial Day 2005 after moving up here. Until this year we've had our family get together, but attending the Ceremoney in Ash Flats was a part of that. Good service for a small town of less than 5,000.
Yesterday morning I get up, Lisa and I head to the Liberty Memorial for Kansas City's Ceremony. First off, every military event I've ever been to there is A color guard. Well Kansas City felt that letting every civic organization, Boy Scout Troop, Girl Scout Troop, ROTC class, and VFW post that asked to have their own color guard... so you have about 16-20 color guards. Pick one by lottery or what ever means, but this is not a Memorial Day parade... it is a Memorial Ceremony.
Actually that is not what made this a disgusting event. I've never been to a Memorial Day Ceremony where a politician felt the need to draw attention to their voting record in regards to the MONUMENT and not the men. That wind bag E. Cleaver did nothing but brag on bills he has co-chaired, efforts he's making, etc. to make the Liberty the National WW1 memorial. The only word he said about the men and families that have paid the price was that we need to insure that we take care of the service people we are sending into harms way and mentioned the current suicide rate of service members. Ugh!! Not their bravery, not the pride, not the fact that they VOLUNTARILY enlisted or accepted a commission. They were not sent as he stated, they asked, bravely, to serve. That statement took all of about 2 min. of the 20 or so that he talked about the Liberty Memorial and his efforts in it's benefit.
Mayor James did the honorable thing, he did mention that he was a Marine, his dad was a marine, and his son is a marine. That was it. The rest was about the reason for the holiday and his pride from being in the company of other vets.
I've been to over 15 Memorial Day ceremonies in various towns and heard speakers from Mike Huckabee to Mayer James and never heard one mention more than their own service in the military if that was the case.
I will do everything possible to help Turk get me out of Cleaver's representation. It sickens me to be in his district.
Memorial Day 2013 will be back to Ft. Levenworth where politics are left at the gate. God willing.