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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels September 1, 2004 George Bush tarnishes vets heroism Once again, the Vietnam war divides America - and this time around it is veterans pitted against veterans. I suspect the ongoing battle is fueled by John Kerry's antiviolence stance when he returned home. That was a position that was taken by hundreds of thousands of other Vietnam vets, including my father, who died from wounds received in Vietnam. The right to question government and the policies - in our house, we called it freedom of speech. Something I have fought for as well in court, against narrowed minds. But politics and style aside, Kerry did serve in Vietnam when he easily could have avoided that killing field. Bush did dodge the draft, along with a reported 14 million other Americans with the savvy and sometimes money to work out that Vietnam was a Catch-22, demoralizing war. Yet Kerry's service to his country shouldn't be diminished by the same shameful, political goading tactics labeled on Sens. John McCain in Arizona and Max Cleland in Georgia, also both Vietnam veterans. Bush needs to bear in mind that military has high principles for handling of these awards, yet he has now put even that on trial as well. If Bush feels that the military is unable to do the job properly then he needs to replace the Commander-in-Chief of the military quickly and quietly to preserve the honor and integrity of veterans. We families were left with folded flags, ribbons and these medals to replace the ones we love. We are also hurt by this fratricide. We, too, have given, and are left with empty holes in our hearts and souls. My mother died in poverty. Opportunities promised by a governments pledge to my father, as a part of his 20-year military service, were never met by the current administration. Cut backs, they called them. My father left only his casket flag, ribbons and medals for his heroism in battle. Bush has place a tarnished cloud on the memory of a good caring man, whose only crime was serving our country when called. Three times he left us, and he never came back whole. I will never forgive nor forget what Bush has done to his memory. Vets shouldn't allow themselves to be used as missiles for cheap shots to any of their legion in arms. We all lose. And most so do our fallen. Jodi Yap Talent DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams