I agree with much of what you said about the media, although I have another thought to add to that.

In the past when a war fatality happened, it was all over the news, usually as an underhanded slap to President Bush. It was sensationalized by all the news agencies. Used by many to point a finger. Anything they could do to make Bush look bad they did. Now as our current president was being groomed for the job, of course the coverage begins to wane. Why, because the media doesn’t want to make him look bad. I had to erase what I had just written following my last statement because I went off on a tangent and this is not about the new president. Its about those who died and their lack of recognition. I know what these soldiers do, they do out of honor and duty. They don’t do it for the recognition, but in my opinion, they deserve it. When a military death happens, it makes all in the military pause and think, “there but for the grace of God go I.”

If our media would cover these things with the same energy they use to cover what scandal the latest Hollywood star is involved in, and they covered it with honor, respect and fairness, it would make the whole nation pause and honor those same soldiers.

While “war fatigue” may play a part, in my opinion, its the people who squash any negative news that could mar the utopia some people truly believe we are going to have for the next 4 years. The media needs to rearrange their priorities and honor these men and all our military with more zeal so the rest of the country can be proud rather than spiteful, calling this a “stupid war.” I wonder how much longer a soldier will be able to look a widow in the face and say, “On behalf of a grateful nation…”

the only thing that the DoD does not release until NEXT OF KIN is notified is the personal information of the soldiers who died in the crash. The crash itself, however, is not kept a secret. I am not questioning the wisdom of keeping the identities of the soldiers private, I am talking about the lack of coverage on the crash altogether.

As I enter year six as an army aviator wife, I can assure you that helicopter crashes are not kept “secret” altogether (so long as it is not a ’secret’ mission). Moreover, up until this recent collision, the crashes usually warrant a front page listing for a day’s news cycle.

The resulting heartbreak and realization that this could have been our loved one was an overwhelming emotion that has to be dealt with and I hope will subside in time.

The brave men are indeed heros. In my opinion, those who serve honorably in our military are all heros. The have chosen to fight to protect our rights, freedoms and safety. These fallen warriors and those that fly with them are professionals. They will pick up the pieces from this tragic loss and continue on for those who can’t. They will be better men and pilots because of this unfortunate and untimely accident.

My heart goes out to all of the families who lost their loved one. The feeling of their loss cannot be quelled by mere words at this time. I have a feeling though that these families are strong and boldly defend the decision their loved ones made to pursue military life. Its a way of life that not every marriage is cut out for. It takes very special people to be the spouse of a military soldier. They accept the potential dangers of this life. While these families mourn the loss of their hero, they can always know that while they soared with eagles for a short time, they are now on the ultimate mission.

God Bless our military and God Bless those those who support them.

So to Iraq, Afghanastan, and any others that think they need to show us….We serve what you deserve.

I’m still not sure why we went back to Iraq, just that some very good men lost their lives there and left families grieving here. A lot of supply companies, manufacturing hardware, well someone made a lot of money cause we’ve spent an awful lot. Soldiers were paid less than those personal guards that some companies used over there. That was just plain wrong in my opinion.

Some of the veterans will never be the same like thousands of Vietnam veterans who still suffer to this day. I’m not a politician, just a citizen.

I appreciate the veterans who have fought so that we may enjoy the freedom we have today.

It saddened me today to hear that a 93 year old WWII veteran in Michigan lost his life. For an unpaid electric bill, they put a restrictor on his line, which shut off his electricity. They found him dead of hypothermia. Temperature was 32 degrees inside. Money to pay the bill and the bill itself on his kitchen table. Made me cry.

What kind of country is this when a 93 yr old WWII veteran, who fought for freedom, gets a death sentence for a $1000 electric bill and we’re bailing out in BILLIONS of dollars banks, companies, loan companies who all need bailed out because of GREED on the part of a few people.

Or to use another example, a $1000 electric bill is a death sentence for that WWII vet and someone who owes the IRS 35,000 gets a slap on the wrist and a cabinet position. Life’s funny isn’t it. Hard to take sometimes.

Please thank your husband and any other veteran you know. We do appreciate them and want them to return safely. Thank you.