Wonder how Murtha would be received in Brownwood Parade by Brownwood's "Extremist Republican operatives" ?

Dallas Morning News Editorial

A Slap in the Face of Troops

Attacks on Rep. Murtha hit a new low

12:00 AM CST on Saturday, January 21, 2006

Once a backbencher and camera-shy politician, Rep. John Murtha seems to regularly be in the headlines these days. As most of you remember, it all started a couple of months ago when the Pennsylvania Democrat – a former Marine and decorated Vietnam veteran – called for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan shot back by comparing the congressman to filmmaker and anti-war activist Michael Moore and saying Mr. Murtha belongs to the extreme liberal wing of the Democratic Party.
Given Mr. Murtha's strong record of military support, the criticism quickly backfired. President Bush was later publicly calling Mr. Murtha "a fine man and a good man."
But that didn't stop the attacks – and now an archconservative Web site has set the new bar for low blows in the Murtha story.
Cybercast News Service is calling for the congressman to open his military records and is questioning whether the hawk deserves his two Purple Hearts. These accusations actually are old news and can be traced back to political opponents more than a decade ago. They were previously put to rest by an official letter from Marine Corps headquarters.
James Webb, a secretary of the Navy in the Reagan administration and a veteran himself, criticized this smear campaign in a recent column in The New York Times, writing, "Extremist Republican operatives have inverted a long-standing principle: that our combat veterans be accorded a place of honor in political circles.
"This pattern of denigrating the service of those with whom they disagree risks cheapening the public's appreciation of what it means to serve and in the long term may hurt the Republicans themselves," Mr. Webb continued.
Questioning whether Mr. Murtha deserved his 1967 medals because his injuries weren't sufficiently serious is a slap to all service members, as it implies that their loyalty to this country is measured by how badly their bodies are physically hurt.
Disgusting.
You can debate the war on issues, but to discredit one of the few politicians who personally know what it means to sacrifice in times of war sends the wrong message to those serving now.
source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/editorials/stories/DN-murtha_21edi.ART.State.Edition1.22d6cb0a.html
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Saturday January 21, 2006
Op Ed from the Brownwood Bulletin

Saturday’s ceremonies will be special

Saturday’s Day of Honor promises to be one of the most significant events of its type to be held in Brownwood in months. Perhaps only the August 2004 parade to mark the mobilization of area members of the 21st Cavalry can compare. But Saturday’s schedule could, and Saturday’s schedule schould, be even greater.

That’s because this program is designed to be a celebration and a day of appreciation for all members of military service in addition to those who have recently seen duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and have returned home. Many friends of loved ones of Brownwood area residents remain overseas, or are in the midst of fulfilling other assignments vital to the nation’s security interests. They will be an important part of all those who will be honored on Saturday.

Planners for this party have pulled out all the stops. As a story in today’s Bulletin explains, three retired military generals now living here are planning to participate — Brigadier General Dan Locker, (United States Air Force), Brigadier General Leroy Thompson, (United States Air Force/Texas Air National Guard) and Brigadier General Stephen Korenek (United States Army/Alaska Army National Guard). So are three key lawmakers who represent this area — state Rep. Jim Keffer, state Sen. Troy Fraser and U.S. Congressman Mike Conaway.

These busy individuals have found time in their schedules to make a priority of publicly saying “thank you” to our military service men and women. The citizens of this area should do the same, because they are among the millions of Americans who through the generations have enjoyed the benefits secured by this country’s armed forces.

Brownwood has a long history of patriotism, and that sentiment has been proven for years by its residents’ willingness to not only serve their country, but also to support those who do. But the Brownwood ceremony goes even further than that. The families of service men and women will also be singled out, because they share the sacrifices and worries carried by those who are in the service.

It promises to be a special day, indeed — a genuine Day of Honor.

Brownwood Bulletin

source: http://www.brownwoodbulletin.com/articles/2006/01/20/op_ed/editorial01.txt