- It should be made clear that there are TWO different types of Rotunda honors:

1) “Lying In State” is to lay on the pedestal built for the display of Abraham Lincoln’s body, in the center of the Rotunda, with 24-hour military guard. To date, this has been done only for Presidents, VPs, Senators, Congressmen and US Generals and top military leaders. It’s also already been done to honor the “Unknown Soldiers” for WWI, WWII, Korean War, and the Vietnam War. So maybe it WOULD be inappropriate to honor Mr. Buckles in this way, since the WWI vets have already been saluted in this fashion.

But…

2) “Lying In Honor” is the other option. It means to also lay in the Capitol Rotunda (probably not on the Lincoln catafalque, I’m guessing) but the honor guard is provided by the Capitol Police or “other suitable source.” This was the honor afforded Rosa Parks and the two Capitol policemen. So I’m not sure I see a problem with “Lying in Honor” for Mr. Buckles, as the last of his kind. The precedent has been established for an individual civilian honor (Mrs. Parks and the policemen) so what’s the problem extending it to Mr. Buckles?

The more one learns about it, the DUMBER this decision gets!

In reference to DKos – as my grandfather used to say, “The sun shines on a dog’s, er, butt every once in a while.”

The old “stopped clock” analogy just doesn’t do DKos justice.

“Speaker Boehner & Harry Reid: Allow Frank Buckles Into the Rotunda”

This and the use of the Flashing Light looks like some new has happened, specifically, Reid and Boehner have reversed their positions.

Or is problem that 1) he is not a victim of society (I could argue that he was), 2) he’s not the right color (something that should not matter), or 3) has not yet been elevated to god-like status by the celebrity machine (he should be and will be if we do this), or… 4) that he represents WAR (oooo… bad, bad, evil, evil)?

C’mon you Washington bums. No to do this is yet another slap to American veterans. There is simply no reason not to, and every reason it should be done.

Another disconnect between Washington and the rest of America.

With each day I become more certain that I did the right thing writing on my diary the post headlined: “Anybody But Boehner.” The man is not leadership material.

Oregon Tea Party, Oregon 912 Project, and Americans For Prosperity-Oregon have supported a few of us gals in our local town of Hilllsboro, that wanted to gather the public together in an open park, and honor all Veterans, but especially Members of VUMS, who have received honorable mention for their willingness to serve our nation before they were of age, including Frank Buckles. Farewell Mr. Buckles, Sir!

Mr. Buckles’ story, along with a collection of hundreds of others who chose to join the 6 Branches of U.S. Armed Forces before the minimum age of enlistment (and were later forgiven), can be found in a 3-edition book series entitled: “America’s Youngest Warriors”. The latest edition has been donated to our local library by an honorable member of VUMS, who holds Frank Buckles in high esteem.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Bucklesttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Buckles
http://www.military.com/news/article/frank-buckles-last-us-wwi-vet-dies-at-110.html

I think the decision not to allow him onto the Capitol says more (or less) about Congress than it does about Frank. Frank will be honored at Arlington, regardless if he goes via Capitol Hill or not, his honor stands intact. The latter cannot be said of Congress.

I served in Vietnam, and during that service saw some of my friends die only a few feet away from me. They’ve long ago been rendered honors and placed in eternal repose alongside the likes of Corporal Buckles. No doubt someday I too will join them. And a day will come when the last of us who served our country in Vietnam will troop down the neverending trail of time. I would hope that the last of us would be allowed to wave a final farewell on behalf of all of us. I wonder, over the past 90 years, how many doughboys have said the same thing.

But to say that Rosa Parks did what she did merely for herself I think diminishes her and the importance of that even in the meanest of ways. Ultimately, we all do whatever it is we do for ourselves. Altruism is a very slippery and ethereal substance. Even Mother Theresa derived some sense of personal satisfaction from her work.

It is not what Rosa Parks did for herself on that day in Montgomery. It is what that singular and, possibly selfish act initiated and culminated in that makes her worthy of the honor. Hers was a singular act of heroism. She led the way and inspired others to follow.

But, I find I am truly conflicted on this… What would Frank himself say? I suspect he wouldn’t want so much fuss made over him, and that the ones that deserve the honor lay under the poppies in Flander’s Field.

In my view, the time to have truly honored and remembered him, in a national sense was on Veteran’s Day last, when he was still very much with us. I wrote a RedState diary about him then, and I hope I added somewhat to the gentle call to remember him, and all the other Soldiers of the Great War, now that they were all almost gone…

I am remimded of something my Dad said, when his best friend died a number of years ago. The friend lived out in Palm Springs, and Dad wanted to visit him a number of times, but, Mom was against it for a variety of reasons. Then, when he died, Mom wanted very much to buy plane tickets, and get to the funeral.

“What the heck for?” Dad said, “We didn’t bother seeing him when he was alive, why should we bother now that he’s dead?”

It would be a tremendous honor, though, for Mr. Buckles, and an extremely moving and important remembrance for the nation. Yes, in quiet consideration, I think I will contact the Speaker.

The politicians need to be reminded of the service of millions of soldiers during World War I, the “War to end all Wars.” At the same time I wonder if those politicians deserve the honor of having this last survivor to be placed among them.

Perhaps, to let him be remembered and honored at Arlington is the right thing to do.

Fred Speckmann
commonsenseforamericans@yahoo.com