Picture from The Memory Hole.
Note: Reposted from Memorial Day last year with only the numbers of dead in the war changed and the numbers killed in Afghanistan included. 627 more troops were killed in Iraq since last year.
The US Department of Defense does not want you to see pictures like this. Photographs and videos are not permitted at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where the bodies come in. The coffins are still coming,
From CBS News on April 23, 2004:
Under a policy adopted in 1991, the Pentagon bars news organizations from photographing caskets being returned to the United States, saying publication of such photos would be insensitive to bereaved families.
This policy still stands, for whatever reason, and serves to insulate the American public from the consequences of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Memorial Day is a day of remembrance of those who gave everything in the service of their country. We honor them for their courage and dedication to duty. We extend our sympathy to their families and friends, whether the loss is recent or from long times past. We stand with you. We mourn with you.
Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between many peoples,
and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more;
but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees,
and no one shall make them afraid;
for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. Micah 4:1-4
Lord God, Almighty and Everlasting Father, we pray for all those who have died in wars. We pray the they may rest in peace in the perpetual light of your love. We pray for your blessing upon the families and friends of all those who have died in service to their country. Console them for their aching loss. Bring them healing of body, mind, and spirit. Give them strength and courage to go forward, and Lord God, above all else, give them your peace that passes understanding to keep their minds and hearts.
God grant peace and rest to the dead and give healing and consolation to the living, in your most holy name.
ReplyDeleteAmen, amen.
Amen to your prayer. Glad you recycled this post.
ReplyDeleteSorry to add something frivolous to this, but I've tagged you with a meme over at my place--only if you have the time and inclination to do it.
We have similar pictures. I know the govt. is twitchy about them but I don't think there is an actual policy.
ReplyDeleteYet.
I hate it that the powers have banned pictures of the reality of war, which is often death. It's not that I have a morbid desire to see coffins, but the consequences of this stupid, idiotic war should not be hidden from the citizens of the country. Dammit!
ReplyDeleteAmen.
ReplyDeleteGrandmère Mimi, you left a comment on my blog asking if I was related to the New Orleans Hulls. Not to my knowledge. My dad's family had roots in New York and Pennsylvania before they moved to Illinois. But I suppose if you go back far enough in time, we probably all have rots in Hull, England. (Just a guess.)
ReplyDeleteDo you have French ancestry, or do you use Grandmère just because it's a New Orleans thing. My husband's ancestry is French. Chatlien was originally Chatelaine.
Ruth, I have French ancestry on both sides, both French directly from France and Cajun French from France via Canada to Louisiana.
ReplyDeleteI thought your married name was very likely French.
that is the perfect scripture, Mimi.
ReplyDelete