Honors for Our Iraq War Heroes

I have found out that there are many heroes of this war who have not received medals. (See Iraq has heroes, so where are their medals? - Nightly News with Brian Williams - MSNBC.com)

Am I the only one who finds this callous and unfeeling? Why are we waiting? With the reporting plethora of embedded reporters, the daily reports on action, the many still- and video-cameras held by our own soldiers, you cannot use the argument that there is not enough proof.

To me, this is as bad as the way many treated the Vietnam vets when they came home. These guys and gals are putting their lives on the line. Many are wounded and want to go back to help their buddies. Many DO return. I'm not saying that everyone who goes to Iraq needs a medal (even if just going makes them a hero), but those like the one described in the article above should get the ones they deserve immediately.

So, what's keeping them? Well, I could show my Republican side and say that it's the Democrats in congress... After all, though a congressional majority voted for the war, the Dems have all decided that since it's so unpopular, they should be against it. (Votes, ya know?) And, like passing out condoms in school can make some people believe that that means we condone teen sex, giving medals to Iraq war heroes COULD make it seem that they condone the war. No... I don't believe that this is the case. (At least I HOPE not!) However, I can see where SOME may believe that.

It's been four (4) years since the war started (March 19, 2003). How long do some of the heroes and/or their families have to wait? Why aren't medal ceremonies (and the stories behind them) reported by any but the local media, if at all?

These men and women deserve recognition, though most will humbly say its the ones they saved that deserve it.

Let's make sure it's not because it's an unpopular war that they don't seem to be getting it. I call on the major news networks and other media to start pushing congress and whoever else is responsible to review the cases and get these people their medals, and to show the world we HONOR OUR HEROES.

Bill Sanders