The parade train
The Associated Press reports that organizers of the Saint Louis “welcome home” parade for Iraq veterans are getting inquiries from other cities to have their own parades;
Organizers of the parade that drew an estimated 100,000 observers and 20,000 participants in St. Louis on Jan. 28 said Friday that they have been approached by people from Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Seattle, Tucson, Ariz., Nashville, Tenn., Greensboro, N.C., and Clinton, Iowa.
“The revolution for America to rally in support of our troops has just begun,” said Tom Appelbaum, who along with his friend, Craig Schneider, came up with the idea for the St. Louis parade and pulled it off within a month.
Paul Rieckhof of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America wrote in the Huffington Post yesterday that if New York City and Boston can afford parades for their Super Bowl champions, they can afford parades for the Iraq champions;
Getting Super Bowl-champ football players a parade in their hometowns is never an issue. But Iraq War veterans? They deserve a little praise, too. They answered our country’s call, and in the least, they survived. But for some reason, they’re running into all kinds of resistance. Last week, New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg said that a parade “would be premature while so many troops are still in harm’s way around the world.”
While I appreciate the sentiment, I’d rather see the effort to have a parade that would bring those Americans who haven’t been so connected to the events that were perpetrated in our name feel like they did something go towards making veterans feel at home with efforts to help them get back into society. The unemployment rate of veterans, the suicide rates of recent veterans, the erosion of our health benefits all show how thin the appreciation for the job that Iraq veterans really is.
I get the impression that some people, like Rieckhof, think that parades and organizing for parades will somehow cleanse them of their bad behavior that extended these wars. Remember how we wrote about IAVA and the way they spend their money, and how IAVA only had one paid veteran on their masthead – that veteran was Rieckhof. And how Rieckhof started OpTruth to undermine the war effort in Iraq.
Now he want to shame American cities into having parades…nothing more than symbols. No one wants the troops to be honored more than me, that’s what this blog has always been about. But I, and I suspect you, want more than pretty words and fluttering banners behind martial music. I want actions that speak louder than words.
Category: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Veterans Issues
If you’re following P.R. on facebook, you know where I stand on this. My buddies- guys I grew up with, and guys I served with- are still getting shot at every day in Afghanistan. Why the hell do I want a welcome home party while literally everyone I know who’s in Afghanistan today is ALSO an Iraq vet?
When I got home 6 years go it was in the middle of the night and there were half a dozen old ladies from USO clapping for me. I didn’t get a parade then, and having one now isn’t going to change a thing for me. I’m not fooled- if America starts having parades because they were guilt tripped into it- it only adds to the sting of knowing most of the population cares more about saving face than they care about us.
I suspect this will turn out as Rieckhof wants- one mayor after another caving in, just to save face. How many millions of dollars does it cost to shut down NYC for a few hours of a parade? I haven’t got a clue- but I can tell you one thing… I’d rather those millions going to hire vets for the NYPD, being that they’re short staffed as hell anyway.
When my buddies are getting shot in the NYPD (one of my friends took a round to the skull this week) and others are getting blown up in Afghanistan- I see spending money on some faux “thank you” parade for coming home from Iraq as nothing but an offensive waste of money.
There’s a difference here…The city will organize it, then ask units to participate, then those guys get told their Saturday is fucked because the city wants to honor them. By making them get in uniform and walk around town in front of everybody.
I personally have no need of a fancy parade. I would much rather have an evening out with the guys I served with in which we had a few drinks maybe got a little rowdy and told stories about all the dumb shit we did. Cap that off with a moment of silence for the fallen and Im good.
I too, have deeply mixed feelings about ‘special’ parades.
There some pretty spiffy ones a coupla times a year for vets and the military that suit me fine. And they’re on holidays.
Disclaimer: As a Nam vet being invited to join the Desert Storm folks was something ‘special’ for me… so what do I know?
Rieckhof’s comment ‘They answered our country’s call, and in the least, they survived’ was a misquote, it actually should have read like this- ‘they answered our country’s call, and despite my best efforts, they survived’
I just assumed the parades were more for the civilians wanting to show up and visibly and unambiguously display their appreciation and gratitude for all your sacrifice and commitment, rather than as some event intended to make veterans themselves feel appreciated. That’s not a bad thing, even if it is just another little sacrifice the public is asking you to make for them.
We civilians can’t understand what you’ve done or seen, nor can we share the sort of camaraderie you’ve developed under intense and frightening conditions, but we do know it’s something special and fine. It is vitally important for some of us to not only acknowledge that specialness to ourselves, but to express our gratitude for those who, however or wherever they served, literally put their lives on the line for us. Not just to make us feel better – but to make us BE better citizens.
“I want actions that speak louder than words”
I wouldn’t hold your breath – after all, you are dealing with a government agency. Given your politics it’s surprising you are unable to make the connection between government and unfulfilled promises.
Not that I care one way or the other about parades. Seems rather 1940ish to me.
I judge Rieckhof and others not by how many times they call for a parade but how they treated those vets before the calls and after the cheers have died away. Frankly, they’ll still get a failing grade in my book. Ask any vet if a parade got them a job, or needed treatment, or anything other than making someone else feel good…but then again that’s what it’s about for the IAVA, et al, crowd…feelings over substance.
No parade until we get out of Afghanistan. We’re still at War. Nothing has changed, their were no victory parades for units when the Germans surrendered, nothing happened until Japan caved. Same concept here, once we’re done with Afghanistan, then sure, I guess. Most guys that have served over there would not want to march in it. Units would be forced to bus guys down for them, losing a precious weekend off. The Majority of the formations would consist of Soldiers who had never deployed anyway save for the NCOs and Compnay Grade Officers. One big dog and pony show after another. knowing how unjust the world is, anti-war groups would want to participate, left wing wacos, and westburo church (which would actually be funny to see a whole BN of grunts do a left flank and commence to woop their ass).
I too have “mixed feelings” about these parades. I believe Our Troops deserve acknowledgement that they won, despite the politics that has created a stalemate in Iraq, that increasingly appears to be on the verge of a future loss.
I think they should have received those accolades long ago, and they suffered greatly due to the partisanship of Rieckhoff, Levin, Obama, Pelosi, et.al, who saw their return to political power in the defeat of Troops in Iraq. Before any of those partisan players should be allowed anywhere near a planning committee for a parade, they should apologize for their prior actions that placed great burdens, risks, and sacrifices on Our Troops unnecessarily.
Further, Rieckhoff needs to come clean, to admit his organization is NOT non-partisan, but rather an organ of the DNC. Then push his party to stop abusing the Troops, stop cutting Retirement benefits
But if he wishes to condemn politicians for using the Troops as Props, he needs to start with his buddy Obama: http://waronterrornews.typepad.com/home/2011/06/obamas-drawdown-speech-military-families-fire-back.html
That Corporal at the Paul Rally was wrong. But this POTUS has used whole formations of Troops for his campaign, by his order.
I think ALL vets need a parade once a year in a different city just to remind civilians we are them. Not units we just show up and get together and march. Anyone showing up with a political agenda needs to be shown the exit. If someone needs to be pushed in a wheelchair we do it, if a guy needs to be helped to walk we do it. Yep, the public needs to remember all of us from the oldest to the youngest…but that is just my 2 cents…
Oh, and one more thing about the parades: I don’t want to be the guy marching down the street. I want to be the one getting free drinks in the bar after someone else does the marching. I’ve already done enough of the marching for miles, or standing in formation to honor my self, my unit, and the things we had done.
Or perhaps you can give me a float or convertible to ride in, and wave out of, like they do Ms America.
@ #5 – Dave, You got it, bro. More worthless spiel from Rieckof’s marxist mouth. He probably can’t stand seeing that cities of NYC, LA, Seattle or any other major metro PD’s having a program in place to hire returning vet’s…
@ #6- Alice: We civilians can’t understand what you’ve done or seen, nor can we share the sort of camaraderie you’ve developed under intense and frightening conditions, but we do know it’s something special and fine. It is vitally important for some of us to not only acknowledge that specialness to ourselves, but to express our gratitude for those who, however or wherever they served, literally put their lives on the line for us. Not just to make us feel better – but to make us BE better citizens.
Alice? The way for you to be a better citizen is get involved in YOUR local politics. The grassroots where things can actually be “changed”…Then and only then when people such as yourself do become involved at that level city, county & state? Then and only then does DC sit up and take notice. Pay attention to what your city and county governments are up to and school boards….Thank you for your support, It is appreciated. But, do that and this country can be turned around. Go, give ’em Hell….
garryowen (A US 7th Cavalry term that embodies many things, sort of like “Hooah”).
@ #11 JPJ; I think ALL vets need a parade once a year in a different city just to remind civilians we are them. Not units we just show up and get together and march. Anyone showing up with a political agenda needs to be shown the exit. If someone needs to be pushed in a wheelchair we do it, if a guy needs to be helped to walk we do it. Yep, the public needs to remember all of us from the oldest to the youngest…but that is just my 2 cents…
An excellent idea! Yours and others of your tour of duty $0.02 is exactly what is needed…..
garryowen
I found the IAVA by answering an ad on craigslist that was looking for VoiceOver work, from there I marched in the parade with them on veterans day 2010 and I felt so awkward walking down the street having people yell “thank you” at me, while the people marching directly around me were eating it up. I decided I would never want to do that again, it didn’t feel right. I didn’t go into the marines for praise.
I initially felt like the IAVA could be good for me because honestly, I sometimes feel like no one I know understands me completely, with the exception of other vets that have been to Iraq and Afghanistan. I really wish there was an organization that was better fitting for us, the new breed of veterans where we could get together. The iava is a sorry excuse for that, and I feel like the VFW focuses mostly around the bar side of it. If anyone knows of something like this, let me know. If not, maybe I’ll just have to start my own.
Chad, you don’t have to start your own organization. The traditional VSOs are still doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes and they already have the organization to get the job done for veterans. You just have to join and then start changing your local post and get involved. yeah, I was a little switched off, too, but after going to the American Legion Convention last fall, I could see for myself that they’re not a bunch of drunk vets in a smoke filled poolhall. You have to give them a chance, though.
Chad, there is an organization, where you can get together, with those that understand, that has opened its doors, and waits for you to be ready: it is the VFW, and Our Viet Nam Brothers are waiting to invite you in, to buy you a beer, to listen to YOUR war stories, and hand US the reins. Likewise, there is the American Legion.
These organizations belong to Veterans, and live only so long as Veterans wish to belong to that fraternity. Unlike the self-appointed “Executive Director” of the IAVA, the AmLegion and VFW vote for their leadership, and the direction of the organization.
I’ve said it before, I love a parade…as long as I don’t have to march in it.
The only parade I will EVER march in is the 4th of July Parade with the VFW Post. I either march with the Color Guard carrying an ’03A3 Springfield, or with the marching formation, calling the cadence for them. I will not wear my uniform, I only do it because the old guys ask me to, and I would rather just grab a beer and burgers at the Post than march.
There’s another way to look at the parades. We all bitch and moan about the serious disconnect between the civilian population and the military. What better way than to put yourselves out there, to make civilians realize that the military is more than just abstract ideas about Divisions and Brigades and armament? Make them see a face or faces of real people when they listen to the politicians and pundits talking about reducing the Defense budget on the back of these men and women through veterans benefits and services. We all know and accept, though by no means agree with, the short attention span of the average American. I doubt any of us expect that to change in the near future, if ever. So work with it. Put yourselves out there, counter the shit coverage the mainstream media spews. As much as the we’d like people to “do” something, so should we.