Mitchell Miller, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – The Big Apple celebrated the Giants’ Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots with a huge parade two days after the game.
However, when U.S. military personnel withdrew from Iraq in December, after more than eight years of combat, there was no parade. Some say it’s time to honor military veterans with such a celebration.
“It’s kind of strange that the Giants would get a parade and our veterans wouldn’t,” said Tim Kudo, a former captain in the Marine Corps with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
Some Republican presidential candidates, including Mitt Romney, have said it’s time for a parade.
But with Americans still fighting in Afghanistan, the Pentagon has said it would not be appropriate for such a celebration right now.
Kudo says the service of veterans needs to be acknowledged.
“We’re going to have more casualties here at home, whether it’s through suicide, or whether it’s through homelessness, or any number of things that the veterans are back here are facing every day,” Kudo told WTOP.
“And…a veteran kills himself every 36 hours roughly, and that’s a ridiculous casualty rate.”
The city of St. Louis held a parade for military veterans in January, but no other major city has done the same.
What do you think? Should U.S. military veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan receive a parade to honor their service? Why or why not?Post a comment in this story, comment on WTOP’s Facebook Page or use #WTOPtalkback on Twitter.
Here are some of your comments:
Follow WTOP on Twitter.
(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
