Charlotte, thank you for conveying the dignity and solemnity of these transfers. What I cannot fathom is that the majority of active and retired service members voted for someone who insults them over and over. Is their masculinity so fragile?
Charlotte, I have read your description of this part of your service to our country before. Every time I read it, I need a tissue. Your words describe only a small part of the weight these action signify. These words remind me everyday, someone’s child made the ultimate sacrifice for me and my country. Thank you.
Thank you, Charlotte. As someone who knows a family with a son who returned home in one of those cases, I thank you for your service and for your humanity.
I don't believe ANYONE will be surprised that he wanted to enrich himself rather than fulfill his duties as Commander in Chief. His lack of respect for veterans has been on full view for years, except when he is pandering for votes.
Excellent. Thank you for putting the dignified transfer in perspective for us. These men deserved so much more. I am so thankful that Lithuania showed them the respect they deserved.
The respect and dignity you showed to these dead military members is what they deserve. It makes me more sad than I can even describe that our current President and his administration have none of that respect. I will never understand how so many of our veterans and current active duty members can continue to support this administration when they receive no support, open disrespect, and contempt in return.
Charlotte, thank you for your service. Thank you for letting us know what it means to be one of those that escort our fallen on their final journey. Our soldiers deserve honor and respect for giving their lives. I just do not have the words to express the anger that I feel that the Commander in Chief has made a f-cking golf tournament a priority over showing respect to the soldiers and their loved ones when they arrived home for the last time.
Meanwhile, our economy is in distress, severe weather is targeting a major portion of our country and Trump is spending millions of our tax dollars to play golf. Perhaps DOGE’s next target should be the costs of Trump’s golf excursions instead of cutting the vital services of our veterans and relief for those who have been impacted by the storms from this week.
Thank you for talking about this somber ritual. I had a friend, another Navy chaplain who was sent to Kuwait to work with the soldiers who did this for the fallen from Iraq leaving theater. He returned to the states spiritually and emotionally devastated suffering for terrible PTSD and massive depression. He never was the same man that I knew, just as I am not the same man who went to Iraq to work with our advisors to the Iraqi military in Al Anbar province from 2007 to 2008. Today I was on the Gettysburg Battlefield with my high school students. We finished at the Soldiers Cemetery where Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address. I talked about the recovery of the bodies and their burial as well as how the cemetery is laid out to give honor to every fallen soldier equally. Many buried there are unknown. I finished by reading Lincoln’s words and explained how they were connected to the words of the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence. My students who had been distracted on parts of the battlefield felt the solemnity of the cemetery, the paid attention, especially my Turkish students who I have a great relationship with.
Those words speak to the gravity of what men and women like you do in these “dignified transfers”
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and perspective on why Trump's continuing disregard for our soldiers, particularly the fallen, is so much more heinous than apparent to us civilians. I doubt that Star and Stripes takes editorials, but it's a shame that you cannot publish this where active soldiers can see it and know that they are supported by people outside the military. Thank you for continuing to serve our flawed country.
Typing this through tears, Charlotte, the solemnity of this transfer is heart wrenching. I’m so glad those who perform this ceremony realize the sacrifices made by the service members and their families.
It’s a sad commentary that the current Commander In Chief has so little compassion or empathy, that he passes off the duty to respect those who have given their lives for our country. He is truly the “sucker and loser”.
Charlotte, thank you for conveying the dignity and solemnity of these transfers. What I cannot fathom is that the majority of active and retired service members voted for someone who insults them over and over. Is their masculinity so fragile?
Charlotte, I have read your description of this part of your service to our country before. Every time I read it, I need a tissue. Your words describe only a small part of the weight these action signify. These words remind me everyday, someone’s child made the ultimate sacrifice for me and my country. Thank you.
What, him sacrifice?
The media should be on this abandonment of his duties as Commander in Chief. I know... as if.
Thank you, Charlotte. As someone who knows a family with a son who returned home in one of those cases, I thank you for your service and for your humanity.
I don't believe ANYONE will be surprised that he wanted to enrich himself rather than fulfill his duties as Commander in Chief. His lack of respect for veterans has been on full view for years, except when he is pandering for votes.
Excellent. Thank you for putting the dignified transfer in perspective for us. These men deserved so much more. I am so thankful that Lithuania showed them the respect they deserved.
The respect and dignity you showed to these dead military members is what they deserve. It makes me more sad than I can even describe that our current President and his administration have none of that respect. I will never understand how so many of our veterans and current active duty members can continue to support this administration when they receive no support, open disrespect, and contempt in return.
"they gave the last full measure of devotion" - A. Lincoln
This made me cry. Military kid. Military mom. Appalled by the callous FOTUS in office.
I agree with you 100%! Well, he’s more interested in traveling to Florida and spend the weekend playing golf. 🙄
This broke my heart in two. This, captured with clear crisp writing has encapsulated what is happening in what used to be America.
Charlotte, thank you for your service. Thank you for letting us know what it means to be one of those that escort our fallen on their final journey. Our soldiers deserve honor and respect for giving their lives. I just do not have the words to express the anger that I feel that the Commander in Chief has made a f-cking golf tournament a priority over showing respect to the soldiers and their loved ones when they arrived home for the last time.
Meanwhile, our economy is in distress, severe weather is targeting a major portion of our country and Trump is spending millions of our tax dollars to play golf. Perhaps DOGE’s next target should be the costs of Trump’s golf excursions instead of cutting the vital services of our veterans and relief for those who have been impacted by the storms from this week.
Charlotte,
Thank you for talking about this somber ritual. I had a friend, another Navy chaplain who was sent to Kuwait to work with the soldiers who did this for the fallen from Iraq leaving theater. He returned to the states spiritually and emotionally devastated suffering for terrible PTSD and massive depression. He never was the same man that I knew, just as I am not the same man who went to Iraq to work with our advisors to the Iraqi military in Al Anbar province from 2007 to 2008. Today I was on the Gettysburg Battlefield with my high school students. We finished at the Soldiers Cemetery where Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address. I talked about the recovery of the bodies and their burial as well as how the cemetery is laid out to give honor to every fallen soldier equally. Many buried there are unknown. I finished by reading Lincoln’s words and explained how they were connected to the words of the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence. My students who had been distracted on parts of the battlefield felt the solemnity of the cemetery, the paid attention, especially my Turkish students who I have a great relationship with.
Those words speak to the gravity of what men and women like you do in these “dignified transfers”
Thank you again and as always, watch your six.
Steve Dundas
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and perspective on why Trump's continuing disregard for our soldiers, particularly the fallen, is so much more heinous than apparent to us civilians. I doubt that Star and Stripes takes editorials, but it's a shame that you cannot publish this where active soldiers can see it and know that they are supported by people outside the military. Thank you for continuing to serve our flawed country.
Typing this through tears, Charlotte, the solemnity of this transfer is heart wrenching. I’m so glad those who perform this ceremony realize the sacrifices made by the service members and their families.
It’s a sad commentary that the current Commander In Chief has so little compassion or empathy, that he passes off the duty to respect those who have given their lives for our country. He is truly the “sucker and loser”.
This made me teary and lump throated Charlotte. Thank you for sharing.