Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard
[COLOR="Lime"]Things change over time...and the situation at Arlington is no exception.
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I wouldn't disagree with your assessment, especially since I also brought up the space shortages issue in my first post on this thread. It a very real problem with no long term solutions available, and cannot be ignored. I also feel though that if enough support in the SOF community warranted an attempt to put such a memorial in place, it should be understood that this memorial would not be out of place since the broad variety of memorials represented in Arlington could include a SOF memorial.
SGM Kemper was right to use this poll as a good way to see what the feelings were on this subject, and I agree, there should be a "NO" option for the poll. Perhaps we wont reach a consensus but, its a worthy cause to explore.
The space in Arlington is finite and at some point in the future it will not accommodate the needs of the services and veterans. That said, if this is supported by the SF community, then this memorial would honor the "SOF community specifically" for many years to come, just like every other memorial and long after they stopped internments. Special Operations certainly deserves no less than favorable consideration for the recognition of those from Aaron Bank's generation, to the current generation's sacrifices, and to those that will follow long after those of us debating this are all gone.
I see your Robert Frost, and raise you.....
For The Fallen
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
-Laurence Binyon-
......jd