"Handling the Truth"

An important part of the American myth and propaganda revolves around the way that the U.S. "honors" and reveres its military, especially those who die defending the nation or furthering its principles of democracy and freedom everywhere on the planet. There is no end to the lip service given to servicemen, and the media does its patriotic duty by presenting them in the most favorable light possible, dubbing them "heroes" unquestionably.

So, it's nothing short of shocking to know that for a long time -- some say as far back as the last 15 years -- the remains of many of those "heroes" have wound up at a Virginia landfill, that is to say, a garbage dump. What has happened is that, frequently, the only things recovered from the battlefield are body parts that are supposed to be cremated and disposed of in a dignified manner. This is what relatives are led to believe happens when they sign a release to that effect. But, the Armed Forces has taken the shortcut of dumping the ashes along with medical waste at the landfill.

Something to keep in mind the next time you hear Taps or watch a rerun of Saving Private Ryan...

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