An Unforunate Choice

Amid all the pageantry of this year's Presidential inauguration, something was missed. The second time it was missed, it was missed by most media outlets. It shouldn't be overly surprising, given the subject matter, but it is disappointing.

The first time it was missed was by the President. As many people know, there are a lot of balls on Inauguration Day. Which makes sense, because people understandably want to celebrate the victory of their chosen candidate, or simply to reconnect with our country's democratic spirit. Indeed, Inauguration Day balls have become an important part of the day's events.

This year, President and Mrs. Obama had to attend several balls on that day. The best count I've seen is nine. There's no doubt that's a lot of events to attend in a very short time. Unfortunately, they missed one of the most important ones.

For the first time since it was established at President Eisenhower's 1953 inauguration, a newly-elected President has not attended The Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball. This ball is solely to honor all the deceased and living recipients of the Medal of Honor. You can read about this here.

I don't know if this was an oversight, or intentional. I'd like to think it was an accident. But whether it was a conscious choice or the result of carelessness, it's disheartening.

This follows the news that a certain school district has decided that its children don't need Veterans' Day as a holiday. The rationale is that the children don't understand what the day is for, so why should the take it off? Heaven forbid the school should actually take a few minutes and teach those children what it means.

For too many people in our country, Memorial Day is just a good day for barbeques and sales. The most meaningful Memorial Day I've ever had (and will probably ever spend) was one where I did not engage in these traditional pursuits. Instead, Jenn and I took the time to honor those who gave their lives in World War II by visiting a small cemetary near Cambridge, England.

We are a nation that is increasingly polarized, albeit in a lop-sided manner. Too many Americans have absolutely no connection to someone, past or present, who has sacrificed for the good of their country or community. Similarly, we are not, contrary to popular thought, a nation at war. Our military is at war, but the realities and implactions of that war are entirely lost on most people.

If anyone deserved special recognition on Inauguration Day from our new President, it was those few men who earned this nation's highest military honor and actually lived to tell about it. The various entertainment and political establishment luminaries could have waited a few minutes.