Soldier’s funeral
A soldier’s death should be mourned by public as well
Dear Editor:
On November 29, 2009, four uniformed police officers were shot and killed in a bloody Sunday morning attack at a Lakewood-area coffee shop. On December 8, 2009, some 20,000 people attend the funeral for these officers at the Tacoma Dome.
On July 13, 2008, Army Cpl. Jason M. Bogar was killed during operation Iraqi Freedom at the Combat Outpost Kohler base. Only a few hundred attended his funeral.
Before I start, I would like to be completely certain that you understand I am sorry for all the families that have lost a spouse, a child, a parent, or a friend in war or a hero in our state.
What makes the death of police officers so different from the deaths of hometown men and women serving in Iraq? They evidently are so different that 18,000 more people attend a funeral for the fallen police officers. When a soldier dies, the news announces the tragedy one day and then the next day it is on to more news.
In the case of the murder of four Lakewood police officers, it was talked about for weeks.
We are shielded from the terror happening overseas.
What I’m trying to say is, we need to pay more respect for those who serve overseas, and continue giving respect to those serving here.
I would like to see the soldiers serving in the war get as much publicity as the police officers. And when you see a police office or a member of the armed services don’t forget to thank them and tell them to be safe because you never know what can happen here in our own state or east in the country of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Again, I would like to send my deepest sorrow to all the families who have lost anyone, whether in war, a police officer, or a fireman —my heart goes out to you.
And thank you to everyone who has, and will, serve at anytime, in any service, in any country.
Josh Schuh Stanwood
