Monday, May 5, 2003 | 8:51 a.m.
President George W. Bush, the commander in chief, is riding a wave of popularity now because of the success of our military in Iraq.
Mr. Bush praises our military for their resolve and dedication to duty, suggesting they will never be forgotten. But they're just sanctimonious words! They are already forgotten, or will soon be when they become veterans.
Out of one side of his mouth, Mr. Bush extolls our troops, and on the other side of his mouth he cuts another $400 million from the VA budget.
The majority of our elected people in Washington never wore a uniform of our military. So they do not care. More than 200 years ago George Washington said, "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation." Members of Congress appropriate funds for illegal immigrants, but they forget veterans who sacrificed for America.
WALTER GUNTHER
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