America recently lost her last surviving Veterans of World War One. Corporal Frank Buckles, who lied about his age to enlist in 1917, served as an Ambulance Driver in France, passed away Sunday, February 17, 2011. He was 110 years of age.
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican from his district in West Virginia, co-sponsored a bill to authorize his body to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda after his passing. An honor usually reserved for heads of state, the honor was to recognize the passing of an era, all of our Veterans of that long ago conflict now gone, and not Cpl. Buckles himself.
A fitting honor in recognition of all who sacrificed their youth, time and endured injuries from that Great War as well as all of those who lives were lost.
I find it completely unacceptable now that the leadership of both major political parties, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) are instead recommending a tribute to Buckles at Arlington National Cemetery.
Boehner To Request Arlington Ceremony for Buckles