They should leave off Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom whatever the current conflict is called until it is concluded. No plaque.

Why not some include a statement about ” recognizing the brave men and women serving overseas in our armed forces”, or something equally neutral and inclusive? Heck, if I were in the Afghani campaign, or Bosnia, or Serbia, or Somalia, or even Germany any other half a hundred overseas posts, I’d be rather irked to be left out while the Bushes wars against Saddam was given top billing.

No slam on people who have/are serving there, but there is no text which can fairly assess a volatile political and live fire situation until the shooting is over.

(I know, technically the Korean conflict isn’t over yet, either, but it’s been 54 years since large numbers of US forces have been doing anything but walking the Korean DMZ. As far as most people not related to 1950s Korea vets, or current personnel in the DMZ are concerned, it is over, since what they have is an uneasy peace. )

As a USAF veteran, I am deeply offended and insulted by the wording on this plaque.

It is a sad day when a Memorial dedicated to our fallen comrades is used as a political platform to espouse a Liberal political agenda. Not only is it a slap in the face to those who are actively fighting against the Islamofascist threat around the world, but it also does a disservice to the memory of the brave men and women who have given their lives defending the United States from this VERY REAL threat to our way of life.

Besides, as we are still engaged in this long term struggle, history is yet to prove us right or wrong. Who’s to say if things would be better if we had left Saddam’s Sunni thugs in positions of power? Perhaps they would have killed ALL the Shiites by now. We don’t know, and it is merely speculation as to if disbanding Saddam’s army was a good move or a bad move. Perhaps in about twenty years we will be in a better position to comment on such matters. As for now, it serves as nothing more than ill-advised political rhetoric.

Thank you

“Doctor” - nice attempt to aim any mock outrage you can muster at “the liberals”. Way to go. If you had read the story, you would have seen that the plaques — and the re-development park — are the work of a *veterans’ group*. This group of liberal traitors, as you paint them, wanted to convey messages that wars have consequence. Which liberal turncoat wrote “Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it”? I do agree with Teresa that the most recent wars should not have been included. We have not had the luxury of historical perspective in which to frame the results of these wars.

I would have left out the mistakes/consequences part; that is for books, not memorial plaques.

Furthermore, one must remember that the Japanese and Germans (besides their failed experiments with fascism) are mostly rational people and can accept defeat and then move forward, unlike some of the residents of the Middle East who will continue fighting America, or anyone else, or even each other into the 22nd century and beyond for fanatical reasons.

Holy Cow: Cancel the Veterans Memorial if that kind of Verbiage that is going to be posted on Plaques. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!.

By now everyone should know that I’m no big fan of George W. And the ongoing conflict in Iraq irks me no end. I think the statements in question are probably a fairly accurate assessment of the situation. However, that being said, I agree that the plaques in question seem to be confusing history and current events. I would take Teresa’s advice and have a plaque honoring all service men and women currently on duty. Once the dust settles in Iraq an explantory plaque of that “history” can be added. Right now, any assessment of the situation is more opinion than fact.

I wish everyone would just leave their personal political statements at home. A veterans park is no place for such if it is meant to honor those who served. Whoever placed those statements knew exactly what they were saying and doing.

Once I read the article, I didn’t see much to get excited about. A group of veterans agreed to the wording of the plaques. Other veterans pointed out that a memorial should be more about the people than the specifics of the war. The first group apologized and removed the plaques. Problem solved.

It’s a sad commentary that newly-constructed veterans parks are a reality in 21st Century society. There must be a better way than war to resolve conflicts between countries. Abraham Flexner, who devoted his life to the improvement of teaching and research in America, once said something that is painfully true today: “Probably no nation is rich enough to pay for war and civilization. We must make our choice; we cannot have both.”

The plaques should honor the veterans, and the wording should be left up to them.

Yes until the current conflict is over ,I don’t think a plaque pertaining to that is right. But Gulf War 1, Korea, WW1 yes! You can not hide history! I am a Korean War Veteran and think the facts shouldn’t be hidden! And in case you don’t know history, most of our troubles in the Mideast stem from WW1!! Mostly because of the way the French and British divided up the Turkish Empire!!

I think anytime one tries to explain or describe history, someone else will accuse bias. This is more true in current history/curent events. Why can’t they just remain neutral, say ‘War of 1812, 1812-1814″ and leave it at that? If someone visits the memorial and is not familiar with a certain conflict, perhaps they should make a trip to the library right after the visit to the park.

It would be nice to know what the other members of the memorial committee thought about this. A memorial to those who gave their all is not the place for psuedo-intellectual moralizing. I’d have told Mr Baralle to take his idea and shove it. Kudos to the city leadership for tearing those plaques out.

I think a park for Veterans should honor their service, not point out the strategic mistakes that the Generals and/or politicians made. Put it in a book somewhere, but not on display in a civic park. We all know that even our best leaders have made mistakes…we don’t need reminders. I think you pat the veteran on the back for at least serving and doing his or her best to try and make the world and our country a safer and better place.

They need to go to the Veterans Memorial in O’Fallon. It is a simple piece of work that only honors veterans. That should be the objective. Whatever anyone could put on a plaque can only be their opinion or the opinion of several. We don’t need an opinion from anyone to honor the people that serve in our military. Crush the plaques.

As a veteran of Vietnam, who came back to this country only to be spat upon and labeled “baby killers” by the likes of John Kerry during his bogus Winter Soldier “investigations”, I think that one could accurately predict the political orientation of the leaders of the veterans group that just had to make their personal views part of the memorial. Shame on them for injecting their partisan opinions ahead of the meaning of the memorial. You can tell that it was partisanship by the fact that they folded as soon as news of their slanted views became widespread.

The truth hurts.

I’m with Anonaman [#8]. Some veterans put some plaques up, some other veterans didn’t like them, the plaques are being replaced. This problem has been already been resolved amicably. I don’t believe there was any intent to offend or use this memorial as a political platform. No need to throw anyone under the bus over it.

As a resident of LSL, I am embarrased by the whole situation. Mistakes being pointed out, be they fact or political fodder, has no place in a Veteran’s memorial. Even liberal democrats are quick to point out that soldiers fighing in the current conflict deserve respect. You don’t have to respect the war but should show respect to the warrior. I think that was the purpose of this memorial and it should be left at that.

The plaques should most definitely be replaced.

Memorials of that sort exist for one reason and one reason only: To honor those who served.

Period. Nothing else.

They are not to be an expression of opinion about the success of the operation or the worthiness of the cause. Statements of that sort, both pro and con, belong elsewhere.

There’s nothing OFFENSIVE about these plaques - they are definitely inappropriate for a veterans memorial, though. It’s just off topic.

I am sorry to hear that some took offense at the verbiage on the placques. They were written with the best intent. The Veterans’ committee has agreed to replace them since some were disturbed by the content.
Also, why in the world would somone call the news’ and meda’s attention to what they perceived to be a negative connotation in our park? What was their intent?? The Veterans’ intent was to educate and was nothing but positive! Please take no offense.

To make the people who thought it was somehow positive and educational to disparage the service and honor of veterans look like the idiots that they are.

bprop,

1 - I AM outraged! I PAID $100 for one of those bricks!!!

2. - Just because someone is a veteran does NOT automatically absolve them of a Liberal agenda. John Kerry immediately pops to mind…

3. - Imagine if a similar plaque had been erected before the end of WWII and listed the D-Day beach invasions as a major mistake, with thousands killed in the nearly fatalistic attempt to gain but a toehold in Europe. It would not set well with those still fighting the war, nor with those at home who lost loved ones in the D-Day invasion…

And, history has shown that, however ill advised it may have been and for all its faults, it helped end the war in Europe, although, at the time, it certainly didn’t appear to as if it were worth the high costs in equipment, manpower, and lives cut short…

But, be that as it may, you dismissed my personal feelings as feigned in your attempt to undermine my comments. SHAME ON YOU! You are a wretched soul indeed…

The political wording should be left off entirely. I would think the wording would be offensive to the family/friends of fallen soldiers who were simply serving their country. Let’s remember the veterans for doing the job that the rest of us cannot/will not do, and for the ultimate price that they paid for their dedication.

“Doctor”

You have trouble reading. I said very specifically that I felt no comments should be made on ongoing wars, including the Iraq War and Afghanistan. Therefore, your straw man about a plaque being constructed before the end pre-WWII falls on deaf ears, because it’s irrelevant.

Now unless you want to conclude — and prove — that the entire veterans’ group has a “liberal agenda”, your screed is nothing more than misplaced outrage, particularly because the veterans’ group, as pointed out, is making the changes.

I’d like to know what the plaque for the war fought 1861-1865 said.

That was almost 150 years ago, and certain factions cannot even yet agree if it was named the Civil War, The War of Insurrection, The War Between the States, The War of Northern Aggression, The Late Unpleasantness, or the War for Southern Independence. And as far as the mistakes in that war– whew, we could be here for days debating that one.

No one said anything about hiding Korea, Pete. My dad fought in Korea –64th Tank Battalion, and his name is on a wall of honor in his home county. He was the one who continually told us it wasn’t a war, it was a conflict (since it was never officially declared– technically, the US forces were allied treaty forces–) and it has never ended — a ceasefire, but never a negotiated peace treaty. The point I was making was that enough time had passed that history had some perspective on the military operations there.

bprop,

Once again, you are misrepresenting my personal views…

I never said the entire veterans group had a liberal agenda. It only takes one insidious liberal rat to gum up the works and sneak something past his/her unsuspecting superiors. This is what I surmise to have happened. I am calling it like I see it. If you disagree, that is your opinion and I have no problem with that.

OMG..how big is that area? They are going to need a heck of a lot of room to put all the “mistakes and consequences” memorial trinkets. Better commission a couple more acres in case McCain comes to the big white Poo Ba’s house to camp out for a while. I keep hearing more and more soldiers willing to state for all to hear in recorded pieces with full video exposure that they feel iraq occupation is wrong now, as well as many of our occupations. GB hasn’t even mentioned why TSA folks were talking about the buildup of american troops near the koreas. They couldn’t believe the amount of greenies shuffling through the airports headed to the Ks. It’s a secret, doncha know because the ‘mericans wouldn’t understand. Only way to fix the repeated errors is to acknowledge them. Finally! Aron, Dana…boyz…oversee this one will ya and haunt those who want to be backwards about this.

What they proposed to say is extremely offensive. Political bias has no place in a veterans memorial. Having discussed other issues with the leaders in Lake St Louis this current action of theirs does not surprise me though it does sadden me.

Memorials to those who served our country in war are no place to question our past or present foreign policy decisions. On the other hand I say give Bulldog (23) his $100 dollars back. I’m with you Bulldog, for $100 you should get the version of history you like, accurate or not.

Sounds like Rob is turning conservative. Hey peeps, bias is present in EVERY memorial this country erects. History is written to exclude people of color and women. Perhaps you would have wanted the plaques to be separated by so many feet to be valid for your american rah rahs. I suspect the views on this have to do with how much someone has traveled and REALLY gotten to know the people of other countries we rape, murder and shove aside in our “patriotic” zeal to conquer all lands. I am glad they are bringing the subject to light if nothing else. I got spat on after ‘Nam and I understood why. I felt the same way, but then I wasn’t operating totally on OFFICIAL PR. I agree that if we don’t learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. The difference is, more countries have the skills and money and will to kick our collective butts…and they are in Iraq. It costs too much in all ways to put diplomacy in the back seat anymore. It is juvenile indeed to say we shouldn’t talk to someone who we feel is extremist, then say we follow jesus. We shoot, we don’t talk. And YES, the sand walkers will talk. They are talking. GB just doesn’t like what they are saying. Consider many of those in the towers are responsible for our economic crisis conditions. It all fits together, no matter which sports/political tems you are presently cheering for for your own egoistic identity. Dr…you need to go relieve some of the women soldiers who fight for you and still get sexually hassled daily if you feel so strongly.

If it is to be a memorial they should not try to post political messages, liberal or otherwise.

America hates truth as a whole, but love the La La Land that it exists in so it can continue in its foolishness. We will learn soon if America is finally opening its eyes.

I’m not offended by the words at all. In fact I agree with what the plaques said. The problem is that those words have no place at a Veterans Memorial. Glad to see they wised up and removed them. Let’s all move on now.

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