Tribute is Not Enough

Each Memorial Day and Veterans Day, many of us take time to recognize the sacrifices of those men and women who have served in uniform.

But around the country, these solemn holidays often end up meaning little more than a chance to buy things on sale.

Yesterday I did an event with Jill Biden for a non-partisan, non-profit group called Beyond Tribute that's launching a campaign this Memorial Day to convince stores to donate a portion of their holiday promotion proceeds to medical treatment and family support for veterans. By Veterans Day, we hope to be able to raise significant money for veterans in need from the very businesses that usually capitalize on these solemn holidays.

We're getting businesses to sign on by encouraging everday Americans like you to pledge to shop at Beyond Tribute business partners and show that you're committed to truly honoring, and actually helping, former service members.

When I was on active duty as a four-star general in the U.S. Army, the soldiers I commanded were serving me, and they were serving the President.

But above all, they were serving America — all of us.

So we all owe them a debt of gratitude, especially the troops who have sacrificed their health and well-being in the line of duty.

By signing the pledge to shop at Beyond Tribute businesses during the veterans national holidays, you're doing more than making your own personal commitment to help. You're also showing businesses that their customers will reward them if they do the right thing.

Anyone who has served, or has a loved one who's served, knows how important this help is.

That's why people like Walter Cronkite, philanthropist Jerome Kohlberg, and Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City's Samantha) have joined Beyond Tribute with me and pledged to do their shopping at participating businesses, too.

The troops we honor are real people, many of whom have very real injuries. They and their families need our help to get back on their feet. This is something we can all do that will really help them.

Please join us in signing the pledge to do your shopping on veterans national holidays at Beyond Tribute businesses.

Wesley K. Clark, a retired Army general and former supreme allied commander of NATO, is a senior fellow at the Burkle Center for International Relations at the University of California at Los Angeles.

 

Comments

[demfriend]

I work in a military mental health ward where the active duty PTSD need far more than what they are getting on the field before they have to come to us because they want to die. Not being from a military household nor having served myself I cannot point at the place where failure is happening. A example from recent days is a man who decided to die was all he could do. He served in Iraq for 15 months. He came home a totally different person and could not figure out what was wrong with him and why his long term girlfriend was leaving. I asked him about his job in Iraq: He took pictures of the dead and maimed. He picked up the pieces of fellow soldiers including best buddies. He went out with other soldiers on patrols and many did not come back like they went out, some dead many shot up and IEDs being the main reason he cannot drive but in the middle of the road. He cannot face the buddies he served with and made it home. Why is it he had to decide to die and only by chance he came to us and is for now safe?

[TrooAmerican]

I am totally and 100% behind Gen. Wesley Clark. He is UNImpeachable in his character, his intentions, his valor, his decency, his Wisdom, and his experience.

I would like to suggest that someone publicly Call on defense contractors to begin an Industry Wide campaign of donations to the care of returning veterans. I think it would set great example from those that Sell their wares to the Government for which our troops use on a daily basis, to also provide donations from their profiteering to those same individuals sacrificing themselves for our nation

[ram1952]

These events have only symbolic meaning. The action would be to cut funding to Israel and put it in VA.

[James M. Lynch - Huffpost Blogger]

General,
I think this Beyond Tribute idea is brilliant -- rather than fighting the trend, run with it. Please consider my proposal as well, to honor the fallen for a moment no matter what else is going on. My article is http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-m-lynch/memorial-day-sound-the-si_b_207306.html.
Your voice would give a lot of energy to have this simple, yet unifying moment, come into being.

[seachild]

General Clarke...the best-looking President we never had...i know it's off topic, but IT'S TRUE (wink)...

though i also respect the work you do...

[Dredd]

WW II veteran A. Rooney has some wonderful notions about a memorial day the whole world can get into:

http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/05/andy-rooneys-awesome-memorial-day.html

[All4ME]

Thank you, Gen. Clark for your service to this country, and commitment to clean combat, whether in social justice or war.

Some of us remember that as Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Clark faced down Milosevic during the Kosovo War, and as a result of that conflict became the only general in U.S. history to win a war without losing a single soldier in combat.

Some of us remember that Clark served with distinction during the Hague tribunals that followed that conflict.

Some of us remember that Clark rappelled down a mountain under sniper fire to collect the bodies of fallen diplomats, including Amb. Frasure,

So thank you this Memorial Day to General Clark and all Americans serving overseas.

(p.s. some of us also think Gen. Clark is something of a hottie)

[schatsie]

That is a great tribute to General Clark, things I had never heard...

[egaeus]

While I agree that we should help veterans and I have sympathy for those in the military, it should be noted that the US military is misused most of the time for purposes other than self-defense. After WWII, none of the military engagements had anything to do with American self-defense.

Quite frankly, I am appalled at hearing our leaders constantly relying on the old saw about honorable military service when they engage our troops in deadly combat frivolously. The argument is usually made that these men are fighting for our freedom and our safety. Most of the time that is simply not true. That may be the individual's motive, but the omnivorous Pentagon which devours ever more of the US's overall budget, has other motives, and their actions overseas endanger us more than make us safe.

It is possible to support the troops (that is the individuals who are in harm's way) but to not support what our government is having them do. I do not support the deaths of over one million Iraqis and the displacement of millions more. I do not support drone attacks that kill hundreds of Pakistani civilians. I do not support militarism or sentimental appeals that focus on the warriors and not the innocents who fall. Soldiers enlist; mothers and children do not. One recent estimate suggested that 85% of casualties caused by the US air strikes in Iraq were women and children. Let's not forget those people on Memorial Day either.

[jubei]

I pray to God that Gen.Wes Clark and Sen.Chuck Hagel get a job in the Obama administration.

[Mark Goulston, M.D. - Huffpost Blogger]

General Clark, I appreciate your taking the time to remember our soldiers and veterans and suggest something that people who choose to can choose to do. They're on my mind as you can see from my blog at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-goulston-md/memorial-day-2009---sacri_b_207214.html. I will be attending the Memorial Day ceremony at Los Angeles National Ceremony tomorrow 10:30-12 as I do every year. I find it centers me. I sometimes go to the cemetery on other days for the same reason.

[Yamunation]

part of the money made form the sales should go to fund the VA. It's a shame soldiers dont' get adequate medical care or treatment for depression.

[steamboat]

Yamunation, we do ! ..But its like anything else, word has to get out. The VA & politicians don't tell people. People have to research and yes, ASK ! I can tell you the North Chicago VA Hospital has a fabulous PTSD clinic (one I'm very familiar with, I live in Illinois). Also, veterans need to find good accreditated service officers. Organizations that have them (AMVETS, American Legion, VFW, DAV, VietNam Veterans of America). DAV service officers undergo tremendous training inorder to benefit vets DO NOT try to do it by yourself..­.....Yamun­ation, my main gripe with the VA. Less then 30% of people who work for the VA wherever in the military themselves. I find that disgusting. Your thoughts?

[Yamunation]

I was basing my comment on the negative stuff that does get out, which seems to be that the VA is underfunded and soldiers are often left without adequate insurance. I'm not sure if it matters that those who work in the VA needed to be in the military themselves. But a higher percentage could help. A doctor would provide the same care either way. Seems like its the system that needs to change. Why do soldiers have to research and ask to find the good clinics? It should be made much more easy, after what they've gone through.

[lejoueur]

We have a military of paid professionals who choose to get into the military for several reasons (including financial). While I value their service, I see a difference between an army of draftees and our current structure.

[CAPTAINSKIPPY]

Not sure why Memorial Day has become yet another day shopping at the mall?

[thenorthshore]

dems and libs didn't give a crap about our veterans in the 1950's

dems and libs called us baby killers in the 1960's

dems and libs spit on us in the 1970's

dems and libs didn't give a crap about us in the 1980's

dems and libs began to realize it would be politally advantagous to 'care' about veterans in the 1990's

dems and libs now 'act' like they give a crap about our veterans in the 2000's

[cminca]

Keep telling your self that--that's exactly what the right wing wants.

Reagan shut the VA hospitals and threw the
"malingerer's" onto the streets. Who was in power when the military was "outsourced?" Who gave no bid contracts to their friends to build shoddy barracks and showers that electrocute?

Yeahg--keep listening to Hannity and Limbaugh--they have alot of credibilty.

[steamboat]

NOT TRUE........as a former DAV service officer Reagan did NOT shut hospitals. Rather ok'ed the building of many more (esp. in southwest). Also, doubled out-patient clinics and gave credibility and okayed more funds for Vet Centers.......as far as homeless, how come nobody ever goes after those PC-do goodies who said we couldn't institutionalize people, therefore opening the floodgates for mentally-c­hallenged, etc. to wander the streets?

[steamboat]

Please, don't say dems and libs. Not fair. Some of them had their hearts in the right place..........Say 'lefties. There the dispicable ones.....Hey, I have to fight my hate for them everyday. I remember how I was treated when I came home from VietNam. Its an awful humiliating memory. I fight with myself everyday not to hate them. Instead, take that energy and use it for a positive purpose. For instance, my latest campaign is "asking WHY less then 30% of employees who work for the VA wherever in the military themselves?" Thats disgusting.

[Roses]

While I applaud your even-handedness in confining your hate to "letties" only, let me point out that there are even subtle gradations in that group as well. "Lefties"and "Righties" are labels that are just as damaging.
I call myself a proud liberal or progressive or someone who leans left on many issues.
On many issues I see things from both sides but I generally lean left on social issues.
Never-the-less, I fully support and have always (even during the 60s and 70s) supported the troops and veterans and veteran causes.
I do remember how many veterans were treated after Viet Nam and it was despicable.
I do applaud you for your service, sir. There are many "lefties" who applaud you for your service.
People are people.

[skylights]

There was a big misconception that it was all lefties treating veterans poorly. In fact, many righties also disdained Vietnam veterans because they "lost" the war and they weren't great like the "greatest generation."

[LeftCoastLarry]

And sending our military into harms way on a lie is what?
Love for our troups? Funny, I don't feel the love from the cowardly Republicans.

[steamboat]

You are right but just to be fair, we also had President Lyndon Johnson make up the Tonkin Gulf incident which would lead to an escalation and 58,000+ Americans being killed and 2 million Vietnamese.....When you criticize, don't have a double-standard.

[recless]

That's nice General, but wouldn't it make more sense to actually FIX the VA and military benefits programs?