I was disturbed albeit not surprised after reading the article “General Killed in Afghanistan Laid to Rest in Arlington Rites” (Aug. 15). It was reported that “several hundred people attended” the funeral for U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Harold J. Greene, including Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and other military officers.
What struck me is the absence of the president and/or the vice president, who are yet again living it up on vacation in the trendy Hamptons or Martha’s Vineyard.
Gen. Greene’s family is a military one; his wife and son were or are currently serving as officers.
One would think that our elected leaders would take time off from living high on the proverbial hog to offer respect and to honor a general officer who was needlessly killed.
He was not in a fire fight or leading men into battle on his last day. He was as much a businessman as a soldier doing his duty by teaching what he knew to the Afghan military.
From this veteran, I render a salute and say “ rest in peace, sir.”
DONN NEMCHICK
Munhall
The writer is the veterans program coordinator for Riverside Center for Innovation in Pittsburgh.
First Published: August 18, 2014, 4:00 a.m.
