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MyspaceEvery day in the papers there are stories or pleas to help military veterans from WW2 to Afghanistan. Many are in dire straits for many reasons. There are a number of programs trying to assist vets, and all need funds. In order to help, the director of the Claeyssens Veterans Museum Foundation (Not the Woods Claeyssens foundation), supported by a local retired marine general, will put up a million dollars for a tribute at the new terminal to the World War 2 Marine Aviators who trained at our airport and paid the supreme sacrifice. We will now have two memorials and one tribute at the airport to the Marines who trained here over 60 years ago, to support today’s warriors.
Courtesy
An artist rendering of Douglas Lochner’s proposed veterans memorial sculpture for Santa Barbara Airport
This tribute will have two 20-foot glass wings with a walkway though it. The wings feathers will be brightly lit from dusk to dawn in contrast to the soft lighting of the terminal. This tribute will take over one of the two grass areas in front of the new airport terminal, thereby closing the intended open space. This tribute, according to the artist and supporters, is to memorialize the fallen but not to show anything that would associate it with war. The wings are not even close to military pilots’ wings. To me they are more like fish fins. If this was at the wharf for marine life I could understand it.
The cause may seem deserving but I know of no memorial or tribute that prevented the next battle. My family was career military and I did a tour in Regular Army then six years working directly with Navy and Marine Pilots. I, as did my father, believe that the ones who made the sacrifice are out of it; you mark them (record name), grieve for them, but honor them by helping those that remain. They are the ones that have to cope with the injuries and loss.
Instead of spending a million dollars on an irrelevant glass spectacle at the airport , I would give the Foundation greater accolades if I saw a four-inch square plaque on the side of a house that states “This house remodeled to accommodate the needs of a wounded serviceperson,” a tag on physical therapy equipment stating that it was supplied by the foundations; or if they provided family support in coping with a disabled warrior who has physical and/or emotional problems, with an ongoing improved local health facility.
The Foundation has provided assistance in some areas but think what a million dollars would do for Stand Down for Veterans, the Wounded Warrior program, or many other support programs in our area. There is no such thing as a spare million for an apparition when there are better ways to honor our servicemen and women.
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Comments
Kinda makes you think, maybe if your rich or wealthy, throwing money at something evens-out your taxes for the year but responsible donating takes thought and restraint to make sure what you give goes where its needed.
Maybe the wealthy should be more involved in these programs on a personal level rather than looking at them as a financial venture to pay less in Taxes.
At my cubical here in DC, I hear of the Suicide rate for enlisted is the highest of all the other conflicts the US has been in, mostly for the multi-deployments and continued War we are in, yeah, the war is still going if you have troops being shot at, its still a War.
Some money from the wealthy and their personal interest would be more appriciated than just throwing $$$$ at an issue.
dou4now (anonymous profile)
November 21, 2012 at 5:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
well said. Imagine what the money could have done that was spent on elections, oh the humanity!
spacey (anonymous profile)
November 21, 2012 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)