Accidental Politics- An Apology

To the two military personnel that stood, at attention, ready and saluting our President, I’m sorry.

It’s my personal opinion that many in our society have lost the ability to admit when we’re wrong.  That accepting responsibility by simply saying, ‘We messed up,’ is refreshing and creates character along with loyalty.  Instead, many of us focus on how to cover our tracks.  Creating shields of indifference which clouds agendas and cripples truth. Making it difficult to understanding what to believe in, with heart and soul.  So, while it’s unlikely that you’ll receive an apology from where it ought to come from, I’ll take a shot at doing it for them.

I’d like to apologize because you are both unnamed and yet we know you so well.  I’d like to shake your hands, and tell you face-to-face, how incredibly important you are and that you are not unrecognized.  We see you.  We see your posture, it’s perfect and unflinching.  And, as you stand at attention, doing your duty and executing protocol, we see leadership exuding from you.

I’ve felt sadness and have stopped looking to our country’s leaders for hope.  This has happened withing the past number of years.  But, when I saw both of you, holding your position, with focus and dignity, I felt it.  I realized that our strength as a country can be seen within you.  I need not look at the President for leadership, I can simply look at you and my fellow Americans all around me.

Like many, my focus fell on what I found to be the most important issue. Both of you.  While many of us watched the indifference take place, you lived it.

I wondered what you were thinking?  I wanted to know how long you’d been standing at attention, waiting.  Five minutes, five hours?  Were you excited?  Was this the first time your Commander-in-Chief saluted you?  Do you have families? If so, are you deploying, or are you back from deployment and now able to stay out of harms way?  Are you wondering if anyone noticed, or cared?  Did you feel let down?  Did your morale dip slightly?  I’ve often thought that morale is much like a company’s brand.  Everything matters.

I hoped that you knew that I was wondering these things.  I hope you know that we all wonder these things.  We see you.  And as I mentioned above, though we do not know you personally, you are incredibly important to us and you are not unrecognized.

I hope you accept this apology.  It’s not coming from military personnel, but from an average citizen of the United States of America; one who loves his country very much and was concerned enough to make sure that at least one hand, of apology, was held out.  And please know, there are many more, just like me.

Thank you for inspiring me.  Thank you for inspiring us.

Sincerely,

M. Taggart

If anyone reading this has the ability to put this apology in front of a network that can help this letter find it’s true home, please help in that process.  Thank you in advance.