Should we cut federal spending by not paying for military funerals?
For those who may not have heard a suggestion has been made that one way to cut some of the federal spending is to stop paying for military funerals. While this has been reported by a non-government official it points to the fact that there may be others being suggested by private citizens to reduce federal spending. The rate of growth of our federal government and the spending which is out of control should not be partially resolved by any attempt to cut federal spending by dishonoring our military by not paying for their funerals.
One comment made in support of this suggestion is that not all those who serve in the military are heroes and do not deserve a military funeral paid for by the government. I want to make one point perfectly clear if nothing else in this article and that fact is everyone who serves or has served in any branch of the military deserves a military funeral paid for by the government. Also it is my opinion that all those who serve their country in any branch of the military are heroes.
While there may be actions by the federal government to pay for many things which may end up being part of the budget ax to reduce federal spending ending the practice of paying for military funerals should not be one of them. We as individuals may have some issues with decisions made to involve our military but this should not affect the support we should have for our military when it comes time to lay them to rest. I am a strong supporter of our military and the sacrifices they and their families do every day to protect the freedoms we have. The last thing we could do as a country is to honor the service of those when it comes time for a country to lay them to rest.
One of the last points to make involves the fact that the practice of the government paying for military funerals has been a tradition. Traditions are a good thing and while some traditions may end in the budget ax to address government spending this should not be one of them. It is true that no government official that we are aware of has made a suggestion to end payment for military funerals. The current negotiations associated with cutting the deficit like others in the past have not been as open as they should and to some extent I agree as negotiations are or can be difficult situations. However decisions made behind closed doors raises suspicion as to how agreements have been reached.
Another fact which has been report to some extent is the substitution of a recording being played at military funerals rather than the buglers which have been there in human form. This practice while not a part of ending the payment for military funerals it is an action which should be reversed. Playing a recording while laying to rest one of our military is disrespectful to the sacrifices our military has made. We should honor our military everyday of their lives and support their families when they need us the most. Every family faces situations but military families must go on with their lives while their spouse, brother, father or mother serves their country. While there are organizations which support military families we as individuals should support these organizations.
The issue of the possibility of not paying for military funerals is one which we as individuals and as a country should not let happen. Though the proposal was made by a non-government official suggestions sometimes make it to the floor of Congress. I know that there are many of our elected officials who support our military. It is hope if such a proposal is brought up for consideration that it be rejected to protect the honor of those who have served our country.
