Rep. Rick Johnson of Missouri, a veteran of the first Gulf War, is fed up with the hypocritical way President Bush has used our troops as cannon fodder and photo op backgrounds while cutting their benefits and not taking care of their families. He has come up with an innovative, cost-free and poignant way to honor the fallen, while exposing the true costs of the war: require that Missouri lower its flags to half mast every time a soldier dies.
Hey, this idea is great! Why don't we get comparable bills going in all 50 states! (more below)
As a legislator, Rep. Johnson sees the state and federal flags lowered to half mast whenever a former or present legislator dies, but the fallen in Iraq die without a comparable salute. Johnson's solution? Let's lower the flag whenever a soldier dies.
Johnson has a flag in front of his own house that makes a strong statement, because it is at half mast almost every day. It is a great conversation starter, and a stark reminder that our brave soldiers are making the ultimate sacrifice every day (unlike Mr. Bush, who would not even put himself in harm's way when he had a chance 40 years ago).
For more info, see http://www.rickjohnson.com/...