This is insane. AMERICAblog has an email sent yesterday to the staff of the Department of Health and Human Services:
From: Announcements to all U.S. DHHS Employees
[mailto:HHS-STAFF@LIST.NIH.GOV] On Behalf Of News, HHS (HHS/OS)
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 4:57 PM
To: HHS-STAFF@LIST.NIH.GOV
Subject: Commemoration of Patriot Day
In twelve days, we will commemorate Patriot Day, a day to remember the tragic events of September 11, 2001, a day to honor members of the Armed Forces currently serving at home and abroad, and a day to reiterate our commitment to the freedoms we enjoy. I will honor Patriot Day by participating in the Freedom Walk, a memorial event sponsored by the Department of Defense. I invite you as employees of the Department of Health and Human Services to join me.
The Freedom Walk begins at 10 a.m. in the Pentagon's south parking lot, winds two miles through Arlington National Cemetery and over the Potomac River, and ends at the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall where country music star Clint Black will perform. The walk is free, but people must register by visiting www.AmercaSupportsYou.mil
September 11 marked a change in the way we view our world, our nation and ourselves. The betterment of ourselves and our country is our response. In whatever way you choose to commemorate the horrendous acts of early September four years ago, let us once again renew our gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy and reaffirm our commitment to tolerance, peace and liberty throughout the world.
Let's remember that at the moment, we are in the middle of the nation's worst disaster in at least a century. We have hundreds of thousands of homeless and displaced, we have a major city under water, we have entire towns wiped off the face of the earth, we have likely thousands dead, disease may break out at any point, a massive cleanup and reconstruction project must be planned and executed.
And one of the key departments involved in the process is urging its employees to go on a march and catch a country music concert? Another key department, the Department of Defense, is sponsoring this event.
It's time for the federal government to focus entirely on helping the people of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, not plan and attend a party.