Honor Them All

For months I have been wanting to talk about a certain topic, but have refrained due to the fact that no matter how well my intentions may be, there are people out there who will brand me Un-American for speaking such blasphemy. But comimg off Memorial Day weekend, I couldn't hold it in any more. I am talking about the attention Matt Maupin, and more importantly his parents, have received over the past year. But before I go any further let me make a few things clear. For starters, Matt Maupin is a true hero. He gave his life for his country, and paid the ultimate price. For that, he should be honored. Also, his parents are to be commended for wanting to raise awareness on all casualties in Iraq, and for wanting to set up scholarships for family members of fallen soldiers. They did not have to do this, yet they chose to anyway.

But the fact that Matt Maupins parents, and the Cincinnati media decided that he was the most important fallen soldier in Iraq was just way too over the top for me. In my opinion, the funeral was handled in poor taste. Why did the Maupin parents think his funeral deserved a 40,000 seat arena with full police escort and road closings, but other Cincinnati fallen soldiers did not? How much did that funeral and procession cost the tax payers? Between all of the police, and required clean up after, I'm guessing a lot.

Matt's parents took every opportunity they could to be in the spotlight. And we all fell in love with them. It was as if we could feel their pain. After all, I can't imagine anything worse than losing a child. They were the poster child for great parents and great people. They were pure, and just wanted to make the world a better place. Then after Matt was finally put to rest, the "lesser" media started reporting on things the Maupins did that go against their poster status. There was the report that they allegedly did not collect the donated money legally. There is the news of Father Maupin being arrested in 1988 for gross sexual imposition, among other things. The arrest really has nothing to do with anything. But would people have opened there arms, and wallets as generously as they did had they known that from the get-go? If the money was not handled properly, how would you feel about your donation now? You were doing a good thing by donating. But had it been reported earlier, would they have raised as much money? Or would you have felt uncomfortable donating it? These are all situations that beg the question: :" Are the Maupins who we thought they were"? I don't know the answer to that yet. I do know that I am deeply disturbed that there are even allegations about it. Something smells fishy, and it's not last nights leftover tuna.

This brings me to my biggest complaint. The very idea of naming a section of I-275 after Matt Maupin is not only a slap in the face to all of the local families who lost loved ones in Iraq, but it is a kick in the ass to those who ACTUALLY LOST THEIR LIVES IN IRAQ.

Now for those of you who failed to actually read what I said about Matt in my opening, and think I am just a Maupin Basher, let me set you straight. The point I have been making is that many other soldiers from Cincinnati lost their lives in Iraq as well. The list is too long to post, but here are just a few: Dyer, Lance Cpl. Christopher J; Freeman, Spc. Daniel J; Haunert, Pvt. Branden P; Kreuter, Cpl. David Kenneth J; Miller, Pfc. James H; Pummill, Staff Sgt. Richard T; Rogers, Sgt. 1st Class Gregory S; Roos, Cpl. Timothy D; Swisher, Capt. Tyler B; Weber, Cpl. Robert F.

Has anyone that was not close to those for-mentioned, ever heard of them? Why not? Why did we experience Maupin mania, yet never heard more than a 30 second snippet on the news about the others? So here is my advice. If the City wants to rename a section of I-275, come up with a name that honors ALL of the local fallen hero's. I have to believe that even Matt would want it that way. But I have yet to hear his parents suggest honoring the others by name. Do they really need their name on a stretch of blacktop that bad? Do the right thing Mr. and Mrs. Maupin. Respect the other soldiers and their families as well. Realize that you are not the only parents in Cincinnati suffering loss.

So to those of you that have branded me a terrorist for saying such things, that is your right as an American. But I served in the Military. I was in the 1st Gulf War. And had I perished during that time, and saw my parents and the Cincinnati Media behaving that way, I would have been embarrassed. Death of a loved one affects that family and is personal. But when it comes to home grown soldier's who made the ultimate sacrifice, everyone is a hero, and they should ALL be remembered...not just one of them.