Letters to the Editor

Memorial Day is for patriots

In some circles, patriotism has become a synonym for arrogant or jingoistic. Some people even use it as a political weapon — “Don’t question my patriotism,” they say. But this Memorial Day, and every other day for that matter, we should remember that those who died for this country are the true patriots.

Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes called Memorial Day “our most respected holiday” and urged that “we not ponder with sad thoughts the passing of our heroes but rather ponder their legacy — the life they made possible for us by their commitment and pain.”

At its core, Memorial Day has always commemorated the universal all-encompassing understanding of, “No greater love than this does any man have, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

President Lincoln put their sacrifice into perspective at the battlefield in Gettysburg when he said, “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.”

After the terrorists struck us on Sept. 11, 2001, America was changed. Our all-volunteer force responded.

People with comfortable jobs left their towns and deployed with their Reserve and Guard units. Some even joined the active-duty forces. The existing military responded in its typical heroic fashion, overthrowing a tyrannical regime in Afghanistan and battling ruthless insurgents in Iraq. Thousands gave their lives.

The call to freedom came and they answered, just like their predecessors in the two world wars, Korea, Vietnam, Beirut, Grenada and the Persian Gulf. The war on terror is being won by ordinary Americans making extraordinary sacrifices.

One such man was Marine Cpl. Travis Braddack-Nail of Portland, Ore. He played the drums, loved punk rock and drove his mother crazy with his tattoos. Although he hoped to attend college, he extended his stay in Iraq to help his platoon.

“The platoon wasn’t surprised by his decision,” a Marine buddy recalled. “He would always step in and take his spot.”

Travis was killed two months later in an explosion during a mine-clearing operation near Karbala. We owe Travis, and the men and women like him, our unending respect and gratitude.

The Preamble to The American Legion’s Constitution states in part, “to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the Great Wars.” On Memorial Day, we call on all Americans to do this.

Memorial Day is not about trips to the beach or sporting events. It’s not about politics. It’s about people who have decided that the United States is worth dying for. It’s about patriots.

Legislators must restore oral health funding

We cannot just grin and bear it. Cuts to adult dental programs in the state Senate Ways and Means Committee’s budget will cause needless pain and suffering to thousands of Massachusetts residents.

The Senate proposed to eliminate dental benefits for 600,000 low-income Massachusetts residents. These benefits are essential and cost-effective. We know that good oral health is a part of overall health, and that preventive care now will avoid costly treatment later.

In 2002, the Swift administration eliminated comprehensive dental benefits for adults. It was restored in 2006. It has taken until now, three years later, for thousands of people to heal from the years of lack of care. Now some of those same people are facing the possibility of losing their dental coverage again.

We think this is inhumane treatment of some of the most vulnerable populations among us and implore the Legislature to restore funding for MassHealth’s adult dental coverage.

Amy Whitcomb Slemmer
Executive Director
Health Care For All