If you have followed this blog in the last week then you know that we and others challenged the city of Tallahassee and Leon County for their failure to provide escorts to those returning servicemen. Thanks to an outpouring of e-mails from YOU that supported our position resulting from this post (
See Here) we were able to declare Victory (
see here).
However it would appear that the Tallahassee police chief Dennis Jones and Sheriff Larry Campbell are doing a little back peddling (well not at a little but a lot). Remember we said in a previous posts we did not know what the buts, and the if's would be, but we were sure they would come. And so they have.
Taken from a post in the
Tallahassee Democrat (please be advised this is the second version of this post seen on the on the Tallahassee Democrats website):
"Campbell and Jones, both veterans, said their agencies used to provide escorts to funerals but stopped years ago because of cost and liability issues. Tallahassee Police Officer Warren Gay died in 1981 from injuries suffered during an escort for astronaut John Young.
Jones and Campbell said law-enforcement agencies in smaller communities have been able to continue to provide escorts because they have less traffic and fewer intersections that need to be blocked off. They said fallen troops deserve the community's recognition but that escorts might not be possible on days when their agencies are busy with large public events such as football games.
"We're going to do them as long as it does not affect the deputies on the street," Campbell said. "Our first job is public safety."
Dear sirs, these are not the words of patriots. But of consummate politicians. They ring hollow in the ears of families that everyday await word on whether their sons or daughters lived another day.
First off let me remind you that after 9-11 the number one concern of this country was terrorism. Here and Abroad. That is the reason for sending our children overseas to begin with. The primary concern for "public safety" at home was to be YOUR job. Not FSU Football safety. It is only by the blood spilled in this and past wars that you have an American public to keep safe!
"Jones and Campbell said law-enforcement agencies in smaller communities have been able to continue to provide escorts because they have less traffic and fewer intersections that need to be blocked off."This is bogus on a number of fronts. Smaller communities also do not have the resources available to them that you do. Yet they find a way. You ignore the communities of the same size or larger such as Pensacola and Jacksonville Florida that apparently are also able to find a way! It would appear that you may have been so concerned with seeking money from FSU Alumni for re-election you have lost touch with what is happening in the streets. Because sirs, I can tell you from conversations I have had with your street officers. That many of them support us and also believe that your excuses are bogus. Which takes care of this little comment Sheriff Campbell (Who is up for re election):
"We're going to do them as long as it does not affect the deputies on the street," Campbell said.
Since both of you are veterans then I will assume that you are aware that over and over again it has been shown that this country's failure to demonstrate support for the returning Vietnam Vet only added insult to their physical injuries and emotional scars that for many have not healed yet. Have you not learned from history? So which it sir's, do you respect and honor your fellow veterans when they return home? Or do you pay lip service to your own original words and pay homage to the money generated by FSU football games from people who would probably have no problem waiting and hopefully standing with hand over heart as those who served them passed by. And if they do have a problem with it, then show some balls. Tell The FSU Seminoles that if they won't honor a soldier you will because damnit without them there would be no damn football game. Keep in mind this about the "REAL" the Seminole Indian Tribe: No Surrender! By May 10, 1842, when a frustrated President John Tyler ordered the end of military actions against the Seminoles, over $20 million had been spent, 1500 American soldiers had died and still no formal peace treaty had been signed. Please sirs clarify your positions in such as to clearly indicate your UNCONDITIONAL support of our troops. Riding the middle of the political fence is not becoming of those elected to serve US, not FSU! rc
SENT TO:
Tallahassee Police Chief , Dennis Michael Jones, A Vietnam Veteran 850-891-4200
Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell, U.S. Marine Corp Reserves, 850-922-3346
e-mail campbell@leoncountyfl.gov
Tallahassee Commisioners: Use this link to contact all of them at once
http://www.talgov.com/email.cfm?id=commissioners
Use this link to contact all the County commissioners at once:
http://www.leoncountyfl.gov/BCC/email/
WE WILL RIDE FREEAdd to Technorati Favorites
