In Minnesota, the flags are lowered to half-mast every time someone from the state is killed in the Middle East.

Hey BUB...the Prez says no pictures of returning caskets and that goes for that half-mast stuff as well...so there

I'm a combat veteran myself, but I still think this guy's "argument" is petty. Of course, he's got a right to voice what he believes in.

Slight change of subject, but I have to say that, from what I've seen and read, those kids at VTech are simply amazing...their eloquence and maturity in the aftermath of this event really came shining through, and with the cards they were dealt last week, I'm in awe of the way they handled themselves...

I can't speak for everyone, but I know most of us RESPECT all those who are under arms and those who have fallen. We will never forget the sacrafices they and their families make daily. Every time I see a flag, half-mast or fully raised, it only reinforces MY pride in THEM.

I fly my flag half mask,( 4+ yrs) untill my brothers and sisters are no longer dying in another country.
Bush or any politician does not speak for me! Bub!

I have a husband and son that are Veterans. My husband served in Vietnam and my son two tours in Iraq.

My husband was very upset about the flag being flown half staff for the VT and 911 victims. He was also upset the 911 victims survivors wanted to be buried in the National Cemetary. There should be at least these two honors for our fallen HEROS. People love the freedom of speech but have forgotten some have given the ULTIMATE sacrifice so they could have their FREEDOMS!!

Shame on these people!!

Let's continue to keep sacred the symbolisims of our fallen HEROS. This is the least and the last thing we can do for them.

That was my question, why aren't the flags flown at half mast for all the deceased military?

Also instead of giving all that money to Iraq why not give our soldiers a pay raise. the soldiers families need more than the other countrys

I hang my flag everyday , for the liveing & the AlL the victims.
my son die 5 years ago but if he was here he would be there he loves is land & people.i pray everyday for the all th U.S. & the people that live over there.
MORE OF ALL I PRAY FOR THE HERE THAT AT LOSES ALL THE LOVE ONE.
I LIVE IN South Caroline we have losed alost. BUT we still still hang the flag & pray.

the soldier is correct, it is bad what happen at VT and it was a shock to all american's to see and heard, we pray for the families that loss someone that day. However i also hear of the soldiers airman and marines that are also losing there lives everyday, i know that we can not keep the flag at half mast everyday but we should feel bad that we are putting our service members in the eye of the some crazy

I think the all American flags should be flown at half staff for the duration of the Bush presidency.

and Ritzy, two points, first tell your husband lowering the flag to half staff symbolizes national mourning, not that a 'hero' died. The senseless loss of so many lives on 9/11 and at VT might not have bothered your husband but most of the country was terribly saddened by their loss. Secondly, no one has fought to protect this country's freedoms since World War II. I mean we lost in Viet Nam, had a stalemate in Korea and what freedoms did we lose as a result? The current 'war' has resulted in a loss of freedom here in the U.S. and it has nothing to do with protecting our freedoms.

I see the point of respecting the fallen brothers and sisters, but in Afghanistan, there are US deaths about every 5 days. In his FOB, maybe it would be a sign of respect to fly at half mast for a day every time a soldier falls. BUT, put that into the Iraqi theatre, and the flags at FOB's would be at half mast every single day. Every day. US Flags at half mast on US bases there every day. To me, I would prefer to see the S&S flying high; I think it's a better symbol of fighting the fight by keeping it full mast...by keeping it perpetually at half mast, I think it's gives the impression of constant mourning, not the symbol of courage to fight and strength to carry on.

I dunno...ask the boots on the ground there...maybe or maybe not Sgt. Wilt is in the majority in this regard.

The flag is to be lowered only for the death of someone who has served their country. The president was within his rights but actually wrong to lower it for VT. If we are going to lower it for everyone who gets killed then it should be at half mast all the time because everyday someone is killed. Let's show the respect for our military that is deserved, let's lower it for them. The ones who are protecting our lives should be shown the honor.

NO, that isn't fair to our service men. we need to remember why OUR flag looks the way does. those red stripes stand for something. it was a terrible thing that happen at VT. But good men and women are giving their lives over there and they NEED to remembered for what they decided to give of them selves for us here. For the troops, till they all come home. POW/MIA.

As a parent of a son serving in the 1/40 cavalry "airborne" in Iraq. Our symbol of Freedom should and must be lowered for our Fallen soldiers.Please do not forget all of these soldiers have volunteered to serve and protect,some even have made the ulimate sacrafice for this country's freedom.

Death is a potential for those who go to war. It is understood that it is a very real possibility and in volunteering to fight, they may not come home. However, what bothers me most is this:
The day of the VA Tech shooting, there was also another news story. A car bomb in Baghdad (I believe) killed approximately 200 people. Where were THEIR stories of lives tragically cut short? We are ONE WORLD and yet, everyone is segmenting and prioritizing whose death and whose grief is more significant. The day that Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton march to defend the honor of a non-African American, is the day we make real progress in becoming one. Martin Luther King would agree. The day the news tells all the stories, is the day we become one. It is the day we realize we are here to care for everyone, no exceptions. We are one world.

Deborah, I fully agree with your sentiment, but...

The 170+ deaths that day WAS in the news...globally...vary your news sources, that's all...in 2007, if you want to find out about something, all ye' have to do is search. Counter to your point, why didn't YOU mention the even larger death toll that day in Africa? For example, the March 29-April 1 battles in Mogadishu prompted 1.4 million to flee their homes in the Somali capital. The death toll from a meningitis epidemic in Burkina Faso rose to 324. etc, etc.

It's selective broadcasting, that's all...Makes sense, right?

"The day that Jesse Jackson marches to defend the honor of a non-African American, is the day we make real progress in becoming one." You're right, but Jesse, very early on, became involved with MLK's very cause. He helped with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. In 1983, Jackson traveled to Syria to secure the release of a captured American pilot, Navy Lt. Robert Goodman who was being held by the Syrian government. In June 1984, Jackson negotiated the release of twenty-two Americans being held in Cuba after an invitation by Cuban president Fidel Castro. In April 1999, during the Kosovo War, Jackson traveled to Belgrade to negotiate the release of three U.S. POWs captured on the Macedonia border while patrolling with a UN peacekeeping unit. On February 15, 2003, Jackson spoke in front of over 1 million people (estimate) in Hyde Park, London at the culmination of the Anti-War Demonstration against the imminent invasion of Iraq by the US and UK (maybe he foresaw the punishment of the Iraqi people that this would lead to). In November 2004, Jackson visited senior politicians and community activists in Northern Ireland in an effort to encourage better cross-community relations and rebuild the peace process and restore the governmental institutions of the Belfast Agreement. One of his presidential campaign platforms was supporting the formation of a Palestinian state. Many Many Many things can be said for his work for ALL people, Deborah...you know that...

I thought that Memorial Day was the NATIONAL day of morning and rememberance of our fallen heros.
We have a National holiday called the 4th of July to honor our Constitution and a holiday called Flag Day.

Maybe we ought to have a National holiday in rememberance of our citizens that have fallen to terrorism and crime.

Just a thought.

I was surprised to hear that Bush requested the flags be lowered for the victims of VA Tach. I don't discount the terrible tragedy, however, our troops are dying every day for our freedom, why aren't the flags lowered for these wonderful soldiers and their families? Are we becoming so complancent about the casualities of Irag, that we just "take it in stride" when another soldier is killed? Shame on us!
God bless every single troop protecting our country!!

Recall Memorial Day?

All premature death is a tragedy, and deserving of respect, reflection and due regard for those left behind.

The loss of service members killed in the line of duty, particularly in combat, is particularly deserving of our Nation's heartfelt acknowledgment.

As a Nation we have set aside the last Monday in May as Memorial Day. On that day we fly the Flag at half staff until Noon, at which time it is raised to full staff. This is fitting as the fallen have given the last full measure of devotion to keep that Flag flying high.

Every year this holiday allows us to remember all our fallen service members from the beginning of our Nation to the present. Frankly, this is fitting too – as their sacrifice is honored as long as this Nation exists. Our honored service-related dead are all honored by the Flag at half-staff.

The flag would always be half staff for 4 years straight.
The war is going badly, its never-ending and Bush is hiding the bodies, flying them back at 3am, banning the press, and denying the dead their dignified return to American soil.

the soldier is right, they give thier lives for his country and to give the nation of peace...i salute them coz without them maybe our nation is always on war and maybe we are dead now, because of this bad people. we must pray for there safety everyday. The PEACE is always with us in our heart...With the heavenly Father and his SON JESUS CHRIST peace be with us all. and PEACE be with you ALL!!! GOD BLESS TO ALL The PEOPLE HERE ON EARTH.

Well, I am sorry but did the children (yeah in my book, 18 and 19 year olds are still kids)and teachers at VT sign up to die at school or did they sign up to get an education? We HONOR them because we know that this can happen at any school today and it was a tragic waste of lives for them to die the way they did.

As for not lowering the flag for the fallen inlisted service people-well, when you volunteer to go to war then you must face the fact that you may not make it home. It is a hazard of the job so to speak that if you are in the military you could die. It shouldn't be part of any school's freshman orientation that you may be shot during class. I think the nation was honoring those lost and our own loss of security. It is easy to negate the loss of "troops" in Iraq at this point-the media blends them into one unit, faceless and nameless with a running death toll. VT hit in our own backyard and could have been any one of us that have gone to school there or any family with college aged kids. For better or worse the killings at VT are more real to most people.

But using the death's of those at VT to further your own political debate is just low to me. Common. Those kids at VT were gunned down for no reason, it has been a tremendous loss to the Tech community as well as thier families. It just sickens me to see so many people using this as a spring board for their own agendas. Disapointing.

GO HOKIES
Class of 95

I believe the Flag should be lowered until all our troops are home.
Yes, the VT victims needed to be recongized w/respect. Young lives cut short - these killings senseless & my prayers & sympathy go to all the victims & their familes. But I have to ask this - was the young man who planned this horrible act - is he an American? That brings up another issue!

My son is leaving for his 2nd tour this coming Saturday. Irag bound. I fear for him, but this is his job, to protect our NATION. This family is very proud of him. But our troops are forgotten. These young men & women who honor their country need to be remembered everyday with respect. LOWER THE FLAG UNTIL EVERY SOLDIER IS HOME.
Americans need to see all the Flagged coffins coming home. I recently went to Ft. Riley to visit w/my family. We all waited to get off the plan. With respect we watched to flagged coffins get off first. The plane was packed w/troops coming home for R&R. Do you know how many soldiers have gone AWOL - because they do not believe in this war? Do you know how many are trying to get out on a medical discharge?

Flying the US Flag at half mast for the mourning of our fallen VT students, I believe is a very respectable gesture that all US Citizens should recognize and respect, and they in turn should also remember that the fallen soldiers are also US Citizens that were there serving in the pursue of our freedom and should rightfully be recognized for their honor in protecting the freedom of all of the people of the US. So, lets just fly the flags at half mast until all of our troops are returned from this war that we are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

EVERY VET. GETS A HONOR GUARD AND FLAG, IF THE FAM. WANTS.
THE VT KIDS GOT A FLAG AT HALF MAST AND THEY WERE JUST GOING TO SCHOOL, GIVE THEM A BRAKE.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VT AND A VET. IS EASY.
TO THE VT FAMILY'S "WE'RE SORRY"
TO THE VETS. FAMILY "WE'RE GREATFUL, WE HONOR YOU"

THANKS,, 29th DIV. VET.

What happened at Virgina Tech is tragic. What is happening in Iraq and in the United States of America is criminal.

As a veteran I find it dispicable that Bush was AWOL, then steals the office of President, twice. It is dispicable that we are killing innocent Iraqis and our American youth in our military on a lie for Halliburton and the Bush ego.

It is further dispicable when Bush refuses to honor his promises to Veterans. Its a short sighted shallow personage, swaggering, bragging and playing president, to lower the American Flag for the students killed at Virginia Tech but not for our dead Soldiers, Sailers, Marines, Airmen and probably Coast Guardsmen in this illegal war.

Lower our flags for the right reasons... for our Troops...

One life is not worth more than another. The difference I see is that members of the military were sent into harm's way. The students went to school.
All our flags should fly half staff until all internationalists are out of Iraq.

As a Veteran of Iraq and a huge Patriot I must say I disagree with a lot of opinions.
I serve my country and it's people so the flag can fly high. Not to be a hero.
There were very clear guidelines put into the constitution in 1923.

The only "Respect" I need is that old glory flies high and that when you hear the National Anthem, you stop, put your hand on your heart and feel inside what it stands for.

Flying the flag at half staff is supposed to mean something, when you do it every day for every little incident it makes it mean nothing. Why do you think our forefathers only meant it to fly at half staff until noon on Memorial day. It is supposed to be that significant.

Lets keep it that way.