Letters on Confederate flag, Korean War
Remove flag, but what comes next?
We have a Confederate flag in our local war memorial (June 24 Eagle). It needs to be retired to some museum. Many retailers and banner makers say they will stop manufacturing and selling Confederate flags.
Politicians, seizing the moment, suddenly are aghast that such flags are flown. We will see some almost miraculous changes of heart among the men and women running for public office. But how will we get that Confederate flag out of our hearts and minds? What comes next, after this public outrage?
JOHN R. MAXWELL
Wichita
Traitors’ symbol
Kudos to South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., for calling for the removal of the Confederate flag from state grounds. I’m aware that coming out on this side of the issue will draw criticism from the “it’s just a symbol of Southern heritage” crowd, so I’ll just go ahead and address them now.
The Confederate flag is the symbol of American traitors. It represents those who sought to betray our country in its infancy. Those who display it now demonstrate a shocking defiance in the face of what was proved literally and philosophically to be a losing proposition.
Symbols have a powerful influence on our collective and individual psychology and behavior, as has been shown in the mass shooting at the Charleston church. It’s good to see this particular symbol seeing increased scrutiny.
DUSTIN C. SHARP
Wichita
Forgotten vets
Thursday was the 65th anniversary of an event about which many Americans know little.
The Korean War started on June 25, 1950. Nearly 40,000 American service personnel were killed during this war that lasted until July 1953, and many are still missing. The United States still has about 38,000 troops along the 38th parallel separating the two Koreas.
The Americans who served in this “forgotten war” have not received the recognition due them.
My father, bless his soul, served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II. He, along with some 16 million service members, came home to parades and praise for “a job well-done.” I served in Southeast Asia as an Air Force officer during the Vietnam War, along with millions of other veterans. We just came home.
We need to salute those Korean War veterans who are now in their 80s and tell them that they, too, deserve praise for a job well-done.
LARRY G. WHITE
Wichita
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This story was originally published June 25, 2015 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Letters on Confederate flag, Korean War."