jeeze.. with that sort of production style maybe they can get wal mart to do it for them.

This reminds me of the tragedy of the Viet Nam war when the news commentators told us how many "casualties" each day. It was supposed to be so much easier on the public if they don't have to think about EACH PERSON who lost their life for our country.

ABSOLUTELY NOT!
This is a travesty.
Please don't do this.
:(
When I think of the huge hole in the lives of the loved ones, this is an insult.

I think this is a terrible idea. If the USA can send the troops over there, they can honor them if they give the ultimate sacrifice of their lives and do so on an individual basis.

The choice to do once a month memorial services for fallen soldiers is an awful one. It makes me sick to my stomach to think that the individuals who are giving their lives for our country are not getting individual funeral and memorial services that they more than deserve. Sad thing is we all know it always comes down to money. So more soldiers are giving their lives but we are going to "cap" how much money we want to budget for their memorials....say that their deaths are overwhelming the militaries capacity to handle the memorials..and that they are "hard" on the staff ...pathetic. Gee how hard are they on the families and friends ?? All I can say is what can we do to stop this travesty ??

The thought of this makes me sick to my stomach. Who would even think up such an awful ideal....

NEXT THEY WILL WANT TO BURY THEM IN MASS GRAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!this is F******G NUTS!!!!!

as a army mother i feel each and every soldier who sacrifices their life for this great nation deserves indivual funerals, its not like our goverment is dioing anything spectacular to make the deployments or living conditions any easier.. they can can at least kick with indivual funerals..

Each soldier is a hero to this country. When that soldier gives the ultimate sacrifice - their life - this country in turn owes that individual the courtesy of a small rememberance for them and the family. Can this Country really put a "cap" on the price of remembrance.
To all of those in our armed forces, I thank you for your job and your efforts. As a veteran I do know and understand...thank you

I can appreciate the military's concern in managing these expenses. It must cost quite a pretty penny and inconvenience a lot of folks who have to manage the details of coordinating all these individual services and buriels. That is TOO bad! These men and women of our armed forces and their families have paid the ultimate cost and their "inconvenience" is unimaginable. We do a diservice to their honor to even entertain the idea of grouping their services together. THEY DESERVE MUCH MORE THAN THAT! If the cost of war is so high that we cannot afford individual funerals for our fallen heros, then the war is too expensive to fight in financial terms as well as emotional terms, and should be termintated. These people should be honored in every way for their sacrifice, whether it is their life or their time invested. We do them a diservice to give then anything less than the minor consideration of a proper INDIVIDUAL service and funeral.

i was shocked to hear on the news memorial day that bush hasnt attended a single funeral of those killed in this war. where do you draw the line was the quote. with someone like him at the helm is something like this really all that surprising?

We ask them to give their lives, and yet OUR government can't give them or their families a final hour individually? Sad, very sad. The military and Bush should be ashamed. I wonder if the twins were to be killed in Iraq, would we make the time and resources available so they could have one final hour of respect and honor. Step up people do what is right, not what is easy!!!!

We ask them to give their lives, and yet OUR government can't give them or their families a final hour individually? Sad, very sad. The military and Bush should be ashamed. I wonder if the twins were to be killed in Iraq, would we make the time and resources available so they could have one final hour of respect and honor. Step up people do what is right, not what is easy!!!!

TO: The decision-makers at Ft. Lewis, WA
FROM: A fellow veteran from Vietnam
MEMO: Please don't make this mistake; aggregating the memorial services absolutely violates the personal and solo gift these young men and women have given us INDIVIDUALLY! They deserve better of us. Thank you.

For all that they have sacrificed I do not believe we should let this happen to our soldiers. One of the greatest rewards to a soldier is to know that they were appreciated and respected for the sacrifices they made and that their families have made. One of those things would be the miltarty style services and burial, not that this is nearly enough! I don't care if it is expensive or time consuming to the military, it MUST be done. I view this as one of the most inhumane thoughts and actions our government has come up with yet. How disgusting!!

Each of these men and women are making the ULTIMATE sacrifice. Ft Lewis (and the rest of the "decision makers") should not be so focused on time, energy and cost that they cannot make a SMALL sacrifice and honor EACH individual.

I personally think a MASS Memorial service is terrible. What a sad way to say good-bye to our troops who insure our way of life. This is like the mass graves in WW ll.Who ever came up with this one needs to RE-Think their plan, NOT good and it hurts my heart to think this is the best we can do for any person who gives their life for their country. I'd be furious if I were a parent of a killed solgier. BAD plan!

Paula Owens

Who is the idiot that made this decision? Supposedly this will save on the "emotional toll". Our soldiers are sacrificing their lives in a war the U.S. entered under false pretenses. They deserve better than this. A once a month memorial won't lessen anything.

If you want to save on the "emotional toll" bring our troops home.

This is totally disrespectful.

I think this is unacceptable...As a military wife if the military wanted to have a memorial service my husband and more, these men and women give their lives for our freedom and this is the repayment they get... Well I will make sure to pray for all of these brave men and women and I will remember them for what they gave for my children and I.

With all of my love for the brave men and women.

As an Army parent I am insulted with this decision. Just because the Bush administration is socially retarded, does not mean we have to be.
This decision proves that our Army and their families, are American Prisoners of War. SAD day for our Military.

As an Army parent I am insulted with this decision. Just because the Bush administration is socially retarded, does not mean we have to be.
This decision proves that our Army and their families, are American Prisoners of War. SAD day for our Military.

As an Army parent I am insulted with this decision. Just because the Bush administration is socially retarded, does not mean we have to be.
This decision proves that our Army and their families, are American Prisoners of War. SAD day for our Military.

This is a very sad commentary. We ask our troops to serve our country in a country that could give a damn about their own people. This is a Bush War - it is not a war on terrorism - it is wrong. There is not an individual in our world that does not deserve the dignity of a proper burial. Mass burial is as wrong as mass murder. To hear the military dignitaries even try to pass this off as "it will minimize the stress for all" is ludicrous.

I don't feel sacraficing a soldiers life for thier country is enough. Thier grieving loved ones should be willing to sacrifice the recognition an honors. God be wiyh the people who thought this one up...or not.

Neither Ft. Lewis or any other installation (or service branch) should begin the "once-a-month" memorial services. While the soldiers serve an honorable team, each gave an individual life for our country. Each also has their own individual family who morns. Keep these services as they are; don't rubber stamp them. If we can afford to send these brave soldiers into combat, we can aford to honor each of them individually!

Another terrible idea by those that are suppose to be in charge.
If it cost too much just rescind the pay raise congress gave themselves and spend it on the memorial services.
What next mass graves? Cheaper yet, just don't do anything and the brass won't have to get dressed up at all. Leave the bodies where they fall.
What happened to SUPPORT THE TROOPS?
Action speaks louder than empty words.

To all who serve.
Thank you.

My eternal scorn to those who made this decision.
AC

I had the unfortunate honor of planning one of these services at Fort Lewis last September and I understand why this action is being implemented, but I do not agree with it.

There are just too many Soldiers dying and not enough general officers and support personnel (chaplains, organists, etc) to keep up with the rate of memorials. There is a lot of scheduling that has to go on between many different people in order to properly conduct these ceremonies. You have to make it work for the families, the Soldiers, the general officer and other VIPs, the chaplains, the organist, the bugler, the funeral team (riflemen), etc. (FYI-a general officer is required to attend each memorial ceremony)

Believe me, when there is a death in the unit, everything else goes on the backburner and all available resources and energy go into honoring your fallen comrade, which is the right thing to do. But again, with the rate of deaths, it's hard to get any other things done. And by that I don't mean just pushing paperwork. If a unit is not deployed, they are getting ready for it and a lot of time, energy and resources go into that.

I do not agree with a once a month memorial for all fallen Fort Lewis Soldiers. If they absolutely needed to go once a month, I would do it for each individual brigade, that way each brigade honors its own and it can still be somewhat personal. Once a month for all fallen Soldiers at one time does not do them justice.

who is deciding this??? each man and woman in our military should be honored seperately. for crying out loud, these precious people are dying for us. give them an individual burial/ceremony. you can't put a price on these hearts and souls and they did there time please give them your time....signed....a proud american for the time being. sue hart

Please do not lump these Soldiers' memorial services into one. Think of each Soldier's family and their loss. An individual Soldier sacrificed his/her life. An individual Soldier deserves his or her own memorial for paying the ultimate price... Supporting and defending this great country USA!!! Mass memorial is mass INSULT.

Terrible idea :(

my kid just came home from the war and thanks god he is ok but the others that don't come home and was killed giving there lives, need the respect of a one on one at the grave sight, not like a multi pack in a discount store. where is the respect now a days

It proves again that soldiers are more or less a number for the army and that they are not allowed the dignity of a proper burial. This is the government YOU voted for Republicans ...

I can not believe for one minute that they want to make things easy for them seleves at home while these young men are fighting for the country.

I think if the chaplin passes that i seen talking about this on NWCN last night he should be put on ice for a year before his family gets to say goodbue to him.

So yea if you want to be selfish and make life easy for you because you can not do your job while these young men are doing and dying for there job, Go for it and be selfish but I can not speak for evey one of the families of these young men but you are doing our men a dis service by making your life easy.

I use to be in the service and would have pulled a LT watada on this matter as well if this is what you think my life is worth.

You are so selfish about this matter.

I think i will just wait for my next load a deliever it to Ft Lewis or McChord AFB when i feel is is a good time for me. Seeing how i drive a truck i am now refusing to drive on to our bases here to support your and you family food needs in the commisary or your living quarters.

I am very PI$$ed you would even consider making your life easy while you sit home with your family at night.

What a relief to see what people are writing here! I heard about this on the news and came to this site to see what the heck is going on. I thought maybe the whole country is going nuts. My question is who is this person of authority making this decision? This officer needs to be escorted over to the kitchen by someone of higher authority so this person can serve the food to the real soldiers en masse. Memorial services need to be individual and personalized. These heroes gave their lives serving their country. How does this person define "supporting the troops"? The person or persons who made this decision need to be removed from a position of command. How would you like to be in Iraq and have this decision maker running your outfit? Do all our soldiers a real favor and support them by writing to your elected officials in congress and letting them know of your displeasure with this situation.

This is totally unacceptable...If this is taking a toll on the servicemen peforming these memorials I am sure there are many vets that will step up to help.. I for one
Jeff McIntyre
VN 68-69

I think families should show up at the Chapel 3 days after the death, just as one does for a normal funeral and play taps and fire 21 guns on their own. Perhaps then the military and government will understand this person gave up their life so each and everyone of us can live in peace.

They should be honored....even if we have to do it with out military assistance.

When our solders Sacrifice their lives we should see fit they are treated with respect till the end!

This is the worst idea I have heard lately. This is a disgrace to our men and women serving in the armed forces to even think about. Are we regressing? Are we becoming unfeeling? This is wrong, wrong, wrong.

I completely understand the reasoning for the monthly memorials. It is very difficult to coordinate your manpower for multiple services weekly. The manpower can be used for other things, like to check on the welfare of soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and support other kinds of societial bonding, like deployed family ministries. It is a horrible thing to have monthly "en masse" memorials, but it makes sense. Plus, it isn't like the soldiers are being interred at the same time. They still get their rights to a 21 gun salute, flag folding and presentation, taps, and, if it was an active duty death, a chaplain to preside over the funeral. People are confusing this rememberance memorial with the actual burial. The families and friends will grieve together in any case, so weekly public observances aren't always practical or necessary.

Wake up from lala land Scott ... there is plenty of manpower .. oh wait .. they got all send to Iraq for a war that never should have been fought. These people deserve a proper burial AND a proper funeral .. not some sort of mass kinda thing and be treated like a number.

They aren't being treated like a number. There is a difference between the public memorial and the private burial. Believe me, lots and lots of people spend lots and lots of time to make a memorial happen.

Do you people actually think that soldiers are buried as a large group unceremoniously? Do you think that families and friends aren't able to gather at the gravesite and grieve together? Come on! Think logically here, folks. Our soldiers, airmen, marines, and seamen are remembered and treated honorably in death. The military funeral is a time honored, highly emotional experience, that pays tribute to the fallen and to those who were lost before. Again, don't confuse a public memorial with a full military honors funeral.

so it was just explained to me by a former soldier...I was all up and arms about this. I thought memorial service funeral ext was all rolled into one. NO

the funeral is handled privately by the family not the military, so that is done whenever and where ever the family wants. This includes the 21 gun salute, flag etc.

The memorial service is a time for speeches etc and does pull soldier and staff from daily tasks. the soldier(s) who are friends of deceased and family would attend the funeral and memorial service...that can be a lot of time away from their job.

Please do not be like me and confuse the two processes.

Nancy,
You are 100% correct. I applaud your intelligence compared to the people who jump to conclusions before knowing the complete story.

for the people who do agree with this, you are all f***ing dumb, you say that these memorials take the solders away from their jobs...if they have more than one friend dead they will need more than the time of one memorial service to help them get over their loss. And yes they may still have the actual funeral that they can attend, but this is fort Lewis' way to honor the individual solider that was killed. you who believe that this is fair and respectable, you are obviously cold hearted and you have no respect for our soldiers, the time that it takes to do this service doesn't even hold a light to the life these soldier’s would have had to live if they didn't go and fight bush's war. STOP TREATING OUR SOLDIERS LIKE THEY ARE NOTHING MORE THAN NUMBERS AND MAKING THEIR DEATH SOUND LIKE NOTHING MORE THAN AN INCONVICE!!!

for the people who do agree with this, you are all f***ing dumb, you say that these memorials take the solders away from their jobs...if they have more than one friend dead they will need more than the time of one memorial service to help them get over their loss. And yes they may still have the actual funeral that they can attend, but this is fort Lewis' way to honor the individual solider that was killed. you who believe that this is fair and respectable, you are obviously cold hearted and you have no respect for our soldiers, the time that it takes to do this service doesn't even hold a light to the life these soldier’s would have had to live if they didn't go and fight bush's war. STOP TREATING OUR SOLDIERS LIKE THEY ARE NOTHING MORE THAN NUMBERS AND MAKING THEIR DEATH SOUND LIKE NOTHING MORE THAN AN INCONVICE!!!

this is FUBAR. everyman deserves there own memorial. they give there all over here and this is the thanks they get. the soldiers that are back in the rear should get off there ass' and show there respects. there home with there families while these men were over seas away from the people that love them and care so much for them. they are put through hell. and when they make the ultimate sacrafice for there country that they love they should be given the proper fairwell. one of the army values is RESPECT. well show some. people are so concumed by there own personal life they are blind to what is really going on. they believe that the world revolves around them. that they have it worse that anyone else. wake the f*** up. there are more people in this world besides your selfish a**. do yourself a favor and enlighten yourself to whats really going on. there are young men dieing for a country that turns there back on them. young men that havent even witnessed life. some of them are 17 when they join. right out of high school. quite being so closed minded.

Once again, the difference between the USMC and the USAA. Don't they appreciate the sacrifice made by each and every one of these heros for our country ?
What's next, enlisted on even months and officers on odd months?
This is a total disgrace !!
Semper Fi !
Doug

As a Marine who served in Viet Nam in 1965-66, this idea is, without a doubt, the most f---ked up idea I have ever heard of!!!!!!! At least 50% of current active duty military, have not even gone to Iraq or Afganistan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was HONORED to be a part of "funeral details" when I returned. This is the very "least" that we can do for these HEROES!!!!!!!

Scott is making a good point, alot of time does have to go into each of these memorials and the army does have a lot going on with other ceremonies that are held all the time and if we honored the life of each individual soldier who died that would take away from the other "more important ceremonies" like the ones that mark promotions, changes of command and awards...Way to think scott!!

It would take away precious time they need to fix up the hospitals

Joe, you are right. Being a part of a funeral detail or a HR (human remains) mission is an honor, one I don't take lightly. It is vitally important, but again, a basewide memorial isn't required, and never has been. These soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines get the honors they deserve at a military funeral. I believe that they would be the first ones to tell you that the mission must go on, and would probably hate the fact that people are making such a fuss over them. Our deceased men and women aren't being thrown in some mass grave and forgotten, not by any means. But when you want to have between 10-20 (sadly, sometimes more, it seems) individual memorials, imagine the time it takes for people already over worked and stressed. The time for respect and rememberance is still there, but logically, the post is doing the right thing.

These are my views from my time in the military, where I've been a part of memorials, HR missions and ramp details, death notifications, etc. About the time constraints and manpower issues, these are pieces of bigger problems within the Army, and the military in general. Shall I elaborate? We'll see...