|
|---|
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Most of the families who lose loved ones in war zones receive a letter of condolence from President of the United States. But there are few who do not receive this honor. It has long been the policy - many years - that soldiers who kill in war receive recognition from the president.
The CBS Evening News first reported this past week, and tonight we learned from the White House is changing politics. CBS correspondent Elaine Quijano puts us up with the father, who led the fight to change the rules.
"I had questions - many questions, many," said Gregg Keesling. "We are very happy."
Last week, Keesling got the call he had waited almost two years for the White House.
He learned of his family long wait for recognition of the commander in chief was almost finished.
"My eldest son came and hugged us and was very emotional," Keesling said. "It was a very good time this has been worthwhile."
Some families refused to honor the fallen soldiers
Since the suicide of her son, Specialist 25 years old Chance Keesling Army in Iraq, Gregg and his wife Jannett, have struggled to receive a letter of condolence. They have written to the president, and asked his local members of Congress for help.
Speaking of his son, Keesling said, "He was a good soldier and that is the part I want to know - that the country is aware that he fought he did everything he was asked to do, not go well for. He but at least in this country could write a simple letter and that the President represents our country and just say thanks for the service of our son. "
Keesling has now said it will receive some recognition from the White House - but not in an official letter of condolences to president - in memory of his son.
Keesling chance shot himself in his second tour in Iraq. Previous occasion had emotional problems, and became discouraged after a fight with his girlfriend.
Under a policy of decades in the White House, inherited by the Obama administration, military families received letters from the president only if their loved ones died in battle or in accidents in war zones.
Now, politics is changing, Gregg Keesling told us recently, and for families like yours, recognition is long.
"I think it's about doing what is right and I think the essence of my being is justice for my son Chance Keesling," said Gregg.
The new policy takes effect from today, so the Keesling family will not receive an official letter of condolence from the President. His son, Chance, who died in 2009. We are told that the policy applies to all military families whose loved ones die in war zones, regardless of how they died. The new policy does not include deaths in the United States for training.
tags:cnn, casey anthony, casey anthony verdict, fox news, msnbc
The CBS Evening News first reported this past week, and tonight we learned from the White House is changing politics. CBS correspondent Elaine Quijano puts us up with the father, who led the fight to change the rules.
"I had questions - many questions, many," said Gregg Keesling. "We are very happy."
Last week, Keesling got the call he had waited almost two years for the White House.
He learned of his family long wait for recognition of the commander in chief was almost finished.
"My eldest son came and hugged us and was very emotional," Keesling said. "It was a very good time this has been worthwhile."
Some families refused to honor the fallen soldiers
Since the suicide of her son, Specialist 25 years old Chance Keesling Army in Iraq, Gregg and his wife Jannett, have struggled to receive a letter of condolence. They have written to the president, and asked his local members of Congress for help.
Speaking of his son, Keesling said, "He was a good soldier and that is the part I want to know - that the country is aware that he fought he did everything he was asked to do, not go well for. He but at least in this country could write a simple letter and that the President represents our country and just say thanks for the service of our son. "
Keesling has now said it will receive some recognition from the White House - but not in an official letter of condolences to president - in memory of his son.
Keesling chance shot himself in his second tour in Iraq. Previous occasion had emotional problems, and became discouraged after a fight with his girlfriend.
Under a policy of decades in the White House, inherited by the Obama administration, military families received letters from the president only if their loved ones died in battle or in accidents in war zones.
Now, politics is changing, Gregg Keesling told us recently, and for families like yours, recognition is long.
"I think it's about doing what is right and I think the essence of my being is justice for my son Chance Keesling," said Gregg.
The new policy takes effect from today, so the Keesling family will not receive an official letter of condolence from the President. His son, Chance, who died in 2009. We are told that the policy applies to all military families whose loved ones die in war zones, regardless of how they died. The new policy does not include deaths in the United States for training.
tags:cnn, casey anthony, casey anthony verdict, fox news, msnbc
Labels: International
0 Comments:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
