WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., released the following statement upon the death of Mr. Frank Buckles. Until his death at age 110, Mr. Buckles was the oldest surviving U.S. World War I veteran, having entered the Army at age 16. He served in England and France during the war; first as a car and ambulance driver and later as an escort for returning German POWs. Frank passed away in his hometown of Charles Town, West Virginia located in Congresswoman Capito’s Congressional District: “Mr. Buckles represented the very best of this great country — service, determination and patriotism. His life spanned over some of the greatest victories and tribulations in American history, from the Great Depression to two World Wars to the invention the internet, reminding us of the immense progress we have made as a nation. The last ‘doughboy,’ Frank will continue to inspire future generations as history will remember him as a humble and compassionate public servant. For the last decade, Frank dedicated his life to ensuring all those who served in the ‘War To End All Wars’ were properly remembered through a national memorial in Washington, DC. He will always have a special place in the hearts of West Virginians. Charlie and I send our thoughts and prayers to his daughter, Susannah, and the Buckles family.”
Capito plans to introduce legislation later today to authorize Frank Buckles to lie in honor in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.
Why not? His family already has special permission to bury his remains at Arlington. He represents the last of the best.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
3 comments:
This is clearly the story of a hero, and we are all lucky and should be proud of such men.
IS has frequently been admired for its coverage about our military heroes. My question is this: How should we honor those who serve our country "before" they cease living? What do we do now to show our appreciation?
Should we comcentrate on working with their families, and especially children, by recognizing them at our churches and schools? Should we encourage the newspapers to publish more biographical information about our soldiers? Are there groups to which we should donate (VA, VFW, even DAR, American Legion)?
It just is frustrating to honor someone at death while doing so little during life.
I'm not sure even Mr.Pock can answer this, but it is a sincere inquiry addressed to those I think best able to suggest answers.
Can anyone justify the naming of a US Navy vessel the John P. Murtha? After what he said about our troops for his own personal selfish gains would you proudly serve on that vessel. I hope he was the last of his kind.
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — The daughter of the longest-living American to serve in World War I urged lawmakers to let her father, Frank Buckles, lie in the Capitol Rotunda to honor all the war’s veterans.
“There is no one left,” Susannah Buckles Flanagan wrote in a statement to The Associated Press. “If we lost the opportunity to bestow this highest of honors on the person who was the last surviving representative, there can be no making it up later.”
Buckles died Feb. 27 at age 110.
Leaders in Washington have been divided over how to best honor Buckles and the 4.7 million other Americans who served during World War I.
West Virginia lawmakers want to see him lie in the Capitol Rotunda, and are upset with House and Senate leaders who have objected.
Flanagan, 55, said her father wanted to lie in the Rotunda after his death — not as a personal honor but in memory of all veterans of World War I.
“He looked upon this as his final duty, which he took seriously,” Flanagan said.
“If the last American soldier surviving is not suitable to serve as a symbol around which we can rally to honor those who served their country in the Great War, then who can serve that purpose?” she said.
Flanagan said no extraordinary precedent would be made by honoring Buckles in the Capitol Rotunda.
“The next similar request will come for the last survivor of World War II in 25 or 30 years’ time, and it will be appropriate to honor that person, as well,” she wrote.
With that statement it got me to thinking about the Bob Pocklingtons and men like Marion "Turk" Turner.It has been estimated that we are losing over 1700 WW2 vets a day.Korea vets ranks are becoming less and less.
Our Vietnam vets are seeing their numbers and days grow less and less each passing day as well.
Personally I see nothing but honor being bestowed upon Mr Buckles and it would be so fitting.His passing is a powerful symbol representing the passing of a generation of people who served with honor, dignity, and valor, in defense of our nation and what it represents. With his passing, the deeds of those brave men and women are now firmly in the domain of history and memories.
Whether he lies in the rotunda or not will not make him more or less of a hero in my book.But as stated above I have attempted to explain why I think this request should be allowed to be honored.
He was the last standing soldier from ‘The War to End All Wars’. Time chose him to be the lone representative of all those who died and those who came home. Showing this man the honor of lying in the capitol would not be just for him, but for all the doughboys who put it all on the line for our great country.
It’s not so much about longevity. It’s about respect, pride, and gratitude.
Mr Buckles is going home and will be with his buddies. I imagine he is hearing them say Hey Frank! Where have you been? Fall In for Final Inspecton.
It’s time to close this chapter of our nation’s history in a way which honors those who wrote it.
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