Real Support Isn't Slapped on a Bumper

This article first appeared in the Staunton News Leader on July 4, 2008 July the Fourth for many people is about cookouts, parades, fireworks and strawberry shortcake. For a few, it is a time to remember and reflect on the greatness of this nation. It is a holiday meant to celebrate our beginnings as a country, remember our proud and rich history, and contemplate what the future might bring. We decorate with red, white and blue to honor our nation's colors, and throughout the land "The Star-Spangled Banner" can be heard. This Fourth of July, with our country at war and presidential elections fast approaching the holiday will take on special meaning. It will without a doubt be a day to honor our soldiers, and the sacrifices that they are making. One way many people choose to honor our soldiers is with signs and bumper stickers. One such sign that is popular in Staunton proclaims in bold letters, "Win the War!" What exactly does victory in Iraq look like? While signs like these may have good intentions, they mix politics with supporting our troops, and they don't always send a positive message. Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan struggle every day with the question of how we'd recognize victory over there. Without fighting a traditional government capable of surrender, no one knows exactly what winning the war will mean. Signs that declare that we must win the war show an ignorance surrounding this campaign that distresses many soldiers instead of lifting them up. Another popular bumper sticker states, "Support President Bush and our Troops." This is another example of a bumper sticker that ties the troops to politics, and it doesn't always have the intended effect. Many soldiers struggle with whether or not the war in Iraq was justified. There are soldiers who struggle with the idea that private contractors get paid three times the amount that they do, for doing the same job. Soldiers struggle with the knowledge that their brothers and sisters in arms continually risk their lives, and there is no end in sight. Soldiers struggle every time they hear about another death, even if they didn't know the individual. This Fourth of July will be a time of celebration, but for those few Americans who have sacrificed overseas it will also be a time to remember fallen comrades. In today's world, the American soldier carries a heavy weight on his or her shoulder. They carry burdens that too few Americans are willing to pick up nowadays. Bumper stickers and signs don't help with this weight. This Fourth of July, instead of doing the easy thing and slapping a sticker on a car, do the hard thing, and pick up a pen. Write to a soldier overseas and tell him or her how much you appreciate their service. Organize a care package to send to an individual serving in Iraq that will show them how much they mean to us. There are numerous organizations that provide addresses and names of soldiers overseas that do not receive a lot of mail. Writing letters, sending packages and taking time to research these different organizations takes time and energy. However, it sends a message to the soldier that regardless of our politics, and regardless of theirs, we support them no matter what. This Fourth of July, let's send a message to our troops that can't be confused. We support you! Author: Seth Lovell