Trimble County again: this monument to war heroes stands outside their courthouse.
I've never understood why the Korean War and the Vietnam War sometimes get downgraded to be called a mere "conflict" (and this particular monument avoids putting a label on the Vietnam War altogether). Is it some kind of politically-correct thing?
These were wars; call them such.
4 comments:
They are historically accurate descriptions owing to the fact that in neither conflict did the US Congress "declare" war. Congress authorized military action in each of these events.
- Kaintuckeean
Well, technically accurate in a legalistic way, I suppose, but in the vernacular, virtually every man and woman in America refers to these "conflicts" as the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
The official national memorial for veterans of Korea is called the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the website for the official national Vietnam memorial (The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall) states its purpose as being "honoring those who died in the Vietnam War".
It's not that big a deal to me personally - I didn't fight in any of these wars and I don't closely know anyone who did - I'm just puzzled by any effort to downgrade the word "war" to a softer, vaguer, lesser term.
But again, hey, what do I know? I'm about as military minded as Goldie Hawn, and the closest I ever come to any of this is drinking beer as a guest down at the local VFW hall.
You are right. I suppose the monument must have been designed by a legalistic lawyer!
- Kaintuckeean
I'm not sure who actually designed the monument, but I do know one local businessman had a passion for getting the monument established. His name was William "Bill" Ransdell.
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