America lost a hero: Vernon Baker, Medal of Honor recipient. He led a long life after he proved his valor and heroism on the battlefield. A wife lost her hero, her husband, and a boy lost his hero, his grandfather. In death, they gave their hero, Our hero, back to Our Nation. They laid him to rest in Arlington, with other heroes, rather than near their home.
Spurned by the POTUS, who chose not to sit in the midst of the Great Men who have survived the battlefield and life while earning the hightest Medal for Battlefield Valor, during his inauguration, Vernon Baker will never again welcome in a new President. His last benefit, his last honor was that his survivors would be invited to the White House, after he was laid to rest. But that was not to be.
Mrs. Baker held the trusted task of caring for Our Hero, of loving him, of expressing the Nation's Gratitude to Vernon, on a daily basis. Vernon Pawlik, 10 years old, and Grandson to a Hero, wore a T-Shirt with a picture of Our Hero, and shorts. For that, these most important VIP's were denied entry, despite an invitation, in their moment of mourning. This is inexcusable, no matter how ignorant, no matter high or low the level of the bureacrat denying them, no matter if they try to make it up by a later invite.
The highest level of dignitary should have been notified upon arrival of this VIP family. They should have been greeted and treated with the greatest dignity the White House can muster, regardless of clothing. The clothes are nothing but an exterior covering of the people to be honored, one final time, in their loss.
We have less than 100 living Medal of Honor recipients and they are aging fast. Since Viet Nam, only one living person has been selected to receive it. Current Troops often think of it as a Medal earned only by dying. It is not too much to expect that the White House afford personal condolences to their families when they are laid to rest. And choosing Arlington rather than a local cemetary is choosing to share their Hero forever with the Nation. It is an act of selflessness. KTVB Reports:
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