Irregularities surface in running of WHITE HOUSE COMMISSION ON REMEMBRANCE

Irregularities surface in running of WHITE HOUSE COMMISSION ON REMEMBRANCE 14 March 2008. RIGHT TRUTH EXCLUSIVE.

The firing on 12 March 2008 of Mrs. Francis S. Drath from the White House Commission on Remembrance, yet to be affirmed by a meeting of the Commission on the Whole, is bringing to light more and more serious irregularities in the running of the Commission by its Executive Director, Carmella LaSpada. With senior Members of the Commission being kept unaware as to their Membership on the Commission, the issue of mishandling of U.S. Tax Dollars having been raised, the United States Army is suggesting a Congressional inquiry to the Commission’s principal Congressional sponsors. Hints a senior Congressional aide: “An audit of LaSpada’s work would potentially cause embarrassment.”

The White House Commission on Remembrance is an independent agency of the United States Government, mandated by the United States Congress to promote year-long acts of remembrance in honor of America’s Fallen. It is run by Ms. LaSpada with an iron hand, nearly without Congressional oversight. Mrs. Drath of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Washington DC is the widow of the late Colonel Francis S. Drath, USA, the former Deputy Director of the United States Selective Service System under General Lewis B. Hershey, with a grandson a senior cadet at West Point.

Only last week, the Nebraska Congressional Delegation honored Mrs. Drath with a Congressional Reception in the United States Capitol, to mark her recent appointment to the White House Commission. The reception was attended by senior Members of Congress, the Adjutants General Association of the United States, the United States Uniform Services, the Defense Attache Corps, the Diplomatic Corps.

At the Congressional Reception, Mrs. Drath’s work in advance of the National Observance to Mark Iraq Liberation Day, 9 April, and the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Air Lift was greatly lauded. Comments Nebraska’s Governor Dave Heineman, a West Point graduate, “Viola stands well prepared to keep the “flame of remembrance” alive, her work in support of our troops and their mission, in the current conflict, and the veterans of the Berlin Air Lift, who are getting ready to celebrate their 60th reunion, is awe-inspiring and deserves our respect.”

A strong statement of support endorsed by Major-General William Ingram, USA, the Adjutant General of North Carolina, speaking on behalf of the Adjutants General Association of the United States and its President, Major-General Frank Vavala, USA, the Adjutant General of Delaware: “Viola is working on a proposal to preserve “Iraq Liberation Day” as a day of victory for our armed forces… and to memorialize America’s commitment to freedom, liberty and democracy. It is a day to honor our Iraq fallen, to recognize the sacrifice of those who paid the ultimate price. Her appointment to the White House Commission on Remembrance is most fitting. With vast experience in foreign affairs, a finger on the pulse of international thought, and boundless energy, she will bring unique vision and inspiration to an agency that encourages all Americans to honor our fallen and their families, promoting acts of remembrance throughout the year. Viola, the Adjutants General of America’s National Guard salute you.”

It is ironic, then, that it is Mrs. Drath’s very work on behalf of our troops, our Fallen, our military families that led to her firing. As the Board of the White House Commission on Remembrance refuses to remember our Iraq Fallen and those fine troops who, day in, day out, soldier on in advance of freedom. Proclaiming the National Observance to be external to the White House Commission’s Congressional mandate.

Comments Staff Brigadier General Ismael Hussain, the Iraqi Defense Attache: “Through those years, United States of America rendered its elite young men and women service members of the armed forces to accomplish this mission. Some of them were fallen in my country. They sacrificed with their lives to award us the life. They paved our prosperous future with their invaluable blood as ultimate sacrifices to prove that the humanity and peace are borderless. Therefore, their fallen is meaningful for the ultimate objective which is the wellbeing and security of the coming generations and humanity.”

During last week’s Congressional Reception, the Iraqi Defense Attache, on behalf of the Government and People of Iraq, presented to America’s Iraq Fallen the Iraq Defense Minister’s Plaque. The plaque was formally received by Dan Carlson, brother of the late SGT Michael Curtis Carlson, interred in Section 60, Arlington National Cemetery, (Iraq Fallen) on behalf of America’s Iraq Fallen and Their Families. Dan’s and Michael’s mother, Merrilee Carlson, serves as Chair of Families United for Our Troops and Their Mission. The plaque has been presented to Arlington National Cemetery and is on display at its Museum.

Meanwhile preparations for the National Remembrance of Iraq Liberation Day are proceeding external to the White House Commission, mandate by the United States Congress to remember. States Mrs. Drath, in keeping with Army tradition not to comment, “This Army girl shall soldier on. 9 April is Iraq Liberation Day. I call on all my fellow-Americans, Let us Remember our Troops, Let us Remember Our Fallen, Let Freedom Ring.”

__________________________________________________________________________
Trackposted to Is It Just Me?, Rosemary's Thoughts, third world county, Nuke Gingrich, Woman Honor Thyself, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, Pirate's Cove, The Pink Flamingo, Cao's Blog, Leaning Straight Up, Wolf Pangloss, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Comments

[michael peterson]

Somewhere in Iraq

Hey, Major Shively:

My buddies and me, actually a lot of us guys over here, are stunned. Are them guys at the wh commission on remembrance (what a joke) out of their bloody mind not to remember our dead? I have buddies from my unit in Section 60. There are guys in my outfit, who were here on 9 April 2003. I wasn’t. But, let’s remember them. And their families. We are glad, the Iraqis do remember us. Iraq getting ready to observe Iraq Liberation Day. A pity, the white house isn’t. I heard the Iraqi Defense Minister say, “As Iraqis, we are eternally grateful to America’s fighting sons and daughters for restoring to us the dignity of a free people. America’s fallen heroes, such as U.S. Army Sergeant Michael Curtis Carlson, along with their fallen Iraqi comrades, may have been robbed of their future, but in laying down their lives they have handed us ours. We shall remember them, their names forever inked in the history books of the new and democratic Iraq.”
I know guys who knew the late SGT Carlson and with his credo he speaks to the many of us. Good for Iraq and the Iraqis to present the Iraqi Defense Minister plaque to his brother. Our thanks to the Ambassador of Iraq who said, “There is no award capable of adequately conveying the gratitude of the Iraqi people for the American men and women who have sacrificed their lives for the people and freedom of Iraq. Iraqis will be eternally grateful for the ultimate sacrifice made of SGT. Michael Carlson and his family, and for the sacrifices made by his comrades and their families. These heroes shall never be forgotten.”
Kudos to the Iraqis. Sad the wh commission is not with us. Do the Service Chiefs know what’s them jokesters are doing to us? Doing to us, in their names?? Lest we Forget. Remember, We Shall!!!
Michael Peterson, SGT, USA

[Pete Shively]

15 March 2008

Deb:

I’ll admit, I had difficulty believing that the White House Commission on Remembrance would refuse to remember our Iraq Fallen on Iraq Liberation Day, their day, the day they deserve, the day they’ve earned: WITH THEIR BLOOD. For the White House Commission on Remembrance to hold the ceremonies to remember our Iraq Fallen, proposed by Mrs. Drath on behalf of our troops and their families, as external to the White House Commission’s Congressional mandate is stunning. The stunning the more, as our Service Chiefs are Members of the White House Commission. A number of who seemingly kept out of the loop. Has the White House Commission been convened on this? Where is Congressional oversight? What does the White House say?? I am glad that, supported by National Guard and Army, Mrs. Drath, a Colonel’s widow, I understand a grandson is a senior Cadet at West Point, proceeds with the National Observance to Remember America’s Iraq Fallen, 9 April. She’s asking all Americans to honk our horns and ring our church bells. Don’t have a church bell to ring. But, this old soldier will honk his horn. Once for our Fallen. Once for Our Troops. Once for Our Families. Once for Mrs. Drath. Come to think of it, I may just keep honking.
DO GET THE WORD OUT ON THE NATIONAL OBSERVANCE TO REMEMBER IRAQ LIBERATION DAY, 9 April.

pete shively

[Debbie]

Rosemary: Thanks, I'll head over to your place.

Roger: I can't take credit for the expose, I have a little birdie ....

[Rosemary]

Isn't that simply amazing? Thank you, Iraq Defense Minister, for recognizing how much we honor our men and women, and how they honor all people. Great job, guys!

PS. The Iraq Vets Against the War are holding their hearings today. Go visit (either my or) Michelle Malkin's site. Blackfive, MAF, and many other sites are trying to cover this. If you run into someone who is liveblogging this, please let Michelle and Laughing Wolf over at Blackfive know. Thank you.

[Roger W. Gardner]

Terrific expose! Great work Deb. This is another of that long line of travesties about our treatment of our Iraq War soldiers. How do these people sleep at night?