Opinion

Comments tarnished medal ceremony

Posted March 12, 2016 12:00 am

Navy SEAL Edward Byers was recently awarded the Medal of Honor at the White House for his outstanding bravery as a member of a SEAL team in Afghanistan. The White House speech writers had the president saying "Whenever Americans are taken hostage, we move heaven and earth to bring them home safe."

I assume this was an attempt to defend the President's action where five Taliban terrorists were included in an exchange for the release of Bowe Bergdahl, a hostage who has been described as a traitor and as a deserter, and who is now awaiting court martial proceedings.

In my opinion, this was a low-class subtle effort to support that prisoner swap, and it had the effect of tarnishing the honorable and dignified ceremony.

Gary Sheffert

Arlington Heights

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