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Governor avoids funerals of Iowa war dead
DES MOINES (AP) --- Gov. Tom Vilsack has attended none of the funerals for the 13 Iowans who have died in combat in Iraq, including five members of the Iowa National Guard, saying he has not wanted his presence to intrude into observances.
"Funerals, in my view, are very, very personal. And the one thing you don't want to have happen is you don't want the spotlight or the emphasis to be taking (anything) away from the soldier and his or her family," Vilsack said. "You ask National Guard folks whether they think I'm doing my job and I think they'll tell you I am."
Vilsack, a Democrat, said he prefers a less obtrusive manner of observance, calling each of the 13 families and has visited with some in person.
Oliva Smith of New Liberty said the phone call she received from Vilsack after her husband, Bruce, died in November meant more than if Vilsack had attended the funeral.
"I certainly did not feel slighted. I had a wonderful conversation with him," Smith said. "I was very happy he called. I think it means more than attending the funeral."
An informal survey of governors around the country found a wide range of approaches by state chief executives, who command National Guards in time of peace. Some governors have attended as many services as they can, while others -- like Vilsack -- have avoided all the memorial services.
Former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican, said he could not recall whether he attended any of the funerals for the six Iowans who died during the Persian Gulf War in 1991. He said his scheduler thought that he attended one in Story County, but those records are now in archives. None of the fallen soldiers were with the Iowa National Guard.
Jerry Frederiksen, state adjutant quartermaster at the Veterans of Foreign Wars state headquarters, said the governor's lack of attendance at Iowa soldiers' funerals hasn't been much of an issue among veterans.
"If the family would request the governor to be there, I don't see anything wrong with the governor being there," he said. "As long as he doesn't use it for any political gain, rather than to honor the veteran."
But Frederiksen said if Vilsack were to honor recently fallen soldiers, he should also honor soldiers from past wars who are dying every day.
"If you do that, he would be out of the office darn near 24-7," Frederiksen said. "It's a two-sided coin. He's darned if he does, and darned if he doesn't. If you start attending the funerals, where do you draw the line?"
Iowa ranks second in the nation for the number of National Guard members it has lost during the war in Iraq. Illinois and Alabama have also lost five Guard members. Only Arkansas has suffered a greater loss with six fallen Guardsmen, according to The National Guard's Web site.
Vilsack said calling the soldiers' families is "the toughest part" of his job. "Nothing compares to making that phone call," he said. "But it's a remarkable experience because you learn so much."
"Funerals, in my view, are very, very personal. And the one thing you don't want to have happen is you don't want the spotlight or the emphasis to be taking (anything) away from the soldier and his or her family," Vilsack said. "You ask National Guard folks whether they think I'm doing my job and I think they'll tell you I am."
Vilsack, a Democrat, said he prefers a less obtrusive manner of observance, calling each of the 13 families and has visited with some in person.
Oliva Smith of New Liberty said the phone call she received from Vilsack after her husband, Bruce, died in November meant more than if Vilsack had attended the funeral.
"I certainly did not feel slighted. I had a wonderful conversation with him," Smith said. "I was very happy he called. I think it means more than attending the funeral."
An informal survey of governors around the country found a wide range of approaches by state chief executives, who command National Guards in time of peace. Some governors have attended as many services as they can, while others -- like Vilsack -- have avoided all the memorial services.
Former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican, said he could not recall whether he attended any of the funerals for the six Iowans who died during the Persian Gulf War in 1991. He said his scheduler thought that he attended one in Story County, but those records are now in archives. None of the fallen soldiers were with the Iowa National Guard.
Jerry Frederiksen, state adjutant quartermaster at the Veterans of Foreign Wars state headquarters, said the governor's lack of attendance at Iowa soldiers' funerals hasn't been much of an issue among veterans.
"If the family would request the governor to be there, I don't see anything wrong with the governor being there," he said. "As long as he doesn't use it for any political gain, rather than to honor the veteran."
But Frederiksen said if Vilsack were to honor recently fallen soldiers, he should also honor soldiers from past wars who are dying every day.
"If you do that, he would be out of the office darn near 24-7," Frederiksen said. "It's a two-sided coin. He's darned if he does, and darned if he doesn't. If you start attending the funerals, where do you draw the line?"
Iowa ranks second in the nation for the number of National Guard members it has lost during the war in Iraq. Illinois and Alabama have also lost five Guard members. Only Arkansas has suffered a greater loss with six fallen Guardsmen, according to The National Guard's Web site.
Vilsack said calling the soldiers' families is "the toughest part" of his job. "Nothing compares to making that phone call," he said. "But it's a remarkable experience because you learn so much."
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