Do the American people care about us anymore? Published Sept. 7, 2010 By Maj. Jonathan G. Downing 437th Aircraft Maintenance commander JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Do you ever wonder if the American people even care about its military members anymore? Does it really matter that we're working so hard to push aircraft and people and cargo into a country like Afghanistan that doesn't seem to hold the American public's interest anymore? We've been in so many surges, and experienced numerous surges to the surge, that the word 'surge' has lost its meaning to most of us in Air Mobility Command, and especially, here at Charleston Air Force Base. Operation Enduring Freedom surge, Operation Iraqi Freedom surge, Haiti surge, another OEF surge, OEF deployment surge, OIF redeployment surge ... it all blurs together. So who really cares? History demonstrates that after an attack on the United States, the American public is whipped into a patriotic militaristic frenzy and demonstrates what many historians have termed "Rage Militaire," which is defined as a passion for arms. Prime examples of the American public's demonstration of Rage Militaire were toward the British at the onset of the American Revolution after the Battles of Lexington and Concord and toward the Japanese after the attack on Pearl Harbor at the onset of World War II. The most recent example of Rage Militaire, which we have all personally experienced, was after the Terrorist Attacks of 9/11. Rage Militaire is an extremely powerful force, but history also demonstrates that after the outcome of the war is secure and we no longer feel threatened, and after the American public has satiated their thirst for revenge, they tend to quickly revert to their feelings and beliefs about the military prior to the onset of conflict. Instead of extreme patriotism and support for its military members, law makers and the public begin focusing on more domestic and budget issues and support for the military and its personnel seems to wane. Since the military consumes a large portion of our budget, it's a natural target during difficult economic times and shrinking budgets. After almost nine straight years of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, Rage Militaire is long gone and you may be tempted to think the American people don't care about us anymore and don't support us like they used to, but let me reassure you, this is not the case. As many of you know, we lost one of our own this past month, when Staff Sgt. Joseph Villasenor was killed in a single vehicle accident near Ladson, S.C. on Aug. 9. I had the privilege of traveling with three other members of my squadron to meet Joe's family in Conroe, Texas, just outside of Houston. On Aug. 13, we flew down to Texas to meet with the family a day early to help them grieve as they prepared to meet the casket and remains of Sergeant Villasenor, which were being escorted by another member of my squadron, Staff Sgt. Joel Shope. Saturday morning, we traveled with the immediate family to the Houston International Airport to meet the Delta flight that was carrying Sergeant Shope and the body of Sergeant Villasenor. The efforts the airport authorities went to was amazing. We were escorted on to the ramp by 10 police cars with their lights on. When the plane landed, they had fire engines stationed on either side of the gate and sprayed the plane with water. The Department of Homeland Security had their own color guard there with a U.S. flag. I would estimate there were almost 40 police officers present lined up in formation. Sergeant Shope was allowed to deplane first and came around to the cargo compartment where he removed the carton around the casket. The flag draped casket was then brought down the conveyor and all members rendered salutes. The entire planeload of passengers was held on the jet, and the entire ramp essentially came to a stop as we transported his casket into the awaiting hearse. We were then escorted off the tarmac by the same long procession of police cars with lights flashing. Once we got off the airport property, we were met by four members of the Patriot Guard Riders on motorcycles. The Patriot Guard Riders is an organization that was formed in August 2005 when many veterans were appalled that some extremists were loudly protesting at the funerals of American service members. Their stated mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission they undertake has two basic objectives: 1. Show their sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities. 2. Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors. The Patriot Guard Riders surrounded the hearse with two motorcycles in front and back with huge American flags flying behind their motorcycles. We then were escorted the entire 45 minute drive back to the funeral home by Texas Constables and Police Officers with lights flashing and stopping traffic the entire way. Monday morning was the church service at a small Catholic church in New Waverly, Texas. The Patriot Guard Riders were there again in force with about 40 members standing at parade rest in front of the church with huge American flags. They all came to attention and rendered salutes as the hearse arrived at the church. After the service, we were again escorted to the grave site by the Texas Constables with lights flashing and numerous Patriot Guard Riders members on motorcycles surrounding the hearse and funeral procession vehicles. At the grave site, 23 members of the Randolph AFB Honor Guard were waiting for us in service dress in the hot summer weather. They transported the flag draped casket to the grave, gave a three-shot volley and a live bugler played Taps. The honor guard then folded the flag and gave it to me. I knelt down and gave it to Sergeant Villasenor's parents and thanked them on behalf of a grateful nation for their son's service. He was very close to his sister, so I also gave a folded flag to her and thanked her for loving and supporting her brother. Looking back on our experience, everyone we came into contact with, including the grieving family, kept saying the same thing: "Thank you for your service to our country and defending our freedom!" It gave me chills to experience so much phenomenal support and I was tremendously proud to be a serving member of our nation's military forces. Throughout the entire weekend, I felt like I was in a movie. If you haven't seen it before, I would highly encourage you to see the HBO movie, Taking Chance, starring Kevin Bacon. It tells the true story of U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Mike Strobl, who volunteered to accompany the body of Chance Phelps, a Marine who was killed in Fallujah, from Dover AFB mortuary to his hometown in Wyoming. It does a great job showing Chance's transport back from the area of responsibility using C-17s, the amazing efforts the Dover mortuary goes through to prepare his body, uniform, and effects for the family, and the phenomenal support the American military and the American people showed all across the world from Iraq to Ramstein, Germany to Dover, Del., to Philadelphia, to Minneapolis, Minn., to Dubois, Wyo. If you're still wondering if the American people still care about us, the answer is a resounding yes! You should feel proud to be a member of the greatest military the history of the world has ever seen, and you should feel proud about the support we continue to receive from a grateful American public and nation. Although surges seem to have lost their meaning to us and we're extremely tired, the American people appreciate your efforts. If you ever doubt the support we receive from the American public, please remember these encouraging words from the Patriot Guard Riders' mission statement: "To those of you who are currently serving and fighting for the freedoms of others, at home and abroad, please know that we are backing you!"