The NFL and the producers of the Super Bowl pregame and halftime shows blew it. It was a perfect opportunity to stage a national welcome home celebration for soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Instead, we got Madonna.
Not that there’s anything wrong with pop-star extravaganzas at halftime under different circumstances. But the timing was ideal for honoring the troops, many of whom have sacrificed enormously through multiple deployments in hellish circumstances. We don’t know whether NFL officials ever considered staging a national thank-you to the troops at the Super Bowl, but if they didn’t, that says something about the nation’s conflicted relationship to its military.
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Envision the scene. Veterans from various units who served in Iraq and Afghanistan march onto the field, colors and battle streamers flying, to the accompaniment of the service marches played by the Marine Corps Band. Once they are in formation, the president appears at the sidelines. The troops come to attention and salute the commander-in-chief, who returns their salute on behalf of a grateful nation.
A moment of silence follows in memory to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Then a drum roll signals the singing of the National Anthem by a combined chorus of the armed services, men and women together, reflecting the makeup of today’s U.S. forces. Fireworks would follow. The troops march off the field to Sousa’s "Stars and Stripes Forever." There wouldn’t be a dry eye in the house.
The details of this presentation undoubtedly could be improved, but you get the general idea. That idea is that the nation doesn’t often stage a thank-you to our citizens who serve us in the armed forces at great personal sacrifice. The Super Bowl is about as close as anything in today’s United States to a national ritual. In times gone by there would have been parades for returning troops. Today, a Super Bowl celebration would be the equivalent.
Some might object to such a presentation as a celebration of militarism. Others might oppose it because of the deeply flawed premises of the Iraq war, a war of choice that in many minds is unjustifiable. Those are valid opinions, but they do not negate the gratitude the nation owes to those in the armed forces who serve all of us. Soldiers, sailors, fliers and Marines do not make the political decisions that send the United States to war. They simply answer their country’s call and do their duty.
The last U.S. combat troops marched out of Iraq less than two months ago. Sunday would have been a spectacular time to honor them.
Copyright 2012 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
