I agree with Representative Charlie Rangel's most resent proposal regarding reinstating registration for 'the draft.' But that should be only the beginning.

It is well known that only the most patriotic and lest privileged among us serve in the all-volunteer armed forces. Our all-volunteer services, however, are not representative of our population as a whole. ALL Americans should serve the nation in some way. Here's the reasons why, with a real American plan:

I strongly feel it would be a privilege, and positive, life-enriching, educational and maturation factor in the lives of America's young adults to serve a mandatory period of service to the nation, with the additional goals of providing increased security or defense for our nation, the promotion of our democratic values, and to help those in this country and around the world who are oppressed or less fortunate. As a wartime veteran myself, I have found this to be so. This service could take the form of a mandatory period of contribution to the United States of America of at least two years in either a branch of the military, the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps or some other approved national-service entity.

The way it stands now, not all strata of society serve the nation equally. It is incongruous and shameful that we take for granted that the under privileged and the poor alone should serve and defend the nation along side the most patriotic volunteers and military academy graduates.

A major advantage of a mandatory period of service is that all become at least minimally prepared to be citizen soldiers, or to assist first responders and other full-time law enforcement agencies. It has become obvious in recent years that the National Guard and Ready Reserve cannot shoulder the weight of all these commitments, nor can the Red Cross and other such relief agencies.

Another superb advantage of mandatory national service is educational. Most of our youth, and an embarrassingly high percentage of adults, know nothing of national or world geography, history, sociology, civics, cultures, or languages and other factors alien to their own immediate surroundings. (A recent poll showed hardly any member of Congress, and even fewer in a random sample of the general public, knew the difference between Shites, Sunnis, and Kurds -- and this after 3 1/2 years of war in Iraq.)

Service to this republic should not be portrayed as "a draft" -- synonymous in the minds of most as a one-way ticket to Iraq or some other battle front. From inception, this union has known that, to survive, all might have to become citizen soldiers at one time or another. That was an accepted fact of this grand experiment.

Since WWII, however, that necessary pride of service by all to this nation has waned until it is now accepted that there are some societal classes that need not serve the nation in even the areas of most minimum need, lest it divert them from some "greater career aspirations and goals." I need not name names.

National service, mandatory or otherwise, should be seen similar to life-long education, as an ongoing long-term commitment BY ALL AMERICANS to serve the nation in some very meaningful capacity in the areas where it is most needed -- NOT were it is most convenient to the individual.

That, my friends, is patriotism. If this is a surprise to most, then it is just as obvious we need to relearn what patriotism is. Words without action are meaningless, to paraphrase the scripture.

The media has proven itself just as under-educated and has not thus far helped shepherd a serious discussion about national service, or in fully understanding the concept and its implications -- not while running such headlines or captions as "Rangel Wants to Send Your Kids to War."

I truly believe that after a couple of generations of mandatory national service, our obligations, military and otherwise, to the destiny of humankind as temporary residents of this republic would again be seen as an accepted and necessary right of passage and educational experience without which an individual's life journey would be noticeably diminished, as would this nation in which we are all blessed to live.

Thanks Brian for this timely piece about our soldiers who have lost some bits of themselves. It is very uplifting and brings to view a postitive spirit that not only colors an all too painful reality but a sense of hope. The 21 year old gal who lost her limb and regained a relationship with her father was moving.

I would just like to give a little further explaination to Justin Gizicki who kindly responded to my article. I see where you are coming from. Don't get my wrong, I believe that individual stories need to be told. But, unfortunatly it is a large world and there only a 22 minute broadcast. I think a better forum for the pesonal stories of soldiers coming home would be Dateline. Because in my view, the news would be much more interesting and informative if it was left full of dry information. Maybe I'm the unusual one, maybe people need to be entertained even when they watch the news. I ask myself, "Why do we watch the news?" Is it to be informed or to be entertained. When Murrow and Cronkite brocasted the news, people watched to be informed. Now, I think people want to be entertained. Don't get me wrong, I'm not sick of watching stories about our veterans coming home. I don't want them to be ignored. I just want a more informative Nightly News. I have recieved a few emails from young adults who tend to agree with me. I is quite possible that this is just my demographic who shares this view, but I do believe that the audience would benifit more from an informative-type broadcast.

At least the Iraqi veterans return in groups (for the most part) and to welcoming ceremonies.

The Vietnam vets were plucked from the jungle, put on a plane in Siagon (individually, for the most part), and then flown home to deplane in a dimly-lit, mostly-deserted, middle of the night airport. The lucky ones had family there to meet them. There were no parades. There were no honors.

The acknowledgment and validation today's military receives will determine what these men and women do with the rest of their lives.

The lack of acknowledgment and lack of validation the Vietnam era military received determined what those men and women did with the rest of their lives.

I served in the United States Air Force from March 1977 to February 1990. Jimmy Carter was president when I went in and the elder George Bush was president when I was discharged. Some of the more notable news breaking or historical events during my tenure were the Iran hostage crisis, the Beirut bombing of the Marine barracks, the invasion of Grenada, the attack launched against Momar Kadafi in Libya, and any number of protests against what our government was doing. The Pan Am flight 103 bombing over Lockerbie Scotland was the talk of the air waves for several months. While I was stationed at Yokota Air Force base in Tokyo, a missile barrage hit the base near the fuel dump while President Reagan was visiting the Japanese Prime Minister… although the missile attack did not get the news coverage.

Then, as now, the military service men and women did their jobs without question. That is the hallmark of all service members because they believe in something greater than themselves… especially in an all volunteer military. Concepts such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from cruel and unusual punishment, the right to be secure in our person and in our papers, as well as the fundamental concept that “All men are created equal” and that everyone has certain inalienable rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are at the very core of what our military defends. My hat is off to all who are serving in this time of conflict and my prayers are with all who are serving and their families.

On this Veterans Day, or any other day, if you would truly like to honor the service members now as well as the memory of those who served in the past and all those yet to come, then do one simple thing… think! Think about what it really means for the President of the United States to authorize phone taps outside the monitoring of the judicial system or to hang labels on American Citizens and deny them due process. Think about the power the president seeks through the Patriot Act and the Line Item Veto and the Tribunals for terrorist suspects. We have a Three Tier government for a reason… do not allow fear, intimidation or anger to dismantle that for which our forefathers fought and sacrificed and what our military defends today. And to really honor our veterans, after your period of reflection, take a more active roll in your government. Find out what your representatives are voting on in Washington and how they are voting. Make sure those representatives are actually representing your values and wishes. If you are not aware of it, www.thomas.gov will provide you a view into the bills before congress. Learn, be reflective, and act. Don’t let what the veterans fight for go to waste.

I believe the "Coming Home Series" will be an important time to remember those who gave a lot. Even though most of us know there are wounded men and women coming home with all kinds of damage mind and body, it is still important to show. Each story is its own, each person is a totally different story even though they share some similarities. Reporting on an amputee one week and the next week reporting on another amputee is not the same story. Many Americans may say they are sick of seeing these things on the news, but why? Since they already know this is happening, does it justify ignoring the other thousands of wounded? Do they think if they have heard one story they have heard them all? If we stop reporting, the only ones who will remember the wounded and dead will be their comrades and family.

Thank you to the NBC News team for not forgetting.

As the mother of an active service woman I honor her and all who are serving our country as well as those who have in the pass. To the brave men/women who died I honor and respect all as to me they are not just numbers but loving humans who loved this country so much. We must remember to care for those who were hurt and never let them be left without knowing we will take care of all. I hope all take a minute today to say a prayer for our service men/women as we start to bring all our troops home.

“Old Soldiers Never Die” They Just Fade Away
Prison Jail Song written by: Herbert G Evans, Date: 20th Oct’ 2006 (Roanoke City Jail)

------------------1-------------
I’m a Veteran from Old Missouri; I’m spending my retirement years in Jail
I’ve been in Jail now for four years; They won’t let me have any Bail

-------------Chorus #1 --------------
So go on and leave me hear ageing, I’m Old and weak, my bone are akin,
No one cares about soldiers anyway, Who’s did their duty for the USA.

---------------2---------------
The republicans don’t like us old solders, For we draw our retirement Pay
They call us the US deficit; It’s called Socialism Republicans Say.

----------------------3---------------------
I’m a Veteran of three wars; I’ve fought for the USA.
We Soldiers kept you safe and Freedom, We’re expendable some Folks Say (Chorus)
-
---------------4---------------------
Now they’ve called ma a Terrorist, And they took all my property.
Put me in Jail and in their prisons, I’m Just crazy the Republicans call me.

-----------------5----------------
I am Old, I’m 78 Now, And I’m just in the way.
No one wants an Old soldier any how; They get our Taxes in their Pay. (Chorus)

-----------------6----------------
Soon I’ll be dead, my life is gone, And you’ll read my years on my head stone.
They’ll tell it all, to the year and Day, But no body will give Dam anyway. ( Chorus)

-----------------7------------
The bible says I’ll not be remembered, with the passing of the years.
I’ll be gone, when I surrender, There’ll be no shedding of tears.

-----------------Chorus #2 ------------------------
So go on and leave me sleep-in, through the long years no ones weeping.
A soldier life well be forgotten, With my bones and me were a rotten.

--------8--------------
The bible try to tell us why, The lord molded us from clay
MacArthur said ,old soldiers never die, That we just Fade Away

Hebert G. Evans Jr. Date: 20th Oct’ 2006 (Roanoke City Jail)

The Federal Government keeps Evans in the Radar Screen, To Silence Critics, Medicating Evans with MIND-ALTERING DRUGS in Governments interests
By Elwood Evans
Saturday, October 21st, 2006

October 24, 2006 the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals “for the reasons stated by the government on the record on this day in its opposition, the Motion to Reconsider Stay of Proceedings is DENIED.”

On October 9, 2006, the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals denied Evans motion for the Supreme Court to grant certiorari “ORDERED that the Motion to Extend Stay in each case is DENIED” the government stated “The charges against the defendant have been pending for several years without resolution, primarily because of the issues surrounding Evans competency.” The government stated “The governments’ ability to prosecute him may be harmed by the further passage of time.”

October, 17th 2006, Evans by counsel, moved for the 4th Court to reconsider its order of October 9, 2006, denying the motion to stay pending the filing and resolution of Mr. Evans petition for a writ of certiorari to the Fourth Circuit, requesting at least to learn whether review by the Supreme Court will be granted in his case. Evans requests that the Court stay the involuntary administration of the proposed antipsychotic drugs against his will, which Evans claims he refused to be chemically forced to take anti-psychotic medication, claiming that the drugs would impede his freedom of thought and cause dangerous side effects, on his mental as well as his bodily integrity.. “By contrast, there is no evidence that the governments ability to prosecute Evans will be compromised by an extension of the present stay at least to learn whether review by the Supreme Court will be granted.” “Moreover, in the event the petition for certiorari is granted, the importance of the stay becomes even more clear.”

Back Ground and Facts
Evans was a 74 year old WWII, Korea and Vietnam veteran in Carroll County, who retired form The US Air Force & US Army, Mr. Evans was accused of with alleged misdemeanor charge of (intimidating & interfering) with an employee of the USDA” a RDA agricultural employee 2002 and a second alleged charge in 2004, based on statements from certain inmates at the New River Valley Regional Jail while waiting his release. According to these inmates — at least one of which has served as an informant to the government about statements allegedly made by other inmates, alleged that Evans made threats against the life of Magistrate Judge.

Although Mr. Evans has never hurt anyone, and according to Government experts, Beeler (Warden of FMC Butner NC), “the staff at FMC Butner had determined that Evans was not dangerous to himself or others nor was he gravely disabled.”, court held that he poses no danger to those around him, prison officials frequently placed him in debilitating solitary confinement for periods that totaled nearly three years.

New allegations, an unfair system that would rubber stamp the charges without question
“The All the government needs are allegations and a cooperative psychiatrist to forcibly drug any citizen,”

________________________________________

In 2002, At the Federal Correctional Center Hospital at Butner, North Carolina Prison officials tried to drug Mr. Evans, allegedly to make him fit for trial, and the lower courts ruled in favor of mandatory drugging of this non-convicted, non-dangerous, non-violent prisoner, but in an October 2003 an evidentiary hearing reviewed the reports of the Butner medical staff concerning Mr. Evans? at that hearing, the government’s motion to medicate Mr. Evans involuntarily was denied. The court held that the importance of bringing him to trial was not enough to outweigh his liberty interest in refusing medication. Even though the Government lost its case there, the government continued to imprison Evans and The Federal Government kept Evans In the Radar Screen to strengthen their interest to prosecute him, to intensify interest in forcibly medicating the defendant as well as to prevent him from telling his story of injustice. On January 23, 2004, the very day of this scheduled hearing, and only five minutes in to hearing, the Government (FBI) filed a new 2nd alleged criminal complaint against Evans charging him with “threatening life of a judge, based on affidavit inmates — at least one of which has served as an informant to the government.

In a recent letter from Evans, presently now located at Roanoke City Jail, VA. Evans describes mistreatment being like torture, verbally harassed on his cell intercom, scalded, humiliated and brutalized by six guards in a way that sounds (reminiscent of Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib.) The Roanoke City jail will not let Evans have his legal and personal documents. Evans also described in letters from where he was held at Bristol Jail, Virginia of where a young 19 year boy hung himself in his cell which had a 7/24 hr surveillance camera.

Are the erosion of fundamental Constitutional Rights, human rights and the civil liberties occurring in the United States of America, Freedom to Fascism? Psychiatrists were frequently employed by the Communist Soviet Union to forcibly drug any citizen, to cover up mayhem, where dissidents were often declared insane, then drugged and imprisoned in psychiatric hospitals prisons to keep them quiet to silence critics, but Evans an veteran who severed in strategic Air Command and who fought against the communists in WWII, Korea and Vietnam never expected such tactics to be used by our own government.

" AT THE HEART OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH LIES THE RIGHT TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST ABUSE AND TO VOICE UNPOPULAR AND EVEN POLITICALLY IN CORRECT OPINIONS
________________________________________
It does appears that the Federal government politics is doing everything it can to evade a trial of Mr. Evans that would expose the evidence of this case injustice, where The government keeps Evans In the Radar screen, where Evans has been targeted, harassed and drugged by covert operatives working in the government and where Evans has already lost 4 years of his life, his Social Security Benefits, his personal property, his home and his savings. What more does the government want? His mind to mode like clay? Yes Maybe Mr. Evans alleged Comments were right, “the government was out to get him” as well as his comment to the RDA agent “He stated that the United States was heading towards communism and was not a free nation any longer.”

Is there no accountability for this type of present government and the federal judiciary that enforces the government’s political agenda politics, transgression to Soviet and Nazi Era? Instead of investigating and punishing the real criminals… murderers, thieves, rapists, federal officials are moving heaven and earth to avoid a public trial that should expose the fact that a man has been held in prison so long without a trial for speaking his mind, “United States was heading towards communism.” and mentioning “Waco, Ruby Ridge, and Oklahoma City.” With blessing of the court, they can force an individual him with whatever potion MIND-ALTERING DRUGS the government’s doctors wish to use to experiment with, in an attempt to mold a person’s will to the government’s purposes.

I'm a combat veteran of Iraq. Proud that I served/am serving my country and fighting it's enemies both foreign and domestic. I just wish that I had the same benefits that a prison convict has. For example, the last few days I haven't had hot water to take a shower with...unusual to have in combat yes but I'm currently stationed at Henderson Hall in Arlington, VA. So can someone please explain to me why it is so hard to have hot water for your troops. The past two days have been some of the most important in the Marine Corps and we still don't have hot water for our veterans. This is the second time in a month for a total of 7 days that we have been with out and all I have to say is, God Bless America and Semper Fi! Who is reenlisting?

Your upcoming series entitled "Coming Home" promises to be sensitive, informative and insightful..as your eyes capture and bring to your viewers experiences we might not have without your assistance.

With hope there will be a moment to spare in the broadcast to discuss the bp settlement in Texas City...all of those people who lost family members, including one lady who refused to settle until the tipping point of the almighty dollar put her judgement over the edge. of course, we hope she will put the settlement money to helping people...but think about it...the papers are now sealed so bp and other negligent oil companies get away with public exposure yet one more time!

I shall never forget the shadow of the Vietnam war that loomed large in my future during my adolescence and teenage age years. As I grew up I watch as the sons of other families in my small community went to fight,many of whom would never return. As the years marched by my dread of this war grew larger with every death. This series is a good thing as it will remind me and many others of the real consequence of war. The families that must continue on the loss of thier loved ones and those that returned with loss of limb and health to face a lifetime of disability. These things are reminders for the rest of us that ultimately the reality of war must come home.

I love my country. I was in support of the war when it started as were most people and most politicians. I support my troops. I know they have it tough. But there is just too many more important things that the public needs to be informed about in the world. You only have a 22 minute brodcast. The reason why I don't like watching is because the only thing I find useful is the first 10 minutes of the broadcast. Then I have to sit through the same annoying drug commercials. And when the news gets back on its all soft stories. You must have a name for them in the business that I don't know of, but the point is... I just don't care about Mrs. Jones' breast cancer. Or Danny the amputee home from the war in Iraq. It's not that I don't have compassion for these people, it's that I already know they exist. Tell me something I don't know. Give me some real information that. I don't know, maybe thats just the news business. Maybe that's all ratings, but that is why I don't watch the national news. Don't get me started on the local news. At least you have 10 minutes of useful information. Tell me about Africa. Tell me about science... not just medical science. Tell me about something that is going to move me. I know nothing will change in the near future. I know i don't know how the system works. i know I'm just a kid (21), but this is how I have always felt ever since I started watching the news with my parents, which is as far back as I can remember.