Sad Reminder

Ken Burns' series on PBS made strong statements about World War II. It educated us and it reminded us. But Wednesday's obituary page in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer was its own sad reminder.

Side by side in unrelated deaths were two more veterans of that era and that war. One was an officer and one was a non-com. One was white and one was black. Both will receive full military honors more than 60 years after they served. Lt. Col. Gordon "Mac" McGough, 85, will be buried Friday at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery. SFC Jesse "Big Hawk" Hawkins, 84, will be laid to rest Thursday at Fort Benning's Main Post Cemetery.