Editor,
I am a UNM alumnus and currently an active duty military member. During the last two days, I have served my country at one of the most difficult times in my 11-year career in the U.S. Army.
During the past two days I have attended nine separate memorial services, funerals and interment ceremonies. Some of these took place on our nation's most hollowed ground - Arlington National Cemetery. The services were for Department of Defense personnel who lost their lives on Sept. 11.
Because I was actively working during each of these ceremonies, I was unable to fully appreciate their solemnity.
However, there is one memory that is, and will remain, on my mind.
The section of Arlington Cemetery where some of the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks were laid to rest is just within view of the area of the Pentagon where the terrorists attacked. I find that especially meaningful.
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By meaningful I mean that when I heard about the comments made by Professor Berthold not only was I outraged and hurt but stunned and truly saddened. My sadness was compounded as I witnessed the funeral and interment of one particular military officer.
After the funeral service, the flag-draped casket was placed, ever so carefully, on a horse-drawn caisson, which then began to move through the cemetery to the burial site.
The walking journey from the chapel to the site took 22 minutes and I was truly proud to walk that with the family. After the burial service there was the traditional 21-gun salute, "Taps" was played and the American flag was meticulously folded then presented to the grieving family.
All of this took place with the blackened concrete and damaged walls of the Pentagon in the background. It was an event that everyone needs to but does not actively witness.
I understand very well that the U.S. Constitution guarantees Professor Berthold's right to say whatever he wishes. But, even if his statement was or wasn't taken out of context, such comments can be described not just as unpatriotic to the point of treason but malicious, unfeeling and unbelievably unprofessional given the professor's position and influence.
Professor Berthold must understand and respect one simple fact.
The men and women in and out of uniform who work for the Department of Defense guarantee these rights. These men and women, myself included, have taken an oath to fight and defend and sacrifice our lives, if necessary, to maintain all Americans' precious rights and freedoms.
In all honesty, if Professor Berthold cannot or does not understand and respect this reality, he and UNM would be better served if he removed himself from educating others. It is because of a prejudiced presentation of one's opinion that 168 people lost their lives at the Pentagon on Sept. 11.
Sgt. Thomas M. Romero
U.S. Army
Fort Belvoir, Va.
UNM class of 1992
