Charles Norwood: “the protection we have enjoyed here at home since we took the fight to the enemy has been purchased with the sacrifices…”

“the protection we have enjoyed here at home since we took the fight to the enemy has been purchased with the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform. The very least we can do in return is to show them honor and respect when they come home. According to the Greensboro Herald-Journal, middle school teacher Michael Lund of Anita White Carson Middle School in Greensboro, Georgia had that intention when he invited his old college roommate, Marine Sgt Zach Richardson to speak to his middle school students about his experiences in Iraq. The children in Mr. Lund's class had been pen pals with Sergeant Richardson and several of his fellow Marines in Iraq, so everyone was excited about finally getting to meet in person. Imagine the surprise when he and Mr. Lund were intercepted outside the classroom by School Principal Ulrica Corbett. She demanded Mr. Lund escort Sergeant Richardson off school grounds immediately. Principal Corbett later told the media that Mr. Lund did not have approval for a guest speaker to come on campus. Mr. Lund produced documentation to prove that he had indeed filed the necessary paperwork well in advance, and that Principal Corbett refused to act on it. Regardless of the reason, this treatment of one of our heroes returning from Iraq is unacceptable and inexcusable. Under no circumstances should Sergeant Richardson have been denied the opportunity to speak to the students with whom he had been corresponding.…”