Harassing veterans is no way to show appreciation

Military.com posted an article from The Associated Press that reported a group of college students from a University of Florida chapter of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity spit at a veterans group at a Panama City, Florida, resort. University president Kent Fuchs called the behavior unacceptable and promised an investigation and appropriate action in an email to Linda Cope, the founder of the Warrior Beach Retreat at Laketown Wharf Resort.

Cope and other witnesses notified the university they had witnessed the fraternity members spitting at the veterans and stealing flags mounted on their cars. Cope said there were 60 wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans at the resort, as they have met twice a year for the past six years. Cope started the retreat to honor her son who lost both legs in 2006 while serving in Iraq. The veterans were easily identified as such because of the shirts and hats they were wearing. The fraternity members were celebrating their spring prom at the resort. Resort security was called, got the situation under control, and the fraternity members were evicted the following morning.

According to the Gainesville Sun, the fraternity chapter was already under a conduct probation for a hazing incident last fall. Janine Sikes, a university spokeswoman, said, "Being on probation means the organization faces increased consequences if they are found to have violated the probation requirements."

The Zeta Beta Tau chapter apologized to Cope, but Cope felt the apology was only prompted because they got caught. Laurence Bolotin, executive director of Zeta Beta Tau, apologized on behalf of the organization stating, "I am deeply saddened that the actions of our members ruined this special event and failed to show the respect our military and their families so deserve,"

I thought that this disrespect for veterans ended after the Vietnam War, but I was obviously mistaken. There are still people who believe they are better than those who have served in the military and believe they have a right to express that superiority with disrespect. Denigrating those who put themselves in harm's way for you is disgraceful.

Jack Dragoni attended Boston College and served in the U.S. Army in Berlin and Vietnam. He lives in Chaffee, Missouri.