Are you familiar with the picture of Lindsey Stone at Arlington National Cemetery?

2015-05-28T17:44:51-04:00

Remember this person's name....Lindsey Stone. Repost that name and the below picture. She has hired a marketing company to try and bury the picture on social media. She is afraid her new employer will find it. I say we do whatever we can legally in social media to keep this alive. These are our fallen comrades and her lack of respect for them is appalling.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 5:45 PM

2015-05-28T17:45:47-04:00

This is absurd! What was she thinking!

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made May 28 at 2015 5:50 PM

2015-05-28T17:50:29-04:00

Yes, I've seen this photo and don't care to see this display of ignorance and disrespect again.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 5:51 PM

2015-05-28T17:51:03-04:00

Here's a bit more info on this. She's not getting off lightly on this stupid prank or whatever it was. http://abcnews.go.com/Business/veteran-defense-woman-prank-photo-tomb-unknowns/story?id=17777348

Prank Photo at Tomb of Unknowns Sparks Backlash

Lindsey Stone, a non-profit employee in Massachusetts, thought posting a photo on her Facebook page was a joke until people became offended by the photo of her in front of the Tomb of the Unknowns, even creating a Facebook page called, "Fire Lindsey Stone."

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 5:51 PM

2015-05-28T17:51:06-04:00

*points*

Oh look, an idiot.

*walks away*

Response by PO2 Christopher Taggart made May 28 at 2015 5:54 PM

2015-05-28T17:54:03-04:00

Surely this disrespectful woman has no place near any memorial what so ever!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 7:16 PM

2015-05-28T19:16:21-04:00

What was she thinking? This was a foolish act by an immature young woman, there is no excuse. But honestly, how long should she suffer? She apparently lost her job, has been publicly humiliated and now she has internet groups working hard to shame her perpetually.

I am not very religious, but I have always found John 8:7 to be useful. Those who wish to keep shaming this woman forever should read it prior to posting.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made May 28 at 2015 7:28 PM

2015-05-28T19:28:04-04:00

Disrespectful and disgraceful despite it was a only a joke.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 28 at 2015 8:02 PM

2015-05-28T20:02:04-04:00

BI-ATCH!!!

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made May 28 at 2015 8:41 PM

2015-05-28T20:41:11-04:00

Although this is a disgraceful act, should she really be punished for the rest of her life?

How can this person overcome and move past this? Suggestions?

Response by SGT Darryl Allen made May 28 at 2015 9:09 PM

2015-05-28T21:09:40-04:00

She's a moron but she's gotten plenty of retribution over this already. Just let it die. I'm not sure why some people feel the need to constantly belittle other people for mistakes they made in the past. She screwed up, she suffered for it, and I'm sure she won't be that much of an idiot again.

But where do you get off policing her life to ensure that she can't find employment again?

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 28 at 2015 9:13 PM

2015-05-28T21:13:09-04:00

I am familiar with the young lady. She has a hard time finding or maintaining a job. Oh well I guess.

Response by PO1 John Miller made May 28 at 2015 9:15 PM

2015-05-28T21:15:07-04:00

I would say stop giving her attention, but that's kind of what she wants.

Response by COL Charles Williams made May 28 at 2015 11:15 PM

2015-05-28T23:15:33-04:00

Yes... She is an asshole... Plain and simple. This is not funny. I hope this photo haunts her for her entire life, and when she meets Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates. I personally am very connected to Arlington, and I don't think this is funny.

Response by SFC Steve Myers made May 28 at 2015 11:43 PM

2015-05-28T23:43:28-04:00

Big deal.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 11:54 PM

2015-05-28T23:54:49-04:00

This is what disgusts me about many of my "fellow" service members. The self righteousness and the demand that people worship and respect them because they serve. They call it military service for a reason. You serve the public, they don't serve you. More importantly, there is not a single draftee in service to this day that I am aware of. Everyone in uniform volunteered to serve.

That said, were her actions disrespectful? Yes, they were. Yet you rose your right hand and swore to defend the Constitution...and the Constitution guarantees a right to free speech. What happened to the days when the military prided itself on sacrifice and being quiet professionals?

To me, it seems that the loudest protesters are the crowd that got a trophy as kid for participating in an event, even though they lost or didn't distinguish themselves.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made May 29 at 2015 12:17 AM

2015-05-29T00:17:15-04:00

Let us (well maybe just me) be grateful that social media didn't exist when we made a bad decision --which usually started with "Hey guys, watch this." By no means am I defending Miss Stone. However, I believe she's multi-fold paid her proverbial pound of flesh. My old Ops Chief once observed: "You can't fix 'stupid'." So, let's move forward.

Response by SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA made May 29 at 2015 12:23 AM

2015-05-29T00:23:10-04:00

I do not condone what you see in the picture, but a bit clarification is needed.

From my perspective, and after reading her version of events, it seems to me that she was not really shouting at fallen soldiers and she wasn't giving them the finger either.

We've all seen pictures like this where people try to make a play on specific signs, ie:

Someone smoking in front of a "no smoking" sign.
Or someone pretending to feed an animal at the zoo next to a "don't feed the animals" sign
Or someone posing next to statues in funny poses (hugging them, touching them, riding them, etc.)

So in this case, there's a Silence (she pretends to be yelling) and Respect (she is giving the finger) sign.

She simply chose the wrong venue for the "meme/funny picture/look at how brave I am" moment.

She wasn't actually yelling or giving the finger at fallen solders. The picture makes it look this way.

With this said, it is, and I agree with PFC Bob Smith, kinda sad to see the hate and never ending hunting of this woman. There are several posts on RP about the growing riff between civilians and we the military.

Much has been said but I think after reading some of the comments here (give me the address and ill drive there to get her fired, she's drug infested, ISIS needs to go visit her, etc.), maybe we need to start looking at ourselves.

We are the few and the mighty, that much is certain, but we are not the almighty some here believe us to be. These comments make that point clear.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2015 12:41 AM

2015-05-29T00:41:26-04:00

Yes, I am very familiar with Ms. Stone, and her act of moronic, self-absorbed, imbecilic behavior. I don't know what she was under the influence of, what her age or educational background was at the time of this act of mega-stupidity, but at the time, I do know I was all for tarring and feathering her insensitive ass! How she could not be moved to comport herself to conduct herself in a decent and dignified manner on this sacred, American ground simply baffled me at the time. It still does, but I believe I have a clearer understanding. In the end, though the fault for the act still ultimately rests with Lindsey Stone, the contributing factors that lead up to this incident should be distributed more thoughtfully.

for starters, I fault Lindsey's parents for not instilling in her a sense of right and wrong; guiding moral principles that should prevent a young adult from snapping a photo such as this that may seem like a funny idea to a 14 year-old, but should simply be left alone at any age beyond that. If I had to guess, I would be willing to bet her parents are ex-hippies, or at the very least, devout Liberals, who view concepts such as American Patriotism and love of country to be the playground of fools and war-mongers. These are the types of people who believe America is the root cause behind all of the problems in the World, and being an American is something to not take pride in, but rather to be ashamed of. Of course, thinking like this has only been reinforced throughout Lindsey's experience in public schools, where American History has been usurped by diversity studies, World History (Non-Western), and anything else BUT a clear and accurate accounting of U.S. History. What little there is is taught from the perspective of Native American tribes, not the Founding Fathers or the other key historical figures of our nation.

Now that we know how and why Lindsey likely didn't know any better, let's examine the last two ingredients in the recipe of her online disaster: the proliferation of social media and the culture of shock. Yes, Lindsey came of age at a pivotal time in our national experience; a point where our youth have freely surrendered their personal privacy for sake and convenience of sharing every waking detail of their daily lives on social media. And to make matters worse, celebrities and wannabe celebrities have taught them all that if they want to get noticed, if they want to be remembered, the more outrageous they are, the better! This certainly seems to be the case with Lindsey Stone; only she wasn't a multi-million dollar celebrity with money to spare - she was an aide in an assisted living facility in New England. When her photo went viral, it cost her dearly. It ultimately cost her everything; and it still does to this day.

Lindsey Stone didn't set out to hurt anyone when she and a friend snapped her picture at Arlington that day; yet she did. She angered millions of people, she hurt her reputation, seemingly for life. Was it worth it? Of course not! Two years ago, I would have been among the many to say I didn't care if she ever worked again. Yet, what good does this do me, society, or Lindsey Stone in the long run? Because she cannot find work, should it be left to the taxpayers to provide for her in the form of welfare, food stamps, or other subsidies? She has a set of skills that society benefits from, isn't it time to forgive and allow her to get back to work?

I think it is. A fitting and very reasonable resolution to this sad tale in my view would be if Lindsey Stone would dedicate her professional life to caring for disabled Veterans and Wounded Warriors. This would be a win/win for all parties. For Lindsey Stone, it would mean an opportunity to return to work with the peace of mind that she would not have to fear being called into the boss's office after someone dime's her out with the incriminating photo. For an assisted care facility that serves disabled Vets and Wounded Warriors, it would mean gaining an employee who is grateful to have a job again in a field with a high rate of burnout and turnover.

America has always been a land of second chances. Even someone like Lindsey Stone deserves a second chance.

Response by Sgt Israel Zinns made May 29 at 2015 2:38 AM

2015-05-29T02:38:24-04:00

For a different perspective.

http://www.businessinsider.com/lindsey-stone--so-youve-been-publicly-shamed

This woman's life was destroyed after she posted one dumb photo on Facebook

One photo changed Lindsey Stone's life.

Response by Sgt Jay Jones made May 29 at 2015 1:02 PM

2015-05-29T13:02:58-04:00

If ever I saw a case for forced sterilization, this is it! She is a very sad person. She must feel like she is the center of the universe to pull a moronic stunt like this. She is really pathetic. You almost feel sorry for her, but the fact that her actions are so reprehensible makes that quite a challenge.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2015 4:41 PM

2015-05-29T16:41:22-04:00

i agree, let her new employer see it, serves her right

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made May 29 at 2015 4:50 PM

2015-05-29T16:50:06-04:00

KARMA

Response by SPC Carl K. made May 30 at 2015 4:14 PM

2015-05-30T16:14:01-04:00

I think this has gone on long enough. She already has a problem finding employment. Are we supposed to let this incident stop her from ever being employed again, because this pic keeps getting dredged up every so often? This was an isolated incident, albeit a very tasteless one. Instead of focusing on her, why aren't people focusing their anger towards more recent and relevant things like the upheaval that is sill happening in Baltimore? Why isn't the mayor of Baltimore on blast more than she is? This is here and now and causing a lot more problems for society than this dummy's actions a couple years ago. Why does anyone feel justified in ruining this woman's life forever, but willing to overlook the stupidity and negligence of someone more deserving like Baltimore's mayor, or Al Sharpton, or you fill in the blank.

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made May 30 at 2015 7:00 PM

2015-05-30T19:00:17-04:00

She should be kicked by every veterans who she passes by.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Jun 1 at 2015 9:27 PM

2015-06-01T21:27:58-04:00

Yes, I'm familiar, and I also believe that she has already paid a high price for a moment's stupidity. I think it's time to let it die. We're better than this.

Response by PO2 Steven Erickson made Jun 1 at 2015 9:37 PM

2015-06-01T21:37:15-04:00

A inane statement requires and inane response.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 2:37 AM

2015-06-02T02:37:17-04:00

She's already lost her previous job over this picture and has stated in interviews that she shared it on Facebook with the impression that only her friends would see her (distasteful) display of "humor". She apologized and is trying to pick her life back up. I'm gonna say she's suffered enough due to her lapse in common sense and people need to let her get on with her life.

She's definitely been taught a lesson, and some us need to calm down on the angry internet veteran front. Turning into Tumblr SJW's.

Response by SSG Alleria Stanley made Jun 2 at 2015 9:35 AM

2015-06-02T09:35:08-04:00

Our society has several wonderful concepts.

Punishment.

Redemption.

While maybe not criminally charged, she has served MASSIVE punishment. Fired from her original job, no employment for two years since, and complete inability to move forward.

How long do we punish anyone? What she did was disrespectful. She's been punished, and is no doubt remorseful.

What say we give her a chance to show she, too, has learned from this.

Silence... and respect.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 6 at 2015 6:16 AM

2015-06-06T06:16:13-04:00

Old news.