That and $42 will get you a Purple Heart

In my discourse with Jonathan about heroes, I remarked that they are not "a dime a dozen" I stand by that comment, but apparently there are a lot of them. So many, in fact, that our government can't keep up with them all. From the Houston Chronicle:

Korean War veteran Nyles Reed, 75, opened an envelope last week to learn a Purple Heart had been approved for injuries he sustained as a Marine on June 22, 1952.

But there was no medal. Just a certificate and a form stating that the medal was "out of stock."...

The form letter from the Navy Personnel Command told Reed he could wait 90 days and resubmit an application, or buy his own medal.

After waiting 55 years, however, Reed decided to pay $42 for his own Purple Heart and accompanying ribbon — plus state sales taxes — at a military surplus store.

The heroism of our vets is matched only by the bureaucratic indifference of the federal government: Please send in $42, plus six proofs-of-purchase to get your Purple Heart. (Spilled blood, apparently, only covers half the cost.)