By Tom Ryan, Kansas City Star Reader Advisory Panel

How many titles can we confer upon this person? He is a doctor, still an officer, a major, an accused killer, a proud believer as we are learning. From what title do we begin to understand this person? Right now, along with those he wounded, he is a patient under professional care. That’s what he is today…a patient.

This is so complex, for there are so many perspectives to comprehend about this man, should one wish to understand.

The victims deserve more of our attention. The dead deserve their stories told. The wounded, many of whom with irrevocable injuries will need life-long care. Their narratives extend into the hospitals where their veteran comrades heal and recover, too. What about them?

It is hard to face their scars and pain and even they will tell you to first visit Arlington and pay your respects there; contemplate loss and heroism on that sacred ground.

While some discuss red flags, psychological warning signs as if they were coastal storm pennants informing ships pilots, the flags we should remember are those that the Old Guard will stick into the cool Autumn earth tomorrow morning at dawn...

…and will the officer who took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States salute from his bed when taps sounds at Fort Hood marking the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, tomorrow morning?

...the hospital staff will pause briefly, and then continue their mission of care.