Editor, Times-Union: John C. Peterson American Legion Post 49 would like to thank everyone who came out to Oakwood Cemetery on Monday to pay honor and tribute to all our deceased veterans and to take part in our ceremony. This was probably the largest crowd we have seen in a long time and I am sure all the veterans who were there were very gratified.
We would especially like to thank Mr. Becker and the WCHS band for the fine music which they provided. Also, we appreciated having Ken Locke there to do the invocation and benediction. And finally, our hats go off to Jerry Hogan for his excellent and touching Memorial Day address.
Again, we thank everyone and hope to see you all there on Memorial Day 2002.
Roy Bradbury Commander Post 49
Supports For Education
Editor, Times-Union: People in our community care about the education of children. It is encouraging to know that so many individuals and businesses in our community are supportive of our local schools.
Hacienda Mexican Restaurant is a great example. Last week in my third grade classroom, I wanted to end our two-week diversity study of Spanish-speaking cultures with a fiesta. I contacted Stacy at Hacienda and she graciously loaned sombreros to my 25 third-graders to celebrate the occasion. Surprisingly, when I arrived to pick up the hats, they also donated chips and salsa!
This is not the first time an individual or business has donated time, items or even money to make sure that our kids get the best. I have parents and grandparents who volunteer every week by reading to the class, helping with art activities, learning centers and field trips. Other businesses and individuals have also donated items to help my class. The Mentone Parent Group also makes a tremendous, positive impact on our school environment.
Many times we hear so much about the negative things around us that I just wanted to take some time to thank the people of our community who have made an excellent contribution to education for children!
Karla Hayden Third-grade teacher Mentone Elementary
Officer Defended
Editor, Times-Union: I read Mr. Stahl's letter printed in your May 30 issue with considerable interest, since I witnessed the event he retells of Officer Griffith "harassing" him on the street. I was waiting to ask Officer Griffith a question and didn't pay much attention to them until Mr. Stahl started raising his voice. As Mr. Stahl stated in his letter, he did get angry and loud, and Officer Griffith asked him to lower his voice and calm down, which he did for a moment but then started getting very loud again. Officer Griffith asked him to stop yelling. I never heard Officer Griffith tell Mr. Stahl to shut up or threaten to arrest him, nor did he ever raise his voice to Mr. Stahl.
I have no idea what stressful events of the day Mr. Stahl may or may not have incurred prior to this, but at the time I assumed he was previously upset and would probably later apologize to Officer Griffith for his rude behavior. Since he obviously didn't do that but instead chose to criticize him in a public forum, I felt it necessary to support this police officer.
Mr. Stahl referred to "all the hatred that is being built because of the way most cops treat the public." After seeing this encounter, I wonder how much abuse the police have to take from the public. I am encouraged by the patience and restraint Officer Griffith showed. I believe we are fortunate in this community to have both local and county officers that we can be proud of.
Hopefully most of your readers express their appreciation to police officers more than I do, because I ashamed to say I have rarely done it, but I do appreciate their work and I realize it is a dangerous and often thankless job. Thank you officers, all of you.
Dana L Krull Pierceton via e-mail
Thankless Job
Editor, Times-Union: I was wanting to send a reply message to the article posted on 5-30-01 about the police officer in Pierceton. As I read that article, it became more and more apparent to me that the person writing the article was of low or no intelligence, and when I reached the bottom of the page and it stated that maybe the reason for all the officers being shot was because of hatred from the way they treat people, I was confirming my earlier thoughts! Maybe one reason for our officers being killed in the line of duty is because people like you would not be happy with anything they do because you have been in trouble with the law before, I don't know that, but it's just a "guess"? Every time I read the newspaper or turn on the TV and see anything about police officers, it's always negative. The funny thing is, every time you need someone when you're in trouble, the first person you call for is a police officer. It's kinda funny, though, I rarely read any articles about the officer who saved someone's life to protect another, or the officer who worked 40 hours of overtime to solve crime to put people's minds at ease so they could sleep at night and feel safe! The letter I read sounded like someone whining about having to move some junk vehicles, what I was confused with was that the truck with the flat tires is a work vehicle? If the truck is a work vehicle, it seems to me that it would be profitable to get the tire fixed so you can actually work, and I know it's not that hard to find a repair shop to fix a tire, I've had it done several times and rarely have to wait in long lines or have trouble finding a shop! As you may have guessed, I am a police officer myself, and I will be the first to tell you that there are some officers that should not be in uniform, but in your case I cannot say that sounds like the case. In your case it sounds to me that Officer Griffith was told to do his job that you pay him to do and he was earning his money for that job. Being a police officer is not a glamorous job to say the least, like in years past, police officers were looked at as heroes, now we are looked at as the enemy. I don't think of myself as the enemy, I work to help the people of my community and try to do the best that I can to make sure all the people are safe and that I uphold all the laws along the way, sometimes you upset people, and sometimes you can make a world of difference in a persons life by helping them make their life better. The appreciation we receive in return are letters like the one posted by yourself. Things like that confuse me as to why so many good people want to put on a uniform at all? What you don't realize is that maybe people surrounding you have complained about the vehicles to the town board, and maybe it's not the officer at all, which I truly do not believe that if your vehicles set there would affect his life to any great deal. I don't believe that our officers are being shot because of hatred from the way police treat the public, or the public would never call us to protect them. The reason I believe officers are being shot more and more frequently is because the consequences are not high enough for the people that commit those crimes, nowadays you get more time in jail for shoplifting than for murder due to one reason or another! No matter the reason, I do not believe that any police officer should be shot or any person should be murdered. Do you? You be the judge.
Brandon Prater Warsaw via e-mail
Defends Police
Editor, Times-Union: I must comment on Claud Stahl's question about it being any wonder that more police officers aren't being shot.
I also sometimes wonder why more officers aren't shot, however the reason isn't the same. I wonder because of the people the police have to encounter every day when they leave the house. Hate and anger are serious problems in our society. Comments like the one Claud Stahl made only make the problem worse, making it sound justifiable to shoot a person who "mistreats" you.
Did it ever occur to you that Officer Griffith was following orders? Wouldn't it be appropriate to ask the city board about the tickets, they can always be contested, rather than harassing the officer who was following orders?
Every day police officers leave their homes and encounter poor treatment and danger from the people they are sworn to help. These officers are prepared to give their lives to protect you. Maybe you should show a little more appreciation and respect for the job they do. Don't cheapen their lives and their work over a silly parking ticket.
Shelby Beam Winona Lake
Cemetery Applauded
Editor, Times-Union: Memorial Day was a special day set aside to honor loved ones who have passed on. It is sad that loved ones decorate the grave sites with nice flowers only to return later to find they were stolen. It is sad that some people don't have any respect for the dead or other people's property. While this is a sad thing, on the other hand I can't help but notice how well kept and nice Oakwood Cemetery is. One might even compare it in a small way to the Garden of Eden. It's a lovely place to remember the loved ones that have passed on.
Congratulations to Warsaw and may God help people who steal flowers from graves.
Bob Cozzi Warsaw
Color Guard Questioned
Editor, Times-Union: re: photo of Color Guard, Times-Union, May 29
During my career in the U.S. Marine Corps, I spent nine years as a drill instructor, including four years as chief instructor at Drill Instructor School (MCRD San Diego, 1963-1966) and I recall the following commands for "Drill for foot troops, armed: Order arms, shoulder arms: (right or left); port arms; present arms; inspection arms; trail arms."
What command is given to "Turn your rifles upside down and pretend to guard the colors?"
