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By Staff
Grandfathers deserve attention
Editor:
I would like to share the following poem, taken from my church bulletin, with all of the fathers and grandfathers in the area in observance of Father's Day, June 20:
A Grandfather…(written by a 9-year-old girl)
Grandfathers don't have to do anything but be there.
When they take us for walks, they slow down for pretty
Leaves and caterpillars, and they never say, "Hurry up."
Some grandfathers are fat, but they can still bend over to
Tie your shoes. They may wear glasses, but can still see
The tiniest bug.
Grandfathers don't have to be clever, just able to answer
Questions like, "Why isn't God married?," "How far does the ocean go?," and "What makes rainbows?"
They don't talk baby-talk to us like Grandma sometimes does.
They hold you hand, pat your hair, and put an arm around your shoulder.
When grandfathers read to us, they don't skip pages, or mind
Reading the same story over and over again.
Everybody should have a grandfather, because they always
Have time for you. A grandfather is just a father who has already been there.
Happy Father's Day!
Zeb Greeson
Hartselle
Crime victims thank community
This past Wednesday, June 8,, our home was broken into. Most all of our valuables were taken. The thieves ransacked our entire house and left it in a horrible mess. I can't tell you how many different emotions our family experienced on this day, but I am writing to thank some very loving and caring people for being there for us during our time of crisis.
Don, Becky, Connie and everyone at Main Street Diner for giving us the wonderful food and tea, what a blessing that was to us. I would also like to thank Annette Greenwell, Leigh Ann Throneberry, Van and Don Stisher, and customers of Vans Barber Shop for the food, help, and prayers. If there were more people like these in the world our children would not be afraid to go to bed at night. May God bless you all.
Doug and Beth Keenum family
Purple Heart plan deserves support
Editor,
In December 2003, the Military Order of the Purple Heart National Headquarters in Alexander, Va., published an article about the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C., which stated the organization would send one WWII veteran from each state, and their wife or companion, all-expenses-paid, to see the memorial. So I filled out the blank.
This January, I received a phone call from the National Headquarters stating that the state of Alabama was the first state drawn for the trip, and my name was the first one pulled–which I accepted.
Just think, the first person to have their name drawn for the entire United States. Wow, what a honor.
Several days later, I received a letter from the Third Division Outpost 60 wanting me to go on a trip to Germany and attend the memorial for D-Day. I said no, I don't want anymore trips overseas, free or paid. To me, this memorial was more important to me, especially since I was in D.C. last year when it started and wanted to see it again finished.
We all helped in raising money for it, and it's beautiful. Go see it, should you get a chance. I'd like to take a busload!
While on the trip, we were bused on trips to the MCI building, the memorial dedication and to the Hilton Hotel for a banquet. Awards were given to all Purple Heart recipients invited to the memorial, which were medals as large as the palm of your hand from the Non-Commissioned Officers Association of the United States of America. "The Greatest Generation" was inscribed on the front, "Valor, Sacrifice, Fidelity" on the outside, and the center has the world with a large eagle and NCOA, and a master sergeant's emblem crossed with a ribbon that says "World War II Honor and Remembrance."
It is very heavy and has a ring for the red, white and blue ribbon to wear around your neck.
Someone asked if I took pictures. Oh yes, I sure did. It cost me about $75 to get them finished. Now that the pictures and book are finished, I can get back to work on the Purple Heart Memorial in Hartselle.
There are only four people working on this project. I really thought the public was more patriotic than they are. We have been on TV, radio, in newspapers and spread the word through word of mouth and footwork. We have even asked our club members to donate and some have, though they shouldn't have to since they have stepped up to the line in past wars.
As I have told the children in the schools I have visited during the last four years, patriotism isn't taught in our schools and the parents and grandparents don't tell the children.
We Purple Heart veterans are trying to build a memorial for Cullman and Morgan counties. This isn't just for us–it's for our children and their children. When the Purple Heart veteran dies, his name is on a stone and each year his name is called out and a bell is rung in his honor.
There's no other veteran organization that has a memorial like this. We're selling bricks and what little profit there is we use to sandblast names on the stones. It's just like Mrs. Calvert said, "Should the draft come back, then your children can tell you what it means to be a patriot in helping the veterans."
I was in a veterinarian office today talking about the Purple Heart, when a woman said her husband got a Purple Heart. Her husband said he was a member of the VFW. That's not the Purple Heart. We operate different. We're starting to meet every month, alternating between Cullman at the VFW Post 2214 on the third Thursday of the month at 4:30 p.m., and in Hartselle at the American Legion Post. Bring your wives, also. It will be in Cullman this month and in Hartselle next month.
I know there are a lot of Purple Heart recipients. Right now we need your help in building the memorial. We need those donations. Buy a brick and honor other veterans by placing names on bricks.
George E. Mann
Commander, Chapter 2212
Finis J. Self Chapter
Military Order of the Purple Heart
Editor:
There is not a shadow of a doubt, Nancy Regan truly loved her husband, Ronald, with a dedication that few of us can ever realize nor hope to experience. But I can personally attest to one mortal who exceedingly and exceptionally surpassed this love exhibited by Nancy Regan. That person was my mother!
My dad died in 1981 of Alzheimer's at age 80. My mother personally attended his every need for 10 years (the last 3 – 4 of which were bed ridden) with only the limited help of my sister, who had to work, and her two young children. My mother did this of necessity and through a dedication of love few of us will ever experience, much less be able to express. Nancy Regan is truly to be commended for her dedication to her husband but she had the unlimited physical and fiscal resources afforded a previous President of theUnited States, of which my mother had none. All my mother had was unsurpassed devotion and love.
Mom is now with dad where their love will never end.
James L. Nix
Hartselle