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Show The Magna 4 TimeAVet Valley Newt, May 30, 2002 mmsk Editorial Honoring those who died fighting war on terrorism Monday the nation and our community celebrated Memorial Day, a holiday that has come to mark the beginning of summer and the first long weekend of r the season. However. Memorial Day. originally called IXcorution Day, came into being as a day of lemembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with more than two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memoiial Day. T here is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South weie decoluting graves before the end of the Civil War. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by (lateral John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when llowers were .placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The South refused to acknow ledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War jo honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress in 968 to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional, separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead. Since then, its meaning has been expanded to be a day of remembering all of one's loved ones who have died, regardless of whether they fought in a war or not. In light of the recent war against terrorism in Afghanistan, we feel it appropriate to revert to the traditional meaning of Memorial Day and remember the 38 men and women of the United States Armed Forces that have given their lives in this worthy cause. 'I he youngest has been 19 Private Giovanny year-ol- d Maria of Camden, New Jersey, a 10th Mountain Division soldier, who died of a gunshot wound. The oldest has been Master Sgt. Jefferson Donald Davis, 39, of Watauga, Tenn. Davis, was killed on Dec. 5 when a U.S. bomb missed its Taliban target north of Kandahar in Afghanistan, lie was a Gieen Beret who leaves behind a wife and tin ce children. warm-weathe- We wish to honor those who we know have died in the current conflict: Sgt. Gene Arden Vance Jr 38, West Virginia Staff Sgt. Brian Craig, 27, Texas Staff Sgt. Justin Galewski, 28, Kansas Sgt. Jamie Maugans, 27, Kansas Sgt. I st Class Daniel Romero, 30, Colorado Chief Petty Officer Matthew J. Bourgeois, 35, Talahassee, Fla. Sgt. Bradley S. Crose, 27, Orange Park, Fla. Sgt. Philip J. Svitak, 31, Joplin, Mo. Spc. Marc A. Anderson, 30, Brandon, Fla. Pfc. Matthew A. Commons, 20, Boulder City, Nev. Tech. Sgt. John A. Chapman. 36, Waco, Texas. Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham, 26. Camarillo, Calif. Petty Officer 1st Class Neil C. Roberts, 32, Woodland, Calif. Chief Warrant Officer Stanley L. Harriman, Wade, N.C. Staff Sgt. Walter F. Cohee III, 26, Wicomico, Md. Sgt. Dwight J. Morgan, 24, Mendocino, Calif. Capt. Matthew W. Bancroft, 29, Shasta, Calif. Capt. Daniel G. McCollum, 29, Richland, S.C. Gunnery Sgt. Stephen L. Bryson, 35, Montgomery, Ala. Staff Sgt. Scott N. Germosen, 37, Queens, N.Y. Sgt. Nathan P. Hayes, 21, Lincoln, Wash. Lance Cpl. Bryan P. Bertrand, 23, Coos Bay, Ore. Sgt. Jeannette L. Winters, 25, Du Page, III. Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Ross Chapman, 3 , San Antonio, Texas Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Petithory, 32, Cheshire, Mass. Staff Sgt. Brian Cody Prosser, 28, Fraizer Park, Calif. Navy Fireman Apprentice Michael J. Jakes Jr., 20, New York City CIA officer Johnny "Mike" Spann, 32, Winfield, Ala. Petty Officer 1st Class Vincent Parker, Preston, Miss. Petty Officer 3rd Class Benjamin Johnson, Rochester, N.Y. Machinist's Mate Fireman Apprentice Bryant L. Davis, 20, , 1 Chicago Pvt. I st Class Kristofor T. Stonesifer, 28, Missoula, Mont. Spc. Jonn J. Edmunds, 20, Cheyenne, Wyo. Air Force Master Sgt. F.vander Andrews, 36, Solon, Maine Letters to the Ed ito r Following the golden rule of warnings Editor, Suppose a man were watching a movie in a crowded theater and got th,rsty. He started into the lobby and found terrorists setting bombs. Suppose he slipped back into the darkness. Looking at the crowd, alone with the know ledge of the danger threatening them, he has a choice to make. He could choose to shrink into denial about what he knows, pick up his popcorn and watch the movie. Or he could slip out the side exit to save himself. Or he could choose to get on the stage and w arn the crowd that an emergency exists Editor, Chances are during the last week you may have seen or heard mesg value of sages about the seat belts. You may have also notices an increase in law enforcement patrols on your neighborhood streets and highways. The reason is that through June 2. law enforcement, public officials and community safety advocates are working together to increase seat belt and child safety seat use. This year, the annual Buckle Up America Campaign is different from past campaigns, which relied heavily on public information to educate people about the importance of seat belts and child safety seats. This May, the highcampaign iiyludes stepped-u- p ly visible enforcement of the seat and than an orderly exit is needed immediately. Which is the moral choice? If your family were in the crow d wouldn't you hope he would alert you so they could escape? Following the Golden Rule he ought to wam you. For 43 years the John Birch Society's members have been "on stage" w aming you. We have w arned you that a Conspiracy grips our national institutions, a secret combination of power elites whom we call "insiders" or "internationalists" We've warned that this conspiratorial organization, combined w ith the Communists, wrote the United Nations Charter and built the UN organization to bring about their "New World Order," a global government to dominate the earth. At the risk of being branded as "kooks" by Internationalists and liberals in the media we have supplied evidence for decades. We have been ignored, ostracized, ridiculed, but we, like the man in the theater, still wam you. We must urge Congress to get us our of the United Nations and get the UN out of the United States. belt law in your state. Why enforcement: The facts show that education alone does not do the job for a significant portion of the public. Stronger seat belt laws and enforcement work were education and the fear of death of injury do not. Some will argue that it is a matter of 'personal freedom' to drive unbuckled. But the fact is. in our society personal freedoms stop when they infringe on the rights of others. On average, inpatient hospital costs for an unbelted crash victim are 50 percent higher than those for a belted crash victim. Society ' bears 85 percent of those costs, not the individual drivers whose choice was not to wear a seat belt. Nobody is immune to the deadly and costly effects of unbuckled drivers. We all pay - in higher taxes, higher health care and higher insurance costs. One more fact, an effective seat belt enforcement program saves lives, reduces injury and saves taxpayer money, as well as often leading to apprehension and conviction of more serious violators. Police routinely pick up suspects for drunk driving, stolen property or drug violations all because traffic enforcement officers were on the job. So remember to start and continue a healthy habit for life during Buckle Up America week - buckle up every trip, every time. Bliss W. Tew Orem, Utah Louis R. DeCarolis Regional Administrator National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Drug Court turns lives around was honored this spring to be the keynote speaker at a graduation ceremony. It was a Drug Court graduation. There were three graduates who completed an aggressive rehabilitation, testing and counseling program superv ised by Salt Lake County Justice Court Judge Peggy Acomb. During the past 5 years we hive learned that Drug Courts i the law and bring account- ability and demand responsibility. The great American Booker T. Washington noted: "Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon him, and to let him know that you trust him." Drug Court graduates accept new responsibility and work hard to earn trust. Asa Hutchinson, a former congressman and head of the nation's Drug Enforcement Administration, is a strong supporter of the Drug Court program. He told one Drug Court graduation last year: "We address our drug problem in America one person at a time. Indeed, each of you here today does represent a great victory." Asa Hutchinson believes Drug Court can turn lives around. Drug court has a series of goals: Reduce drug dependency in the community Reduce criminal activity caused by drug dependency Reduce health risks to our community caused by drugs Reduce pressure on our court, health and prison systems One Seattle Drug Court participant explained he wasn't going I Nancy Workman Sait th Lake County Mayor 1 com-filefrie- nt ' through the Drug Court program because someone else wanted him ' ' to . He said: '"Im doing it because I want my life back." He said. He believes Drug Court can turn lives around. A Drug Court graduate in Virginia said "Drug Court may not mean anything to you, but to me its given me another chance at life." Drug Court is a relatively new w ay of doing things and it is not a soft approach. Treatment is anchored in the authority of the judge who holds you personally and publicly accountable for progress. Drug Court is about increments and routine, According to Justice Department figures, more than 74,000 people nationwide have graduated from Drug Court programs. The recidivism rates for each jurisdiction vary from a low of 2 percent to a high of 24 percent. Compare the with a national recidivism rate of 75 percent for traditional incarceration. It is also obvious from these numbers that the delivery of treatment services must be coupled with the justice system and strong judicial leadership. Judge Acomb has taken leadership in the County's Justice Court system. Lives can unravel because of drugs. Drug Courts in Salt Lake County and across the nation are providing positive results. Salt Lake County has invested precious tax dollars to support Drug Court programs. It is proving to be money " " ' wisely spent.'1 As we enter the summeUSon, I invite everyone to get outside and enjoy the wide array of attractions and programs provided by Salt Lake County's Parks and Recreation. The Memorial Day weekend opened our outdoor swimming season. Salt Lake County operates outdoor swimming pools in all corners of the valley. In the past decade pools in West Jordan, Magna, Draper, Taylorsville, Riverton, West Valley and Salt Lake City have been built or renovated. They have state of the art water slides, water toys for kids of all ages and leisure pools with beach-entr- y levels. Swimming is a great family leisure activity and a way to stay in shape. It has been studied and proven that lap swimming is a good fitness activity for anyone with arthritis or other joint problems. low-impa- ct Salt Lake County even has water aerobic classes. For complete information on Salt Lake County's swimming program, lessons. and prices please call 468-229- 9. Government subsidizing death of America The government of The United Stales of America is suhsidiing the eventual death of Ameiica as a viable nation. Subsidized Death is the name of the game in the political whorehouses of Washington D. C. Our lawmakers put their integiity on the auction block and sell their souls to the Merchants of Death. They subsidize pollution, cancer, obesity, waste, and the desecration of 'America the Beautiful' and the health and welfare of her citizens. "How is this so?" you might ask. "Aren't our Representatives in Washington to protect us from harm?" "Don't they give food stamps so that children may eat?" "And what about the poor farm families that are helped?" Tragically, far too many of our d tax dollars are used to subsidize the businesses and corporations that are destroying the hard-earne- foundations upon which the strength of our great country depends. Following are just a few examples of Subsidized Death as designed by the 'Corporate Socialists' in Congress: 1. Food Stamps: Food stamps subsidize the junk food and pack- aging industry. Rather than providing wholesome fruits, vegetables, grain and milk products for growing bodies, food stamps provide the kinds of junk food that eventually leads to obesity, disease and premature death. The packaging leads to the destruction of forests, w ater quality, wildlife, and petroleum resources. 2. Factory Farms: Subsidies farms leads to the to mega-factor- y torture and abuse of millions of animals. In addition it leads to an of meat products which is a major cause of diseases that lead to thousands of premature deaths each year. 3. Cattle Ranches: America has already suffered great damage to our forests and prairies in older to grow loo many cows at the expense of native wildlife. Overpopulation of domestic live- stock has lead to massive destruction of top soil, rare plant communities, water quality. The junk food industry thrives on cheap beef that is consumed by millions of children a day at the expense of the health leading to premature death for many. 4. Timber Beasts; Huge timber and paper companies are sub sidized by our Congress to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars per year. That sum does not include the billions of dollars of damage to our National Forests and the resulting siltation of our streams, the wholesale killing of millions of animals, landslides, floods, forest fires and other subsidized destruction. 5. Cancer Sticks: Subsidizing tobacco farms helps the tobacco industry continue to create nicotine junkies out of millions of Americans, many of whom will die from lung cancer and other smoking induced illnesses. 6. Chemical Companies: By subsidizing huge that produce monoculture crops dependent on being saturated with es dangerous pesticides, fur 'icides, and herbicides, our Congress is subsidizing the poisoning of our w ater, our air, and our citizens, many of whom will die from hor rible diseases caused by the mindless wholesale application of these destructive chemical agents. This Subsidized Death and destruction of 'America the Beautiful', her lands, her waters, her air, her forests, and the health and welfare of her citizens must cease if we are going to be able to remain strong and free. What is it that causes otherwise good women and men, who start their political careers dedicated to the good of our country to eventually sell their souls for money and votes? George H. Russell, an outspoken opponent of the death penalty, is a resident of Huntsville, Texas, He is founder of The Patriot Netw ork, and author www.patriotnetwork.org and founder of The Universal Ethician Church, an interfaith ministry. POOR |