Guilford should rally around veterans
The following is a Counterpoint:
By David K. Rice
Regarding the editorial, "Agenda for 2008: Promote One Guilford" (Dec. 30), and John Robinson's column, "Council's action a good first step toward healing" (Dec. 30):
You talk of a united Guilford for 2008. You point to many diverse interests. Need a rallying point?
Our history teems with patriotism, from Gen. Greene to the Overseas Replacement Depot here during World War II to the troop support stickers on every other auto. We have young people yearning for direction in the high school and college ROTC programs. We have returning Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans. Let's go all out on the front page for our history and our returning veterans. Let's turn out the mayors, commissioners, bands and floats and make a big deal of it. We are at war, guys, and the nation needs our support. Let's be the heart of it.
Put aside our petty self-complaints. Get the governments, hospitals, schools, colleges and tech colleges on board. Promote special jobs and education for the veterans, especially in the nanotech and jet fields.
Celebrate their returns. Develop special local tax and education benefits.
Be proud of our young aspirants, our prospective military leaders, including our service academy appointees. Energize our veterans' groups. Recognize our local heroes: Gen. Hugh Shelton, who led the famous "All-American" 82nd Airborne Division; Charlie Myers, who lied about his age to get into the military, was bombed by the Japanese in the Aleutians and flew C-47s (remember the Berlin Airlift?). And what about the in-flight refuelers, flown over the Atlantic by Lee Richmond? And/or the Navy P-3Es guarding our skies and seas over the Aleutians, flown by Larry Phillips? And then there are the wives who kept the home fires burning. The returning veteran, Spc. Ann Bowen, should have been on the front page.
Stand up, be proud, Guilford.
The writer lives in Greensboro.