Welcome to another new contributor under the Publius byline.
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Carol Grant said,
I'm the "resident" referred to near the end of the Tues. April 3 article "Interesting Meeting." I'm the one who went to the Selectmen's meeting to plead with Messrs. Sapia and Childs to finally honor the 2005 Town Meeting vote and mandate to place the Vietnam Honor Roll panels in front of town hall on each side of the Vietnam mapstone. I'm the one who pleaded with them to keep their word to the townspeople- given at the July 25 and Aug. 8, 05 selectmen's meeting- that they would honor the Town meeting vote.
The response by "Anonymous" (April 5, 7:12 p.m.) bought tears to my eyes. What the selectmen did to the Regan family was so cruel and senseless.
Paul Regan served his country in uniform during a difficult time. He died without seeing the name panel with his name on it installed where the voters mandated. He died knowing cruelty from the selectmen.
Paul's elderly mother Catherine, like so many other veterans' mothers, donated to help pay for those name panels. She was with Paul at what was supposed to be the Dedication of the Vietnam Honor Rolls, but saw instead, our
selectmen dishonoring her son's service by refusing to allow the installation of the panels. Catherine died two weeks ago, -- died never having seen the installed name panel with her son's name on it. The selectmen's cruelty to her and the other mothers was so callous.
Paul's father, Capt. Regan, was the long-time commander of the veterans marching unit in the Memorial Day parades. He also frequently was the speaker at those Memorial Day observances. He died before these selectmen dishonored his son and the other Vietnam veterans.
A whole patriotic veterans family is now gone. -- gone without having received the honor due them.
What pains and grieves me is that there are quite a few other Catherine Regans in town--elderly mothers who won't be around much longer -- mother's whose son's names are on those Honor Roll panels which the selectmen refused to allow installed. How many more of those mothers will also die while being cruelly denied seeing their veteran sons honored for their service.
How many more veterans like Paul will die without seeing their names on the panels,--their service to their country honored?
How many more Memorial Days will come and go before the selectmen finally do the right thing? How much longer will they dishonor our Vietnam veterans?
Town Meeting just passed the library. Not all voters voted for it, but the selectmen will still comply with the wishes of those voters who passed the warrant article. They won't pander to those who voted against the passed article. So, how can they pick and choose which passed articles they will comply with? How can they say we'll honor the Town Meeting vote passing the library, but not the 2005 Town meeting vote passing the Vietnam Honor Roll panels and mandating where they are to go?
Right now, U.S. troops are fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet in Atkinson, our Vietnam veterans are being callously dishonored. How can this be allowed to happen in our town? How can this be allowed to happen to our Vietnam veterans, and more cruelly, to thier parents?
How many more mothers have to die experiencing this cruelty by our selectmen.
How many more Memorial Days will come and go before we have selectmen who honor those who have served? How many more Memorial Days will those Vietnam Honor Roll panels with those 71 names have to be kept in storage waiting for a patriotic Board of Selectmlen?
I ache and grieve for those who served and for the parents of those whose service is being dishonored.
Carol Grant
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ATKINSON's Vietnam HONOR ROLL as VOTED and PASSED by 2005 Town Meeting and re-approved at Special Town Meeting Sept. 12
EDITORIAL-
A voice of compassion, an example of fairness and reasonable government.
One who believes in the strength and comfort you, your children and your family can draw from good government leadership.
A person who knows Atkinson is our home -- our most important possession that must be preserved and protected through fair taxes and sound community planning and where our children must be safe to grow to become a new generation of leaders.
One who knows that the citizens of Atkinson are all neighbors with her leadership to be dedicated and responsive to all.
One who believes that when those from Atkinson have served our nation and honors are deserved, those honors must be given.
In Valerie Tobin, we now have a leader we know we can entrust with these responsibilities because they are part of her character.
It is our honor to endorse Valerie for election to Atkinson’s Board of Selectmen.
Just a note for those who wish to count the deer.
In January 08 this blog had 16,000 hits and 1,500 unique visitors (for the month).
In 2007 this blog had over 100,000 hits and 5,750 unique visitors (for the year).
In 2007 this blog had over 100,000 hits and 5,750 unique visitors (for the year).
EDITORIAL-
"I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense . . ." [TP, 1776]
We take no small measure of umbrage at such a hostile official act against this BLOG’s patron. Therefore, a timely Editorial comment is both appropriate and necessary.
Discussion of Atkinson’s financial direction, from any viewpoint, is fundamental and encouraged and we will always attempt to limit and correct errors.
However, Righteous indignation towards purported error of such inconsequential nature is not appropriate.
The ENTIRE car deal is problematic. If it was caused by poor judgement, improper exercise of authority, neglect or mistake or even specious reasoning, this will never trump the facts that the entire questionable transaction started and ended within a very small circle of confidants.
We find the entire circumstances surrounding the disposition of the police Cruiser highly irregular at the least and the "explanations" somewhat trifling and exhaustive of our intellect.
Mr. Consentino: It’s time to go. Being Chief of Atkinson’s Police Department is NOT a birthright. That is a fabled legend of yesteryear.
Historically in Atkinson, police chief appointments were made "under the hand of the selectmen" for terms of one year at a time, as was also the case in the beginning of Mr. Consentino’s assorted and discontinuous stream of appointments to this position.
Your only remaining credential established on a claim of indispensability has faded.
So time is neigh. Plan a graceful exit, Clean out your desk, Accept the gratitude and tearful sentiments from some. We plan no editorial recriminations. It is time. Thank you for your service, We wish you a long and happy retirement. Bon Voyage.
LETTER
"To All Atkinson Residents,
I am writing to ask for your help. A member of the Atkinson Police Department needs our help. I am here to ask for your help in Corporal John Lapham's fight for his life. As you are aware, John has been diagnosed with Leukemia. He has been once again hospitalized with an infection that is threatening his life. He is one of the bravest people that I have ever met. He has never asked of anything from the residents of the town. Now is our chance to step up and help both him and his family out. As everyone is aware John has been out of work for a few months. His family has been busy helping John to get better. He needs our help, and I am hoping that this town can step up to the plate and help. From the moment that I met John, I have admired him. He does alot, but never asks for anything in return. He has helped so many people in this town. I for one am one of those people. Please help him.
There is a fund set-up in his name at TDBanknorth in Plaistow. Any amount will help John, while he is out of work. It would be great if this town could help ease a burden off his wife.
Thank You
Also if anyone would like to send a card, please address it to:
John Lapham
c/o Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Ctr.
Inpatient mail
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115
United States
Please show Corporal John Lapham, that this community can stand up and show our support to those in need. I for one, miss John and can not wait until he can get better and return to work. Please show him that we support him. "
6 comments:
I know for a fact that Jack Sapia always tells people how supportive he is of US service man and women.
His actions need to support his words.
Well, Jack, do you support the men and women of the armed services or not? If you do, then step up to the plate and SHOW IT IMMEDIATELY.
This could be a real strike against your re-election bid if you continue to ignore the Atkinson taxpayers and our veterans. Sounds to me like you are getting some bad advice from your political advisor, and/or you are letting personal feelings impair your ability to be an objective selectman who truly cares about American service men and women - and one who truly listens to the Atkinson taxpayers.
One day the fools on the hill (selectmen), who think they know it all, will realize that the voters must be listened to. Voters voted to put the panels in front of town hall and that is where they MUST go. Enough of what THEY think we REALLY MEANT. Good luck with your crusade Carol! We can only hope that enough citizens will make sure that the fools listen to what THE VOTERS WANTED AND VOTED FOR.
Help me out here! Make me understand! When the other three honor rolls (and I am counting the Civil War Monument on Dow Common) were erected the townspeople of Atkinson showed honor and respect for the persons whose names were inscribed thereon. What did these 71 Vietnam veterans do that was so wrong that they must continue to be as disrespected by certain of the Atkinson selectmen as many of their comrades were when they came home 30 + years ago. They are Atkinson's sons and daughters and their names and faces are known to many. It seems like it should be so simple - the honor roll panels are done and waiting - waiting - waiting for their turn to be shown honor and respect. Please everybody can't we get together on this and make it happen?
seenitdoneit said...
The selectmen have the responsibility to do what the majority of townspeople voted for and place them either side of th flagpoles in front of the town hall, with the mapstone, as Town Counsel said they should do, originally.
Amen, Brother! You got that right!
We voted for it, we should have it done the way we the voters intended . The voters elected our selectman to do the right thing. Sickning to me this issue is going this way. Two of the three selectman are the cheifs puppets, and right now they are the majority. I am so very sick of how they disrespect our town of atkinson. They just want to "control" what happens. This Vietnam Veteran issue is a perfect example of that.
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