For those of you who couldn't make it to the unveiling of the Vietnam Honor Roll panels in front of the town hall today, it was a very moving ceremony. The town owes a debt of gratitude to;
Carol Grant
Barbara Bird
Barbara Colcord
Adele Dillon
Martha MacDonald
Evelyn Sawyer
Eleanor Zaremba
Ladies, it has taken ovet two long years. You have sufferred the indignity of having to sue the town youe have lived in and served for many years, you have had to suffer through the endless defamation, and recriminations from the board of selectmen and the police chief, but finally, through all of those trials and tribulations, you have maintained your dignity, and class. You have taken everything our corrupt town leadership could throw at you, and you have prevailed!
Today was an awesome culmination of almost three years of struggle, and the entire(well almost the entire) Town's hats are off to you. The speeches were incredible. Page Brown was moving, and touched the hearts of all who attended.
Ladies take a bow! Your efforts have been rewarded. And the Atkinson Reporter would like to be the first to publicly say, THANK YOU!
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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. "
9 comments:
Before I left the Town Hall late this afternoon I looked out the front door at the monuments. The crowd was gone, the canopy had been taken down and there the honor roll panels stood flanking the map stone as if they had been there forever. It was a beautiful sight and I was very proud to have been part of this effort. In a way it was a lot like life - sometimes you take two steps forward and one step back - but you keep your eyes on the prize and keep on trudging! The Honor Roll Committee members were the foot soldiers in this endeavor, but we had enormous support and encouragement from many many others and to them we owe our heartfelt thanks.
Too bad Sapia and Childs couldn't have seen their way clear to do their duty and do what the voters told them 2 years ago, but it was still a great sight today.
And even better because Sapia didn't speak.
I also agree with adillon for I also was in awe when looking out at the monuments from the Town Hall door. Although I wasn't part of the Honor roll committee due to circumstances beyond my control at the time, I am a proud member of the Historical Society. I tip my hat to all those young ladies who had the strenth and persistance to stay the mile that made today a reality. As I sat there on the sidelines checking in veterans and guests I got that warm and fuzzy feeling when you knoe something is sooo right.I thank all who made today so special in so many ways: to those who worked so hard, those who blessed us with their attendance.Carol Grant tied it all up with a big red, white and blue ribbon with her oration on the early history of past monuments and facts on Atkinon's patrons who stepped up to the plate when needed to protect our country, etc. Page Brown's speech was awesome and from the heart. Thank you and to all "Happy THanksgiving"
I am sorry that I couldn't attend the actual service, I had a prior appt. in Concord at 2:00pm today, but I did stop by on my way up to pay my respects, The monuments look incredible, upon seeing them it is difficult to understand how anyone could expect them to fit in anywhere else.
Ladies you did yeoman's work on this project, and I would personally like to thank you for hanging in there, and fighting a fight that never should have been foisted upon you.
In particular I would like to say to Mrs. Grant, WELL DONE!!!
The ceremony was very moving. The N.H. National Guard color guard was sharp, the two speeches were very moving, several veterans cried from the deep emotion of the moment, and our veterans were so happy, proud, and united in their comradeship and brotherhood as they posed afterwards in front of the panels that bear their names.
The only thing out of place was the presence of Sapia and Childs who for two years did all they could do to block this event from happening. After their two years of dishonoring our veterans and blocking their being honored, Sapia and Childs had absolutely no business being there in the presence of those veterans being honored. Such gall, arrogance and hypocrisy! They knew that they weren't wanted or welcome there, but they showed up anyway. At least Consentino had the sense to not show up. After their insulting behavior towards Atkinson's Vietnam veterans, they also had no right to show up at the earlier Veterans breakfast.
To my fellow Atkinsonians,
Thank you to everyone who showed up to help us to honor Atkinson's own.
For you who weren't there, next time you have to go to Town Hall, take the time to read the names on the two Vietnam Honor Roll panels. Those 73 veterans listed are very special people and deserve our thanks and our respect.
So many of them came up to me afterwards to thank me and my fellow committee ladies for making that day happen for them. To each one, I said the same thing-- that it is we, who THANK THEM, for their service to our country. It is THEY who bought honor to our town by their military service.
Also, when you're in the Town Hall, pause to look at the display of the pictures and names of those 19 young people now serving in uniform,-- those who are following our Vietnam veterans in the service of their country. They represent another generation of Atkinsonians who have answered the call. When our American troops are all home from Iraq and Afghanistan, hopefully our last war, it will be Atkinson's privilege to also inscribe their names on an Honor Roll so that their service to our country will also be forever remembered.
Atkinson's celebration and dedication of the Vietnam honor roll panels was just perfect. The panels look perfect.
The November day was better than most, if a bit nippy for some of us. The coffee hit the spot and tasted especially good.
My chair made my aging bones comfortable.
I was glad to see old friends and to make new ones.
The program was well done by all.
The Office of Selectmen was shown respect.
Mrs. Grant's history lesson should be posted on the town's web. Maybe even framed up permanently at the town hall.
Page Brown's address stunned me. I was taken back by its content and eloquence. It should be posted here and in the newspaper. I want to be able to read for my betterment the words he gave us.
I was missing my husband yesterday, as well as my son who is one of the six veterans of Dessert Storm from Atkinson. He served on the USS "Nitro" II.
In missing my guys, I took advantage of Page's suggestion of hugging a veteran this day. Well, I hugged as many as I dared. I felt less alone, and I thank them for that.
I agreed with Mrs. Grant to work on a committee for the Iraq monument. Do people know that one of her sons is on his third tour in the middle east?
I also highly favor Rev. Dion's suggestion about the placement of the future Iraq memorial.
I thank the veterans for their service, and all in attendance for a memorable day full of fellowship.
It seems that every year on Veteran's Day Weekend, we end up watching Saving Private Ryan. And every year I can't belt but think how the Battle for Normandy would have been portrayed in the press today. One need not much of an imagination to know what the headlines would have been. And at least ten would contain the word "Impeach" in them.
Had Sapia and Childs tried their stunt back in 1949, they would have been drummed out of office faster than you can say "RECALL THE SOB's."
It is a shame that those who wish to honor those who fought and died for freedom, be it ours or that of another country, are made out to be the bad guys.
Hopefully the voters of Atkinson will finally make the two bobble heads pay for their "crimes" against the people of Atkinson.
I am also glad that the knuckle heads did not try to find yet another way to dodge doing what the law requires.
For you who were not at the celebration, an explanation of what Patricial Goodridge (1:07 p.m.) was referring to concerning Pastor Paul Dionne's suggestion.
Pastor Paul from the Atkinson Congregational Church gave the opening Invocation and the closing Benediction at the Installation Celebration.
Before the start of the Celebration while standing there looking at the beauty of the Honor Roll area, he said that when the Town put up an Honor Roll to those who served in Desert Storm in 1990, currently in Afghanistan and Iraq, and in other areas where needed, that the Honor Roll should also go in front of Town Hall in front of the pond to the left of the Vietnam Honor Roll.
He pointed out that there was plenty of room and it would provide balance to the Vietnam Honor Roll area which is slightly to the right.
Pastor Paul has a great idea which no one else thought of. Also, Honor Rolls should be located where people can see the names of and be reminded of those who serve in uniform far from home. Hopefully, there will be no more wars and Gulf War I and II will be our last Honor Roll.
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