Editor, Times-Union: When I thanked my father today for serving our country all those years ago, he had tears in his eyes. I started to wonder how often he has been thanked?
I for one have taken my freedom for granted too many times over the years. I can sit at my computer and write this letter expressing my views to my neighbors, because it's my freedom of speech. I can go to church on Sunday and worship God, that's my freedom of religion.
How many times do we as Americans sit down and think about what life would be like had we been raised in a foreign land? Do we ever stop to pray for the mothers who are forced to walk for miles to retrieve dirty, infected water to feed their families, because it's the only water to be found. Do we ever go hungry for days at a time, or wish we could die just to ease the hunger?
So many things in this country are "normal" for us. Getting up to the buzz of the alarm, taking a nice hot shower, eating a healthy breakfast, driving our cars to work and getting paid an honest wage for our efforts, those things are totally unheard of in other countries, but we fail to see them as luxuries, we only ask for more. More money, a bigger house, a faster car.
It's time we start being thankful for what we do have. It's time we learn to be content. We are all a blessed and very privileged people to live in America.
These luxuries and freedoms have remained in America thanks to self-sacrificing individuals who took the time out of their lives to fight for our freedom. They left their homes, their families, their luxuries, just for us. Don't wait until next year to thank an individual for serving our country. It doesn't have to be Veterans Day, any day will do. I want all those who have put their lives on the line for me, to know how much I humbly appreciate your work. May God richly bless you for your efforts!
Andra M. Barker Leesburg via e-mail
Birthday Memorial
Editor, Times-Union: The family of HA David L. Tezekjian invite you to join us for a candlelight birthday memorial Sunday in the parking lot of Cyber Sounds. This event will begin at 8:30 p.m. and end at 9:30 p.m. Please bring a birthday card or a letter that you would like read aloud, telling how David had touched your life. Candles will be provided, David's favorite music will be played, ending with "Happy Birthday" and the candles being blown out in unison. Please help us commemorate this special day, which would have been his 20th birthday.
Larry and Debbie Tezekjian
Winona Lake
BSU Band
Editor, Times-Union: I would like to express my gratitude to the Warsaw Community High School custodial staff, Ball State University Alumni, WCHS band parents, community members and local businesses that helped support the Ball State "Pride of Mid-America" Marching Band on Nov. 7. The BSU Band was spectacular. The combined BSU, WCHS, Edgewood and Lakeview Band performance was "massive"! A good time was had by all! Many BSU students expressed appreciation for the meals and hospitality during their stay, and I wanted to pass that along to all who were involved. Thanks again.
Mickey Ratliff WCHS band director Warsaw via e-mail
Thanks For Support
Editor, Times-Union: On Aug. 1 of this year I received the news that I had esophageal cancer, the reason I had been ill for some six weeks. On Aug. 5 I found that the cancer had spread through the lymph nodes and I was told my condition was "very very serious." By Aug. 14 (when I found myself in a chair having chemo pumped into me) I had been to both Lutheran and Parkview hospitals for numerous tests and a "port" had been installed in my chest. In two weeks my life and my family's changed forever.
I have been in law enforcement for a long time, a profession that I love very much. Law enforcement has never paid a great salary, a fact I knew and understood from the beginning. To supplement my income, I have always worked numerous part-time jobs, so many that it was a common joke around friends, "What do you do in your spare time, sleep?" After Aug. 1 all these part-time jobs were gone.
With two children in college, endless trips to the doctor's office and hospitals, expensive prescriptions and numerous other costs, my fears soon turned from my health to taking care of my family and how were we going to be able to afford this new part of our lives. I have to be honest, I did pray for help and these prayers were answered. I was soon told that friends and family were going to have a benefit to raise money to help us pay our bills.
I want to try to thank everyone that worked so hard, everyone that donated so much for the silent auction, everyone that came to the benefit, everyone who sent a donation and for all the cards and calls. Words cannot express how it gave me energy and excited me to be able to say hi to so many, and I only hope that everyone know of my love for them and my thanks.
I am afraid to try to list all the names, I have now seen pictures taken at the benefit and I saw in them people that I did not see while I was there and I do not want to leave anyone out. Everyone gave so much, I don't know how to thank you or repay you. I only hope that in some small way this helps.
For over 23 years I have been in law enforcement and the military, and I have served with some of the finest people in the land; now I am meeting and fighting alongside some of the bravest: cancer patients.
I have changed my mind, I do wish to name some names: John, Karen, Vince and Dallas: I think of you often and thank you for the brave example you set and hope I live up to what you taught me. "Tuff as Nails"
Barry R. Hicks via e-mail
Vandalism
Editor, Times-Union: This is in response to the letter written by Bob and Cyndee Ulmer (11-11-03). We live on Dixie Drive, right down the road from the Ulmer's, and the vandalism in our neighborhood has been going on for quite some time now. Our neighbors had the same blow-up decoration as the Ulmers in their yard and it was cut in the exact same manner three times. Rocks were thrown at it to begin with, but it wouldn't break it, so they resorted to knives.
The big rock in their yard was spray painted, as well as several street signs along Dixie Drive on Halloween night. The morning of Nov. 8, we found pumpkins had been thrown against our mailboxes.
Our neighbors have been reporting each incident as they happen, and I hope the Ulmers reported the vandalism at their home. It may seem small and petty to some, but this is someone's property. It does not belong to you, you have no right to do the things you have done. People have spent their hard-earned money on these things that are not cheap, and you come along to destroy them. I just wanted the Ulmers to know they are not the only ones dealing with this person (or people), that the entire neighborhood is having a problem. Hopefully one day soon they will goof up and get caught. It's been going on since September, enough is enough.
