Apologies
Bill Gardner
Saturday, June 2, 2007
AMERICAN LEGION Post 5 wishes to apologize to city, county and state representatives for their not having received the usual invitations to attend the Memorial Day Program at the All Veterans Memorial.
Additionally, although listed in The Gazette that all local Color Guards were invited to participate, they did not receive their confirmation as well.
The Emporia Gazette evidently did not feel it worthy of coverage nor did any other media.
Way to go, Emporia; show your recognition and honor of our deceased veterans!
midnight_rider (anonymous) says...
I find Mr. Gardner's comments about "Way to Go Emporia" very ironic.
First, His should realize that even though The Emporia Gazette, was not there to cover the event, KVOE was on hand through the whole ceremony and did a great job covering the ceremony on Memorial Day (Monday), the next day (Tuesday), and also on their website. Just makes me wonder how long the Gazette will allow this comment to be posted.)
Second, You need to realize that Memorial Day really does not change when it is. Remember, the last Monday of May, same time each year. So I find it interesting that the "powers that want to be" being the officials and color guards, need a special invitation. It just goes to show that since NONE OF THEM SHOWED UP, they really do not care about our military without having to be reminded. Looks like to only show up when they want our votes.
Third: Every year they read the names of the Veterans that have passed away during the previous year. This is a meaningful time for their family members. SO - If Mr. Gardner feels the need to apologize for anything, it should be the fact that he himself did not have a complete list of the deceased veterans and totally made a fool of the meaning of the whole ceremony. His telling the audience of the troubles he had with the list, his not being sure if the list was complete and not even in alphabetical order, was a complete embarrassment to the memory of our beloved, deceased Veterans.
Mr. Gardner's pathetic apology for people not receiving their 'special invitations' is a joke, when he should apology for himself and his disrespect for our dead Veterans.
June 3, 2007 at 9:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sherry (anonymous) says...
Ouch! While I may not agree with what Mr Gardner said in his article I beleive that the post following it was a little harsh. Being a vetren myself and getting ready to go to Iraq in the next month it goes without saying that I am extremly involved in military affairs. I think Mr Gardner should be given a little slack in maybe not getting that list "just right". There are very few people who go out of their way and VOLUNTEER in many cases a lot of their time to do anything for the veterans today. Mr Gardner...thank you for your time and I am sorry more people are not involved. You may not have gotten all the facts straight but at least you did something. Hopefully next year more color guards may participate but right now all the younger troops in their respective honor guards are off fighting a war and the older participants are dying off...litterally. There is not a lot of participation in the middle. Maybe that will soon change. Until then do what you can, with what and who you have!
June 3, 2007 at 10:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )