JOHN SANDERSON is catching a lot of flak this week, particularly from the people posting comments on The Gazette’s Web site.
Sanderson has been accused of being a bean-counter and a “grumpypants” — whatever that is — and several worse things. Emporia’s blogging community has united to question his judgment and his patriotism.
Why all the vitriol? Sanderson is the man who made the call to cancel Tuesday’s Veterans Day parade and to move the memorial service inside.
Of course people were disappointed that the parade was canceled. Emporia is the home of Veterans Day and in recent years the community has come to take a particular pride in the way it honors veterans. But hurt pride is no reason to turn on and savage someone who has served Emporia, Kansas and the nation so devotedly for so many years.
The call was Sanderson’s to make because he is the commander of Ball-McColm Post 5 of the American Legion. He is an Army veteran of the Vietnam era and served as a district judge in Emporia for many years. He is a calm, deliberate man who does not panic.
Deciding to call off the parade cannot have been easy — he takes just as much pride as anyone in the community in being a veteran and honoring other veterans.
When Emporia went to bed Monday night, the National Weather Service was forecasting strong winds and rain — sometimes heavy — Tuesday morning. Before dawn on Tuesday — when the decision had to be made — the weather still did not look promising. The rain was light and intermittent, but there was still the possibility of a downpour at any time.
When the Weather Service can’t be sure what is going to happen next, the only thing mere mortals can do is guess.
John Sanderson gave it his best shot, but he guessed wrong. Tuesday morning turned out to be a little damp and cool, not rainy and windy. Somebody else got the nasty weather.
Now, with 20/20 hindsight, some folks are calling for Sanderson’s head on a pike. Shame on them.
He had a tough decision to make and he made it, based on the best information and for the best of reasons.
Let those whose judgment is perfect cast the first stone.
Patrick S. Kelley
Editorial Page Editor
concerned_about_emporia (anonymous) says...
Thanks Patrick! It is nice to see that someone is willing to stand up for the people so often attacked on these blogs. I'm all for a persons freedom of speech but these blogs seems to bring out the people in this town who are cruel and all to often racist. I wish that people posting on these blogs had to sign there names they same way you have to do when you send a letter to the editor. I think the people who attack others on these blogs are just plain cowards.
Also, I encourage you Patrick to advocate for name verification which is possible. The Lawrence world journal allows people to have their names verified. I think the same standards should be applied to comments on the blog as those used for letters to the editor.
November 13, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weltha (anonymous) says...
Don't see your real name concerned_about_emporia (anonymous) Just saying
November 13, 2008 at 3:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
concerned_about_emporia (anonymous) says...
Or yours... That's the point... We will never solve the problem unless the gazette requires it of everyone. Because although some people who provide their names the people who attack others on these blogs won't unless their are required.
November 13, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weltha (anonymous) says...
I see your point and agree with it, but you just did the same thing that you complaining about, is all I was saying. Weltha, is my last name by the way. Not to anonymous there.
November 13, 2008 at 3:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bobhornet (anonymous) says...
Sanderson still made an egregious mistake that only makes Emporia look worse, given its recent woes. I'd like to hear him own up to it, and to correct it by perhaps rescheduling.
November 13, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
truelovecharlie (anonymous) says...
Most communities have the Veterans Day parade on the Saturday before the holiday, insuring the largest attendance possible. After all, they don't have the Christmas Parade on Christmas; do they? The weather is usually far worse for the Christmas Parade; but it continues on. Using the weather as an excuse is just that; an excuse. The very least that could have been done was to postpone it to the following weekend. Alot of people worked hard and looked forward to the parade and have been denied the fruits of their labor. By the way; my name is Charlie Robison. Thank you.
November 13, 2008 at 4:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Free4all (anonymous) says...
Other than the bank and local government oh and schools, who gets that day off? I would love to take the family to the parade but no matter what I would not be able to go since I have a job and if you check around most employers do not give everyone vets day off. Why does this have to be at an unusual time? Topeka had theirs on the weekend and do the same for St. Pats day to get the most attendance and make it a family affair. Would love to see this be a family friendly event.
November 13, 2008 at 5:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
concerned_about_emporia (anonymous) says...
bobhornet
You are ridiculous! You continue to attack John Sanderson who IS a veteran about a decision he made. If you read what Patrick wrote above it is clear that the call had to be made when the outlook was still bad. "When Emporia went to bed Monday night, the National Weather Service was forecasting strong winds and rain — sometimes heavy — Tuesday morning. Before dawn on Tuesday — WHEN THE DECISION HAD TO BE MADE — the weather still did not look promising."
Also Emporia's recent woes are not because of decisions that were made by John Sanderson. I'm not even sure what you mean by recent woes but if you mean the 4th of July be upset at YOUR elected officials on the city council who wouldn't pony up the money for the show. STOP attacking a veteran who is volunteering his time to coordinate his parade in honor of his and all of our veterans service. GROW UP and you know maybe... support our veterans... which is the whole point of this day.
November 13, 2008 at 7:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jibberish66 (anonymous) says...
Seems to me that Mr. Sanderson made the best decision he could at the time with the most expert information to be found at the time. Please keep in mind that there a lot of elderly veterans that would have made that parade, rain or shine. Many are from the Greatest Generation, for Pete's sake! If it had been during a steady downpour, there's a good chance that some of these heroes would have come down ill. Someone could have been struck by lightning. Slips & falls would have been an issue. What fun would that have been, for anyone? You scholarly critics need to take a chill pill and realize that, while the Emporia Veteran's Day is important, it's not life & death. These vets have run that risk already. Now it's time to honor them while we still have them around.
November 13, 2008 at 8:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
paulkersey (anonymous) says...
"By the way; my name is Charlie Robison. Thank you."
And I'll see you in Houston, if I ever get out that way...
November 13, 2008 at 9:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
paulkersey (anonymous) says...
So if the temperature at the Christmas parade is less than 47 degrees and there is a chance of light rain and wind, we should cancel that as well? Or should we let it continue, as in years past, with the temperatures in the teens?
Sounds like Sanderson is somewhat of a Mary to me.
November 13, 2008 at 9:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
b3bill (anonymous) says...
The decision to cancel the 2008 Veteran's Day Parade is history, and we have to move on and think of better ways to handle upcoming parades. I believe that thinking the need to cancel the parade almost 3 hours prior to the start, with all of today's instantaneous communication means, can be improved. A weather cancellation policy needs to be developed, to include the acceptable level of precipitation for the parade to still be held. I know it won't be 100% perfect, but I think it would be a great improvement.
The weather radar can be seen at any time, plus the use of cell phones by weather observers to confirm where it is/isn't raining. Why not wait until the parade start time to decide to cancel, with the option of postponing the parade an hour or so? The weather might clear up, and if it doesn't, then it just doesn't.
Veteran's Day is about honoring the service and sacrifice of our Vets. A Vet's age range could be late teens up to 100+ years old. We want to honor them all. If we show up to see the parade, or participate in the parade to play in a band, drive antique cars, etc., and it is canceled due to weather, then have we really hurt ourselves, compared to everything the Vets have done for us? I know it takes time to travel and to set up for the parade, but that is hardly a burden to mourn about if the parade has to be weather canceled. The Vets did a lot more than this for all of us. If a particular school, or individual (or the Clydesdales, etc) choses to stay out of the parade because of their own policy/persuasion about the weather, then that it is their own choice.
Another option if weather cancellation occurs is to have the Auditorium available to at least enjoy the band music and any other parts of the parade that it would accommodate. I know it won't be the parade inside or take the place of the parade, but at least some parts of the parade could still be enjoyed.
Let's spend some time brainstorming these ideas, and maybe The Gazette will give some coverage to those efforts as well. Emporia needs to pull up to the table and make this work.
November 13, 2008 at 10:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Denise_Dorcey (anonymous) says...
Remembering and supporting Veterans should go far beyond a parade one day a year. Putting so much importance on a parade is ridiculous.
If you truly want to remember and support Veterans, their service should be in your heart and mind every day of the year. You should treat Veterans you meet in your daily life with respect. How often have you done this? Many of you are not doing that right now in this blog.
These same bloggers probably thought poorly of Veterans prior to 9-11, when it finally became popular to support the troops. My husband still remembers being treated like dirt when he returned from Vietnam and for many years following when he served in the National Guard.
Those of you tearing down one of our War Veterans, Judge Sanderson, are missing the point of Veterans Day entirely. It appears you want the parade on Veterans Day only for your enjoyment. How selfish! How small-minded!
Truly honoring our Veterans takes work on your part by giving them due respect. It's not just getting a feel-good for yourself at a parade for an hour one day of the year.
And, for those Veterans tearing down Judge Sanderson, shame on you. Next year I suggest you step forward to lead the Veterans Day Committee. Put your actions where your mouth is. That what any good soldier worth their weight does!
Sgt. Denise Dorcey (Ret.)
Kansas Army National Guard, 1985-1993
November 14, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LifeGoesOn (anonymous) says...
concerned_about_emporia calls bloggers cowards for "attacking others" and not signing their real names then goes on to say other peoples opinions are "ridiculous" and they need to grow up.
Seems a bit hypocritical to me.
November 14, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
spectator (anonymous) says...
Well said, Sgt Dorcey.
And many thanks to you and your husband, for your service.
November 14, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
flinthillsmom (anonymous) says...
Patrick, thanks for addressing this issue. Unfortunately, the venom is still vicious on the blog and it appears there is no excuse reasonable enough to satisfy those seeking blame. I really hope that next year there will be a committee decision if the need arises to suggest cancelling the parade. No one person should have to be the subject of such ridicule. I was one not happy the parade was cancelled but neither is it right for the person who made that decision to be persecuted in the blog.
November 15, 2008 at 6:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )