Are we forgetting about our soldiers (01/14/06)

To the editor:

Since the Sago mining accident at Tallmansville, W.Va. on Jan. 2 that took 12 lives, the national news media have constantly bombarded the country with events involving this tragedy. The public has been saturated by daily newspaper coverage and near hourly TV updates.

We have witnessed live coverage of mine entrance activity, the anguished faces of relatives in a Baptist church and meetings with others.

There are constant progress reports on Randal McCloy, the lone survivor — including his medical condition, his transfer to a Pittsburgh hospital and later to one in West Virginia, plus an interview with his distraught but thankful spouse.

Perhaps this constant flow of national attention is justified, but I can’t help but think other Americans are being greatly short-changed or even rudely ignored after sacrificing their all for this nation. Since Jan. 2, at least 30 (conservative figure) U.S. military personnel have lost their lives and many others have been critically wounded in this Iraqi mess.

Eleven died on Jan. 5 and another 12 (identical to the number of miners) paid dearly on Jan. 7. But why is there no overflow of websites updating the public on the fate of our severely wounded troops or TV documentation of those committed to the earth?

Except for a one-time mention in the country’s papers (or more in a local paper if an area resident) and a couple brief one-liners on national TV with no details, nothing more is mentioned; no continuous nationwide follow-up.

It’s true a number of surviving relatives prefer their privacy but others may wonder why their loved ones are being treated like chunks of meat with two eyes.

Are those left behind considered by the government to be void of emotional capabilities, therefore not worth more than a national glance?

We know the military is an all-volunteer force and those who come forward to serve in a violent profession do so on their own. Small minds will claim they were “asking” to be maimed or killed, therefore little or no coverage is warranted. And with no intentions of being cruel, those coal miners were not drafted into their hazardous occupation.

Perhaps I’m too critical, but this over-exposure with the miners’ fate seems thick with political meddling, with the objective being a shrewd attempt at siphoning attention from this ongoing and questionable Iraqi debacle that’s claiming American lives on a continuous basis.

There appears to be a moral (or is it a political?) shortcoming in recognizing the constant sacrifices of our military. Whatever happened to “fair and balanced” news reporting? Our troops deserve it.

Respectfully,

Roy L. Leverich,

veteran service

officer, Jay County

Great job

To the editor:

Jay Schools has a lot of caring teachers. We would like to give a special thanks to one of them.

Ted Habegger is the adaptive physical education teacher for the functional life skills class at the high school. He takes time to get to know each of the students.

Over the years he has really connected with the students and made some lasting bonds. Last year he and his wife their family took the time to take the class on a fishing trip for the day.

The students looked forward to this event and had a wonderful time that they will never forget.

There is one child in the class who does speak well; however, he has no problem saying Mr. Habegger’s name.

Currently the school system has too many students taking health classes and they had to take Mr. Habegger away from adaptive PE. He is going to be greatly missed by the students and staff in the functional lifeskills classroom.

We would just like to take the opportunity to recognize him for the service he has provided for the students in the past. Thank you, Mr. Habegger.

Debra Sutton, for staff and students at Jay County High School.[[In-content Ad]]