Coverage of local efforts limited (4/24/03)

To the editor:

I am writing in regard to the limited coverage involving our local military personnel. About a week ago I spoke with the editor in charge of compiling and publishing pictures for the paper. She told me that there were indeed articles and pictures of local military people in the paper.

So today (April 17), I went to the local library and went through the papers from March through April (including the April 16 paper). Here is what I found:

•In March there were four items in the paper in reference to our local military personnel — a letter to the editor, three separate stories with a picture for each story, and one picture of a young rural lady in the In Uniform section.

•In April, there was one picture taken in front of AmeriCare Living Center.

•In the April editions of the News & Sun (Dunkirk) there were two articles that I found. One involving the library in Dunkirk saluting our military personnel, and another with a picture and article on local members of the Armed Forces. The community of Dunkirk is in the process of placing yellow ribbons around their town.

I also made note of the many times that AP submitted pictures, with neighboring communities showing their support through yellow ribbons displayed, as well as flags.

My question is this: When the local paper has access to yellow ribbons displayed in our community and pictures have been taken of the those displays, why can’t the editor in charge of pictures find it in her heart to include these in our paper? I know this to be a fact because a photographer from the paper was to my home and took pictures. Wouldn’t it be great if the military members from our communities would happen to receive a local paper, and see that they were receiving support from the home front?

I think it is wonderful that several of our neighboring communities are showing their support with yellow ribbons and the AP has sent our local paper those pictures. But where is our community in this?

Our community has young men and women who need to know that we do support them and be willing to show it. I applaud the local businesses that step up to bat and hang yellow ribbons in the trees or business windows to show their support, or display signs showing their support. I applaud the individual homeowners who have done the same.

I am also thankful that our flag is proudly displayed along Meridian Street. But where are the yellow ribbons? I hope that this letter will be taken as an encouragement to back our men and women who are fighting for what they believe in: Freedom for the Iraqis and freedom from the oppressors in that land.

Sincerely,

Shirley L. Gruss

Portland[[In-content Ad]]