4A
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019
The Observer
OUR VIEW
We can
never
forget
The local community came out in force Monday
to honor area veterans, a clear sign that Union
County hasn’t forgotten those who made a sacri-
fi ce and a commitment to our nation.
That says a lot about our area and a lot more
about the type of people who live and work and
play in our great part of the state.
There are more than 18 million veterans in the
United States, and Monday allowed the entire na-
tion to take a collective moment to recognize their
sacrifi ce and commitment.
For many of us, Monday was a welcome day off
or part of a three-day weekend.
For millions of others, though, the day carried
a special signifi cance and marked one of the few
times during the year when the great nation they
defended stopped and tipped its hat.
Veterans Day is more than just another day off.
The day began as Armistice Day, which recognized
the anniversary of the end of World War I. Later,
the day was made an annual observance.
The day is rightly a celebration to recognize our
veterans for their patriotism and service, but it
should also serve as a reminder that we owe all of
those who participated in our Armed Forces a debt
we will probably never be able to repay.
Men and women have gladly stepped forward
throughout our history to defend what is, in a real
way, a collection of concepts. The Constitution and
its Bill of Rights are words supported by a philoso-
phy of democracy that remains an experiment.
Yet each year millions join our Armed Forces, and
they swear an oath. Not an oath to the president.
Not an oath to Congress. They pledge their souls to
defend the Constitution.
That makes us unique in many ways from na-
tions across the globe. Our men and women make
a choice to lay it all on the line for words. For a
philosophy.
Our veterans deserve to be recognized and
lauded. Each one made a conscious choice to sac-
rifi ce their time — and in many cases their bodies
— for their nation. While many of us built lives,
raised children and attended youth sports events,
our veterans were far away from home. They were
sometimes stationed on foreign shores, in harm’s
way, while the rest of us went along with our lives.
We can’t forget their sacrifi ce. So as the 2019
Veterans Day recedes, we must all collectively
remember their sacrifi ce and endeavor to ensure
their needs — mental and physical — are met.
MY VOICE
Appeal should wait until spring
A
fter reading the news article about
the Union County Warming Station
in La Grande (“New shelter site heats
up,” The Observer, Oct. 30), I, a lowly
resident of our fair city and loyal Ob-
server subscriber, felt the need to express
some concerns for a warming station to
be located in our city.
I read that Al Adelsberger, someone
I believe to have a number of business
interests in our area, fi led an appeal re-
garding the decision to allow a warming
station to be located near downtown La
Grande this season. The article quoted
him as stating: “I am all for it.… Anyone
who is against helping the homeless
is not a good person.” According to the
article, Mr. Adelsberger cited various
concerns about this project. So it would
seem that as much as he agrees this
project is needed, out of the goodness of
his own heart and out of grave concern
for us “backward folk,” he fi led the ap-
peal.
If Mr. A. really is “all for it,” I do
wonder why he would fi le this appeal
right before the station would open. Why
not fi le an appeal last spring or sum-
mer, allowing time to discuss and make
changes to the plan? As things stand, the
warming station is doomed for at least
this cold weather season. Why not let it
My Voice
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Angela Eytchison is a resident of
La Grande.
My Voice columns
refl ect the views
of the author only.
My Voice columns
should be 500-700
words or as space
allows. Submissions should
include a portrait-type photograph
of the author. Authors also
should include their full name,
age, occupation and relevant
organizational memberships.
We edit submissions for brevity,
grammar, taste and legal reasons.
We do not fact check. We reject
those published elsewhere. Send
columns to La Grande Observer,
1406 Fifth St., La Grande, 97850,
fax them to 541-963-7804 or email
them to news@lagrandeobserver.
com.
go forward for at least this season?
I have heard that a fair number of
our very own residents have had to seek
shelter in a warming station during pre-
Your views
LaMont: American Legion
Auxiliary aims to improve
lives of veterans
To the Editor:
The members of American Legion
Auxiliary Unit No. 43 La Grande invite
everyone to pause to remember those
who have fought for our freedoms.
We would like to express our sincere
appreciation for the men and women
who served in the United States Armed
Forces. Thank you for serving this great
country. Thank you for protecting us.
Thank you for the security we have
here at home. We know you sacrifi ced
much for your country and all of us.
And though you may no longer wear
the uniform, we know you’re always on
call to serve and protect the freedom
and security of the United States of
America.
Thank you to all who have so bravely
protected us.
Founded in 1919, the American
Legion Auxiliary (ALA) helps to
advance the mission of the American
Legion. With nearly three-quarters of
a million members, it is the world’s
largest women’s patriotic service
organization (all spouses of veterans
are eligible now) and one of the na-
tion’s most prominent supporters of
veterans, military and their families.
ALA members volunteer millions of
hours annually, with a value averaging
$2 billion each year.
From helping to draft the GI Bill
in 1944 to advocating for veterans on
Capitol Hill, the American Legion Fam-
ily has been instrumental in advancing
legislation that improves the quality of
life for our nation’s veterans. To learn
more and get involved, visit www.ALA-
forVeterans.org.
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
Stopped account balances less than $5 will
be refunded upon request.
Subscription rates per month:
By carrier...............................................$11.80
By mail, all other U.S. .............................. $15
A division of
Lowe: Do you want your
children growing up in a
segregated white society?
To the Editor:
A picture is worth a thousand words.
I came across a Commemorative News-
week magazine dated Dec. 3, 2001. The
cover showed a crowd after Sept. 11.
A crowd of Americans, every race and
creed and persuasion. Black, white,
brown, every shade and color of people.
Now compare that picture with Don-
ald Trump’s rallies. Look at Trump’s
crowds — almost all white Republicans.
Donald’s white anti-abortion, anti-
gay, anti-immigration crowds are not
representative of America; they are an
anomaly. Do you want your children
growing up in a segregated white so-
ciety? America’s already been through
that.
Maggie LaMont
American Legion Auxiliary Unit
No. 43, president, La Grande
Ron Lowe
Nevada City, California
STAFF
Phone:
SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE
NEWSSTAND PRICE: $1.50
You can save up to 34% off the single-copy
price with home delivery.
Call 541-963-3161 to subscribe.
vious cold seasons, for various reasons
but mainly due to lack of adequate heat
in their residence.
And was the following statement
made during a planning meeting? (I am
paraphrasing.) “If you are so worried
about the homeless, why don’t you just
take them home with you?”
How kind. It is easy to sit in comfort
and make such a cruel and heart-
less pronouncement. And no personal
consequences for such an opinion. What
if those individuals speaking against
the warming station were given this
choice: Allow the warming station to be
implemented now, or shelter “them” in
their own home? Hmmm.
If the Union County Warming Station
is not a perfect plan, then Mr. A. and any
other concerned citizens need to get to
work on ideas and revisions now. Put
your ideas together and come on back to
the Planning Commission this spring.
Right now this looks like a very obvi-
ous plan to put a stop to a much needed
project. Just saving us from ourselves,
huh?
Mr. Adelsberger, please withdraw this
appeal now, and wait for an appropriate
time, like spring or summer, to make
plans for revisions.
541-963-3161
An independent newspaper founded in 1896
(USPS 299-260)
The Observer reserves the right to adjust subscription
rates by giving prepaid and mail subscribers 30 days
notice. Periodicals postage paid at La Grande, Oregon
97850. Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
(except Dec. 25) by EO Media Group,
1406 Fifth St., La Grande, OR 97850 (USPS 299-260)
COPYRIGHT © 2019
THE OBSERVER
The Observer retains ownership and copyright
protection of all staff-prepared news copy, advertising
copy, photos and news or ad illustrations. They may
not be reproduced without explicit prior approval.
Toll free (Oregon):
1-800-422-3110
Fax: 541-963-7804
Email:
news@lagrandeobserver.com
Website:
www.lagrandeobserver.com
Street address:
1406 Fifth St., La Grande
POSTMASTER
Send address changes to:
The Observer, 1406 Fifth St.,
La Grande, OR 97850
Periodicals postage paid at:
La Grande, Oregon 97850
Publisher........................................Karrine Brogoitti
Home delivery advisor.................Amanda Fredrick
Regional circulation director ....................Kelli Craft
Customer service rep ......................... Mollie Lynch
News clerk....................................Lisa Lester Kelly
Advertising representative...............Juli Bloodgood
Sports editor .......................................Ronald Bond
Advertising representative...................... Amy Horn
Reporter................................................Dick Mason
Graphic design supervisor................Dorothy Kautz
Reporter....................................Sabrina Thompson
Graphic design ..............................Cheryl Christian
Classifieds ........................................ Devi Mathson
Chris Rush, Regional Publisher