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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 22, 1977)
Portland Observer Thursday, December 22, 1977 Page 3 From behind the wall To the Breidenback and Miles Families My thoughts will be of you on Christ mas, give Darlynn my love too. God Bless You, Love Frank and Dad by Larry Baker «95021 O.8.P. Corres.ioadent 1. What is Christina« all about? What doe« a Prayer .»rovide? What are such thing« aa Kiadneaa, Con cern, Love and Ho;»e? If these are answers found inside a t hristmas package sent to a prisoner, then this Prison Correspondent has been receiving a Christmas package each and every week since he first became asso ciated with the Portland Observer (since the second week of March 1977. On this very night as he sat inside his cell, with pen in hand, preparing the next issue of "Behind the Walls." he feels grateful to the Portland Observer for opening this most valuable avenue of communication and information from a prisoner to readers of weekly publica tions all over the U.S. The material gathered each week for this column has been written and pro duced within the cells of this institution. Many of these cells are no longer the most loneliest places in the world for some of these men and women who occupy them night after night. It was from many of these cells that gave birth to the “Behind The Walls” column. It could not have been born anywhere else without the thoughts of these incar cerated men and women in the loneliness and the stillness of their own little worlds behind bars - some in fear, others in happiness, many in silence, trying to express in writing their pains, sorrows and joys to the whole wide world. It has been a Christmas present week after week throughout the past nine months - to watch a face light-up while watching a prisoner read and re read something he may have written and is now for the first time seeing it in print. But one of the most constructive and beautiful achievements being accomplish ed in the area right now is the priviledge of the Oregon public to obtain a closer insight of persons who for years have been labeled "social outcasts" and “hu man rejects”; who have been tucked away behind bars somewhere in one of Salem, Oregon's cuckoo nests. Many of these same citizens have read what a prisoner may have spent many weeks in preparing and many have responded with their points of view. Some have even changed their opinions through cor- responding directly with the writer of the article printed in “Behind the Walls", and found out that many of the prisoners in these cells are only people too, as strange as it may sound. And yet. stranger, during the develop ment of this column the primary purpose and goals for "Behind The Walls" column was to open the avenues for communication, PEOPLE MEETING PEOPLE, and expressing on subjects of the writer's choosing - proving once again, that freedom of press and freedom of speech are a Constitutional Right, that just too many Americans have given their lives to protect. May no bars, nor walls or guntowers ever bottleu.i such a valuable tool. Sure enough, some of us, who are prisoners of the Oregon State Peniten tiary, may actually belong here and will remain here until that last breath, but may j t be acknowledged that even the prisoner can leave something of value and everlasting to the world...be it a life story or something as simple as a Christmas ;ioem written for the first time. As a letter received last week which was written by an interested citizen of Oregon. "I am amazed at the intelligence displayed by many of the prisoners who have submitted articles to “Behind the Walls,” column each week." This Correspondent replied in writing, “Don't feel lonesome lady, many of the prisoners, themselves, are just as amazed at what they have written - MERRY CHRISTMAS. At this time, this Correspondent would like to express his ;tersonal gratitude to the many incarcerated prisoners through out the State of Oregon, in jails and in prisons - without them this column could not have been possible. And may the many “THANKS" go beyond these walls to the Oregon public for the many letters received by this Correspondent and his staff in support of "Behind the Walls,” and proving those things called Kindness, Concern, Love and Ho;ie in answer to .»rayer» that through publication a better understand ing and respect be known about “Thy Fellow Mon!” Merry Christmas Everybody! To the Portland Metroplant Committee: To all the old gang who hung out at the Elk's Club: Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. To my best friend, a pretty and very considerate lady, Martha Kelley. Thomas Adair «39801 Merry Christmas - everybody! Happy New Year, hope you have many, many more. W.D. Norris «36049 To my Mom and Dad. To Mrs. Laudermilk: If you have the joy of Jesus in your heart to stay you can say with smiles and gladness Merry Christmas day. From, Vernell Laudermilk «39320 To Mosa: With all my love on Christmas. From Daddy, Edmond Davis Kizer «39422 To my Mother and Father: I wish you a very Merry Christmas and may God protect you through my pray ers. Alfred Alexander «35385 To my Wonderful Mother: To Gloria Franklin: Merry Christmas to you and the children, Micky, Doe-Doe, and Tasha. Love and Good Wishes for you all during the coming year.... George Thomas «39719 I would like to toast this Christmas to my family - my wife, mother, son and father, and all other supporters of me. Without you there could be no me. you brighten up my day. Merry Christmas and happier New Years to come. John L. Smith «34923 To my Sharon: Of all the gifts I have ever received during the Christmas season the gift of your love this year has been and always will be the one most important to me, always, through each and every year. Merry Christmas Darling, Bihy Whitmire «39007 To Wife and Kids, Sue and Kelly: Love and happiness all through the year. William Farmer «37825 I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Steven J. Cole «39629 To my Wife Betty and Jimmy Dexter and everyone. I am very sorry that I will not be home with all my family, but I wish you all a Happy Christmas and I hope to be home soon. Francis Pilgrim «39804 To Judge Pat Dooley: To my Family: Thanks for caring. Merry Christmas. Richard D. Reinhart «36755 Thanks for making my stay here as pleasant as possible. A Barry A. Walker «39633 I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Johnny L. Polite «38555 Hope all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. To all - Laverne, Kay, Karyn, Jan, Ricky, Jay, Lee, Kip, Dee, Stephen, Nicolia Johnson. J.J. Johnson, Jr. «39808 Merry Christmas. Keep up the good work. May peace be with you always. Fred B. Good «39723 Even though circumstances keep us apart, have a very Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year. The love in our hearts is stronger than time. Stephen K. Miller «39313 To Everybody: Although I don't have anybody at all to write to or even a family, I just want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas. Walter JoHanson «35627 To my: Mother, sister, family, Pastor Oliver Baker, many friends, Andy, Polly, Dan. Wayne and Judy, Don and Helen, and many more -- who stood by me, with love, in a most turbulent time of my life. Together we'll see that Romans 8:28 really works - Merry Christinas with Love. Jim McHone «39399 Merry Christmas: To my Wife and Boys. How I love you with all my heart and love my two boys. too. Frank G. Wilson «38853 To Bev: I wish you a Merry Christmas and a lot of joy in the coming New Year. Gary Phillips «39792 through. Calvin Hamrick «37095 Mom and Dad: To Katy Hanson: To the Williams’ family: I wish you all a very Merry Christinas, sorry I can’t be there. Michele: Yes my pretty the Lord has brought us together and our future is in his hands. I wish you a Merry Christmas. James E. Gray «37764 To Gloria Chine and Jess, also Fritz and Albert: I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I love you all!! Ray Charles Maple, President of UHURU «37156 To Mrs. Caroline Baker and Tamaka Baker: May this Christmas be the last one we spend without each other. Guy Leonard Baker «39600 To my Jamil on Christmas, who I long to be with on this day. With all the love for them. Love, Vincent L. Jones «38665 To my family on Christmas, may all of you keep the faith. Not only on Christ mas, but every day, while true know ledge, true understanding, true wisdom, for I surely love you all, for our happiness will grow even more when we are all together. Love, Reginald I. Cox «38332 To Mary Galloway: Even though you are in California, here is wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, may you enjoy the same joyful moments you did last year and years to come. Joe Kilpatrick «39644 To Velma Smith:* I know you will have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year through Jesus, our Lord. Praise the Lord always. With all my Love. Ron Smith «39758 Though a prisoner in body only, my free spirit wishes all Oregon a Merry Christmas and Peace on earth to all fellow beings. Herman R. Wood «38929 To the Brown and Ellis Families: May God bless and be with you through the Christmas Holidays. Sorry I can’t be there. Love, Sam Jr. «36033 To Mazell, or should I say Mom? Merry Christmas and God bless. Love, John Elmore «37712 Bless you and your family. To the People of the Ark of Safety Church of God Pentecostal: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Honey ~ I wish you all the happiness in the world. Be a good little girl, and keep studying in school. Tell your mother, I wish same. Victor Hanna «38814 I wish all a very warm and cheerful Christinas and New Year, and that you are receiving all the good things that God has to offer. Also Mary Golden and Betty Odom, I say you are two sweet ladies. Spencer LaRue Peterson «39288 To Frances Howard: I wish you the best during these holidays and may the sun shine for you always! One Who Loves You, Henry George «34751 My Pesi: I am sending this wish for Christmas and my love knowing we cannot write or visit. I hope this note reaches you so you’ll still know I love you, my wife of life. Verne Ray Boley «39310 To the Wesson Family of Portland, Oregon: I, Claude S. Wesson, have taken the time out to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May peace abound in your small company. With True Brotherly Love, Claude S. Wesson To all my Christian Brothers and Sisters, and especially to Judy, my love; let’s remember this season the words of Jesus - “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Much Love to You, Johnny Schrock «36337 To Tina Morrow: Merry Christmas to you and the family, wish you happiness throughout the year. Gary Nebergall #39779 To James Rhoades: Still awaiting your response! Merry Christmas, Skillful Davis «36651 To my Family: A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Love, Harold Gauetty «39694 May we enter from the essence of this world into the next. Merry Christmas. Love Dad, Arlo Jones «38988 American State Bank 2737 N.E. Union 282-2216 . . . UNION OR COMPANY DENTAL INSURANCE is a valuable a s s e t. . . Use it to protect your health and appearance To all the People of the State of Oregon: I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please write me anytime. Thank You, Robert Mouqueda «38645 COMPLETE COOPERATION ON ALL DENTAL INSURANCE CLAIMS To Opal and Family: May you have a nice Christmas and let us all look forward to the coming year. Love, Floyd 0 . Thomas «39813 WE HANDLE ALL THE DETAILS OF COMPLETING YOUR CLAIM FORMS Open Saturday Morning _ MUSIÓ M ILLENNIUM V NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED Como in at your convenience “Portland^ Flnaat” *> Jazz and SoulLpal Eddie L. Williams To Vickie Lynn Hanna: May this Christmas bring you all the joy and happiness possible. Michael Nugent «32543 From, L. Dart «39807 To the People of Oregon: My nearest friends and relatives live far away, but I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the people of this State of Oregon a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Julian Joseph Bekesz «37390 To Linda White: To all the Black Sisters in Portland: To Sharon, Sunday "Mike”: I know this is the time for love and happiness, so at this time I'm wishing the whole family a lot of togetherness and many more Christmas’s to come and a Happy New Year!! I love you and miss From your friend, you. Alan D. Cannon «39031 Jerome Ivory «38978 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and the family. And may God give you and the family many great benediction in the near future. “Behold the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream saying, arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into E gyp t” Ricky L. Brothers «39277 I wish you the best of season's greet ings, and the best for the coming year. Larry Nelson «38051 To Portland Observer: This is the “Nation” from whence I came. My family, enjoy this joy for illusion, and may it allow you clearer I’m still with you honey, with heart and understanding of your universal being. soul, always forever. Merry Christmas. Recognize that all things possess beauty, Anthony Stone «39796 even illusions. With these thoughts in mind I will you to enjoy this Holiday To my Dearest Wife Joyce: known and called Christmas, and may the New Year bring you universal Peace It's fun now to remember the “falling- within! in love” feelings, the will-she-call won't- Larry R. Westbrook «36854 she-nights, the “love-me, love-me-not" days; the kind that prove to be so filled Nancy: with joy, it turns into a precious memory! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Christmas time is wishing time, so From your loving husband, here’s my wish for you. Peace and health Fred Willoughby «38889 and happiness, today and all year To my Family: To Ms. Judi Wysingle: To my Wife and Family: May a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, for all and may God bless you. To my sweet loving wife and my four kids. Oh how I wish I could be there with Burt N. Hall «39671 you. God bless you with my lonely love, our day will come. Merry Christmas to Marie: you my darling. Merry Christmas to everybody. The Christmas spirit is but a dream to Ralph A. Stevenson «39289 me now here in prison. But that doesn't change the wish to be with you this year To Julie; and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Kiss the kids for me. I'm thinking about you always and wish Kenneth R. Bethune «38845 you a Merry Christmas and stay high and keep on jammin’. Ollie and Helen: Gary Finn «39274 I remember well the beautiful mo ments that we spent together, we’re apart now Chris, but maybe if I'm fortunate I'll get to see you again. If not the precious memory of you will forever be in my mind. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. To Venus and J.J.: To Alice, my brother Willie, and my daughter MyJon: To my Loving Wife, Carole and son Keys: From those of us that cannot bring Seasons Greetings in person, may we send best wishes for health, love and hap piness to all, forever more. Happy Holi days. 0 Clayton L. Keene «38441 May you have sixty more Merry Christmas' and sixty more Happy New Year’s! Jack Sullivan «35542 Yes love, the ole boys here again (smile). Merry Christmas to you and Mario, and my best wishes; always! Stevie Hoggans «38921 I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Henry Elizer «39478 Merry Christmas, To my Sweet Friend Christiane: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. From your loving son. James Todd «39784 To Janie: To Thelma: To my Family: To my Mother and Father: A lonely prisoner writes a letter heme. To Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Groover Sullivan, the Vance's, Jerry J. Dyal and family. Best of greetings and Happy Holidays. Kenneth H. Vance «39802 I have no one in the state, but I wish everyone a Merry Christinas. Leon L. Phillips «39627 To Those Who Have No One; M n it* 1 , ’ I have no one either this Christinas to send good wishes to. So I’m wishing you a Merry Christinas, and write any time, so we will have someone next Christmas to say Merry Christinas to. Elbert Wright «36415 Hoping for you to have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for at least 20 more years. Love You Always, Charles Ptarch «39777 . PARK FREE-Any Park n Shop Lot HOURS: W e ^ d a y s8 :3 0 a .» .t.5 p .n , Saturday 8:30 a.ns. to I p .» . Dr. Jeffrey BRADY, D entist S.W. SRD A YAMHILL ST., PORTLAND, OREGON TAKE ELEVATORTO 2ND FLOOR 3RD ST. ENTRANCE
