4 A
❘ S ATURDAY
EDITION
❘ JUNE 6, 2015
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
R EMEMBERING
Military museum
remembers those
who fight for peace
RYAN CRONK , EDITOR
Opinion
B Y T IM S APP
P RESIDENT , O REGON C OAST M ILITARY M USEUM
W
those who have the ultimate sacri-
fice in service of their country.
But a day of remembrance
seems inadequate when compared
with the sacrifice these men and
women gave so that we could
remain safe, prosperous and free.
In fact, I would venture to guess
that many people today do not
even know what Memorial Day is
for.
Because of our relatively
peaceful lifestyle, we are in
danger of forgetting that the world
is a better place because of the mil-
lions of selfless Americans who
have fought — and are still fight-
ing — for freedom where it needs
defending. Politics aside, they are
on the front line so that we don’t
have to be.
After seven years of planning
and building, the new Oregon
Coast Military Museum is finally
ready to open its doors.
One of the motivations for
building this museum was the real-
ization that as our country grows
and changes, it is imperative that
the stories of those who so bravely
served in the military should not
be forgotten.
Many died, but many more
came home with wounds in their
bodies and in the hearts, forever
changed and often unthanked.
With this museum, it is our hope
that the stories of our local soldiers
P
lease take a moment and review our
revised policy for letters to the editor
at the bottom of this page. —Editor
will be kept alive as a tribute to
them and as a connecting point
with our youth. As people of all
ages visit the museum, they will be
surrounded by memories and
thought-provoking images that
will help them remember that free-
dom isn’t free.
We celebrate not war, but peace.
In the 1960s, a common mantra
was, “make love, not war.” We at
the Oregon Coast Military
Museum hope that it is love that
visitors feel from the moment they
enter. And this love — love of
country and love of fellow man —
is part of what we enjoy as a result
of being thankful for all that
has been done to preserve our
liberty.
Let us all resolve to remember,
be thankful and not let their sacri-
fice be wasted. Let us rise up in
their stead and continue to fight for
liberty and justice for all.
LETTERS
Life’s purpose
My husband and I had the privilege and
honor of being in the Reedsport Memorial
Day parade. After watching the Memorial
Day program on PBS, I could not help
but think of the extreme sacrifices our
service men and women make for our coun-
try.
I feel we all have a greater purpose in life.
There are many service organizations in
Florence that we can participate in.
We need to reach out in love and support to
family, friends and, yes, strangers.
Linda Brown
Florence
YESTERDAY’S NEWS
MOMENTS IN TIME
The History Channel
• On June 26, 1807, lightning hits a gun-
powder factory in Luxembourg, sparking an
explosion that kills more than 300 people and
levels two entire blocks.
• On June 22, 1944, President Franklin
Roosevelt signs the G.I. Bill, designed to
compensate returning armed services mem-
bers for their efforts in World War II. FDR
hoped to avoid a relapse of the Great
Depression following World War I.
• On June 25, 1950, an American soccer
team composed largely of amateurs stuns
England 1-0 at the World Cup. The hastily
assembled U.S. team included a dishwasher,
two mailmen, a teacher and a mill worker.
• On June 28, 1965, in the first major
offensive of the Vietnam War, 3,000 troops of
the U.S. 173rd Airborne Brigade assault a
jungle area near Saigon. The operation was
called off after three days when it failed to
make contact with the enemy.
• On June 23, 1973, President Richard
Nixon’s adviser H.R. Haldeman tells the
president to pressure the head of the FBI to
stay the out of the Watergate burglary inves-
tigation — in essence, to obstruct justice. The
taped conversation eventually brought down
the Nixon administration and led to his resig-
nation.
• On June 27, 1985, after 59 years, officials
vote to decertify the iconic Route 66 and to
remove all its highway signs. Measuring
2,200 miles, the “Mother Road” stretched
from Chicago to Santa Monica, Calif., pass-
ing through eight states.
Honor our veterans
At recent veteran events on Memorial
Day, I was saddened by the small numbers
that attended. I was even more saddened
by the lack of people under the age of
50 in attendance.
Our young people are not learning
much about American history and the great
sacrifice by many in obtaining the freedoms
they enjoy. Many parents who used to
fill the void left by teachers, no longer do
so.
Most young people cannot answer the sim-
plest of questions about our current leaders or
our history. Many of the things happening
now mirror the pre-war years of the 1930s.
The slaughtering of innocents is happening
all over the Middle East and Africa.
History is repeating itself.
The draft was good in one way. It took
young men, made them aware of the world
around them, and grew them up.
Now only 3 percent serve in the military.
Not enough people have a dog in the
fight, and so they take their freedoms for
granted.
ISIS is an evil enemy and one who will
bring war to our shores if our eyes are not
open to that danger. Many young people
are oblivious to that threat.
They need to visit places like Arlington
Cemetery or a local VA hospital or, if
nothing else, show up at these events to honor
those men and women who have
sacrificed so that they can enjoy the
freedoms that this great country offers.
The Memorial Day event lasted about
45 minutes and was over by 11:45 a.m., plen-
ty of time to go home and barbecue or what-
ever.
Don’t just say, “Thank you for your
service” to the next vet you encounter. The
words are meaningless if you cannot take
EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
DEAR READERS:
New letters policy
LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
GUEST VIEWPOINT
e have just finished cel-
ebrating one of our
nation’s most impor-
tant holidays, a day to remember
the people who have died while
serving in the United States armed
forces.
Memorial Day, which has been
observed every year on the last
Monday of May since 1971, origi-
nally was called Decoration Day
after the American Civil War in
1868.
It was established as a time to
decorate the graves of those killed
during the war, as a way to honor
and remember them.
By the 20th Century, Memorial
Day had become the day to honor
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
a few minutes out of your day a couple
of times a year to honor those vets in person.
Vicki Martin
Florence
Rates rise in next round
This is my third and final letter regarding
the ACA and the state of Oregon (“Hidden
health costs” on March 25 and “Common
sense” on May 2). Has anyone noticed the
lack of coverage from the media regarding
the new proposed health insurance rates from
the providers in Oregon for 2016? Are these
rates something that they don’t want to bring
attention to?
The public hearings start June 23 and end
June 25, in which all of the carrier rates will
be reviewed and our opportunity for input is
requested.
In my previous letter I mentioned that
some states would see increase rates by 31 to
80 percent, because of a cut-off of federal
dollars for Medicaid expansion.
Many states simply cannot afford to stand
alone, and most recent news is that some
states are considering joining together to try
to offer a larger pool to the carriers, ultimate-
ly to lower costs. Good luck.
Welcome to Oregon: the proposed rates are
reflecting increases from 7 to 48 percent. If I
have to succumb under these proposed rates
by retiring early, my PacificSource costs for
two of us will be just north of $2,400 per
month.
If you are paying attention, it is time
to respond by getting involved and
sharing in the hearing process.
For those of us who might be paying health
premium dollars, the system has broken.
These plans for many allow you to have
insurance, with little or no reimbursement for
the year, due to the structures of the policies.
Oregon cannot afford this proposed
increase. I do not believe that the rising costs
will stop as Oregon expands service to so
many. This is layered over the recent PERS
ruling and creation of another $4-billion lia-
bility.
Put on your tax seatbelts, citizens: the next
round is about to hit.
Thomas Payn
Florence
• On June 24, 1997, U.S. Air Force offi-
cials release a 231-page report dismissing
claims of an alien spacecraft crash in
Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947. The docu-
ment stated that the “bodies” recovered were
not aliens but dummies used in parachute
tests.
© 2015 King Features Synd., Inc.
L ETTERS TO THE
E DITOR P OLICY
The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to
the editor concerning issues affecting the
Florence area and Lane County.
Emailed letters are preferred. Handwritten
Control guns
I am extremely disappointed that the elect-
ed representatives of Lane County could not
find the funds to implement a state gun con-
trol law.
My husband and I live on Mercer Lake,
and we have virtually no law enforcement
protection.
We had a next door neighbor who was
100 percent disabled with PTSD. He
should never been allowed to have weapons,
but he did and he shot them frequently,
endangering children who hiked in the
Enchanted Valley with local schools and
nature groups.
How could you vote to endanger children?
Jeanne E Olwin
Florence
or typed letters must be signed. All letters
should be limited to about 300 words and
must include the writer’s full name, address
and phone number for verification.
Letters are subject to editing for length,
grammar and clarity. Publication of any letter
is not guaranteed and depends on space
available and the volume of letters received.
Libelous and anonymous letters or poetry
will not be published.
All submissions become the property of
Siuslaw News and will not be returned.
Write to:
Editor@TheSiuslawNews.com
USPS# 497-660 Copyright 2015 © Siuslaw News
John Bartlett
Jenna Bartlett
Ryan Cronk
Susan Gutierrez
Cathy Dietz
Ron Annis
Jeremy Gentry
Publisher, ext. 327
General Manager, ext. 318
Editor, ext. 313
Advertising Director, ext. 326
Office Supervisor, ext. 312
Production Supervisor
Press Manager
DEADLINES:
Wednesday Issue—General news, Monday noon; Budgets, four days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Monday
1 p.m.; Display ads, Monday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Friday 5 p.m.
Saturday Issue—General news, Thursday noon; Budgets, two days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Thursday
1 p.m.; Display ads, Thursday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Wednesday 5 p.m. Soundings, Tuesday 5 p.m.
NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
In Lane County — 1-year subscription, $71; 10-weeks subscription, $18; Out of Lane County — 1-year subscription, $94;
10-weeks subscription, $24; Out of State — 1-year subscription, $120; Out of United States — 1-year subscription, $200;
E-Edition Online Only (Anywhere) — 1-year subscription, $65.
Mail subscription includes E-Edition.
Website and E-Edition: www.TheSiuslawNews.com
WHERE TO WRITE
Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon. A member of the National
Newspaper Association and Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Periodicals postage paid at Florence, Ore.
Postmaster, send address changes to: Siuslaw News, P.O. Box 10, Florence, OR 97439; phone 541-997-3441; fax
541-997-7979. All press releases may be sent to PressReleases@TheSiuslawNews.com.
Pres. Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD Comments: 202-456-6213
www.whitehouse.gov
Gov. Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, OR 97301-4047
Governor’s Citizens’ Rep.
Message Line 503-378-4582
www.oregon.gov/gov
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
541-431-0229
www.wyden.senate.gov
FAX: 503-986-1080
Email:
Sen.ArnieRoblan@state.or.us
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753/FAX: 202-228-3997
541-465-6750
State Rep. Caddy McKeown
(Dist. 9)
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1409
Email:
rep.caddymckeown@state.or.us
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (4th Dist.)
2134 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6416/ 800-944-9603
541-269-2609/ 541-465-6732
www.defazio.house.gov
State Sen. Arnie Roblan (Dist. 5)
900 Court St. NE - S-417
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
West Lane County Commissioner
Jay Bozievich
125 E. Eighth St.
Eugene, OR 97401
541-682-4203
FAX: 541-682-4616
Email:
Jay.Bozievich@co.lane.or.us