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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (May 27, 2017)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, May 27, 2017 5 A VIEW FROM UPRIVER Legacy of wars continue to shape us W ESLEY V OTH For the Siuslaw News I ’m writing this column from our nation’s capital, the District of Columbia, where the motto on the license plates reads, “Taxation without Representation.” This is a reminder to all who read it that over the course of its 227- year experience as our official capital, resi- dents of this non-state have not had voting rep- resentation in Congress, thus perpetuating for a significant number of our citizens a grievance that our revolution was supposed to remedy. It is not the only irony on display here. The water of the reflecting pool stretching from the Washington Monument toward the Lincoln Memorial was brown and choppy the days we were there, thus reflecting nothing, much like larger nearby bodies of water that actually go somewhere and have more than an ornamental purpose. Everywhere, preparations were being made for big Memorial Day ceremonies, with small but engaged crowds of people taking in every aspect of the capital, from the Capital Building to the White House, along with the many memorials, monuments and museums. One of the most interesting museums we saw is called the Newseum, and it is dedicated to the free press. Around the building, under an enormous reproduction of the 1st Amendment, are front pages of a current day’s newspaper from each of the fifty states and D.C. For D.C., that was the Washington Post, whose motto is “Democracy Dies in Darkness.” The day we were there I was intrigued by its cover and took some trouble to procure a copy. Beyond the front page, which noted that the port-a-potty business was “flush” in D.C. due to rentals to cover the many protest marches, I found thoughtful bal- anced letters and editorials. A letter to the edi- tor by Kay Gold of Rocksville asked, “What does it take for people of elected office to hold allegiance to country and Constitution above all else? The men and women elected to these high offices swore an oath that appears to mean nothing to them.” Although she was referencing Speaker Paul Ryan swearing Republican members to secrecy in a congressional meeting, I think she intends her query to be broadly applied. The most moving experiences for both of us were the Lincoln Memorial and then the Vietnam War Memorial. Most of the crowd at the first was celebratory, I think in keeping with its iconic presence as a celebration of freedom and justice. If you have never been to the Vietnam War Memorial, it is as simple yet powerful a state- ment as I have ever seen. Formed of tablets of flat black stone along a curving wall through a hollow, one descends deeper and deeper as each successive rectangle is taller and contains more and more names. All along its length were somber people, searching for specific names and often leaving some form of memorial, usually with tears — keeping alive both memory and connection. I didn’t look for names that I know are there, but instead chose to let the effect of the whole experience swirl over me. The Vietnam War is the one that most direct- Join Us In Worship 4 lines, approx 15 words, $10 a week 4 week Minimum Deadline 3 p.m. Mondays. ly affected my life and generation, and reflect- ing later about the memorial I realize that the names that aren’t there are as meaningful to me as the ones that are — names of people I know, and know of, and whose lives were, and con- tinue to be, so negatively impacted. People who served that were “only” wound- ed; Vietnamese who died; Cambodians and Laotians who died; families there and families here who are damaged; and homeless and for- gotten veterans of the conflict. My views on that war were in part shaped by survivors of an earlier one. The only other time I have been to D.C. was at the end of that war, when Oregon Republican Senator Mark Hatfield was serving. I was friends with his chief legislative aide and got to go behind the scenes in the Capital Building. Hatfield was an early and vocal opponent of the Vietnam War in Congress, his views on war shaped by his experience of being among the first U.S. troops to enter Hiroshima following the atomic bomb. My father would never talk about his experi- ences stationed in Europe and entering Germany at the end of WWII, but it left him adamantly anti any war, abhorrent of military uniforms and weapons and pageantry, and psy- chologically damaged to the point where he caused pain and suffering to those whom he loved most — to his own anguish. Every day I get a White House email from “1600 Pennsylvania Ave.,” which I read as part of trying to have an open mind. After viewing the memorials, the email I got was touting the new budget with its huge increase in military spending, in large part at the expense of programs that do good and help people. It was Republican Dwight Eisenhower, sure- ly one who deeply understood the meaning of these things, who pointed out that every dollar spent on such things is “a dollar stolen from the people.” Earlier in our trip we passed a residence that had posted in huge letters “Get over it, Liberals. You lost! Suck it up!” But instead of a U.S. flag flying prominently in the yard, it was a Confederate flag. In this case I chose not to see the irony but to acknowledge that there are old wounds yet unhealed. Some will always see our gravest national conflict as Lincoln’s War or a war of northern aggression. And of course, war and elections are not the same thing. Survivors of war often cannot forget, or for- give — or ever truly live free again. Toward the end of our visit to the national capital, I read the words engraved on the wall of the Lincoln Memorial. From this complicated yet most admired of all our presidents came his second inaugural address, given at the end of the war and a few days before his own death. Speaking of the two sides in the conflict he said: “Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully.” Lincoln concludes in words that speak to us still: “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.” Kingsbury featured artist at Old Town Coffee To be included in this directory contact the Siuslaw News at 997-3441, or drop off information at 148 Maple St., Old Town, Florence. J OIN U S I N W ORSHIP WATCH! 3 ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK (3ABN) TV UHF Channel 48. 24 hour Christian TV highlights Bible studies of prophecy, inspirational music, health lectures, healthy cooking and more. FLORENCE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP N.W. Corner of Heceta Beach Road & Hwy. 101 Every Sunday at 10 a.m. All are welcome. (541) 997-2840 BAY BERRY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP SINGSPIRATION You are invited to come and sing your favorite old time gospel hymns Every Friday night at 7pm • Non-denominational Bay Berry Square; 101 at Sutton Lake Dr. /milepost 185 N. For more information , please call 541-997-2681 FLORENCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1st Sunday of each month worship at 10:30 am 2nd-5th Sundays worship at 9am and 10:30am Every Sunday Adult Sunday School at 9am Children and Youth Sunday School at 10:45 AM 2nd & Kingwood • (541) 997-6025 THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Located at Munsel Lake Road and North Fork Road Worship Services 10:00 AM Sunday All are welcome! 541-997-7268 FOURSQUARE CHURCH 1624 Highway 101 (next to A&W) –- 997-6337 Pastor George Pagel – Something for the entire family. Sun. Services: 10:45 a.m., Wed. Bible Study 7 p.m. Website:fl orence4square.com COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH 4590 Hwy. 101, Across from Fred Meyer –- 997-7418 Sunday School, 9:30a.m. – Worship, 10:45 Wed. Prayer - 6:00 p.m. –Wed. Ministries 1-8 Grade 7 p.m. CROSS ROAD ASSEMBLY OF GOD Corner of 10th & Maple –997-3533 Wednesday, 7 p.m. - Family Connections Adult Bible Class, 9:30am on Sundays. Sunday Services, 9am and 11am. fl orencecrossroad.org • offi ce@fl orencecrossroad.org FLORENCE VINEYARD (GOD’S POWER HOUSE) 2610 Kingwood, Florence • 541-268-2025 Sunday Worship @ 10:00 a.m., experience the Power of the Holy Spirit Pastors: George & Beverly Sisemore Intercessory Prayer & Worship, Th ursday night @ 5:00 pm fl orencevineyardchurch.com NEW LIFE CHURCH-UPC 1424 15th Street •541-991-9398 Sunday Services: 10am and 6pm Tues. Bible Study 7:00pm FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - SBC 1935 25th St. – 997-7660 • Pastor, Dr. Marvin Owen Series “People of the Bible.” on Wednesdays 6 p.m. A friendly place to worship, vacationers welcome. Sun.; 11am & 6pm, Sunday school 9:45am. NEW LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH, E.L.C.A. 21st & Spruce Street – 997-8113 Adult Forum 9 a.m. – Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship services; Sun. 10:30am & Wed. 6pm. Pastor Lori Blake www.lutheranchurchfl orence.com FLORENCE CHRISTIAN CHURCH 2nd & Ivy – 997-2961 –Non-Denominational Worship Service: 9:00 am & 10:30 am Middle School and High School youth groups meet on Wednesday. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE SIUSLAW Traditional Worship Service 10:00 a.m. , Reverend Greg Wood Sunday School and Nursery – Organ and Choir All Welcome. Come as you are. 3996 N Hwy 101 997-7136 FLORENCE CHURCH OF CHRIST Pre-Denominational (Romans 16:16) 1833 Tamarack Street (2 blocks east of Hwy. 101 on 18th St.) Bible Study: Sunday 10 a.m.; Worship: Sunday 11 a.m. www.churchofchristfl orence.org RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS) “War is still not the answer.” FCNL We worship in homes at 11am Sundays Call 997-4237 or 902-9511 for locations. FLORENCE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE 12th and Nopal –997-9020 Worship Service 10:30 a.m. 10 am Wed., Women’s Bible Study Saturdays, Mens’ Breakfast @ 8 a.m. Online Worship Service@ www.fl orencenaz.com RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH, L.C.M.S. Every Sun., Bible Class 9 a.m., Worship Service 10 a.m. 85294 Hwy. 101 S. – 997-8038 DVD of Weekly worship service available. Pastor Randy Benscoter FLORENCE EVANGELICAL CHURCH 1318 Rhododendron Dr. –- 997-2523 – Worship at 11:00 AM –- Sunday School at 9:30 AM – Variety of Sunday evening activities - 5 PM Wed. Bible & Children classes at 6:00 PM Call for details. ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH FLORENCE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST 2135 19th St. –- 997-6600 8:30am, Tuesdays, Morning Prayer Sunday Services: 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. - Wed, 11 a.m. Everyone Welcome – Come walk our Labyrinth. 4445 Hwy 101 (South of Fred Meyer) – 997-3951 Worship on Saturday 10:30 A.M. Adult/Children’s Sabbath School 9:15 A.M. SAINT MARY, OUR LADY OF THE DUNES CATHOLIC CHURCH Masses: Sat. 5:30 p.m., Sun. 11:00 a.m. 1.5 miles south of river on Hwy 101 – 997-2312 D EADLINE FOR P RESS R ELEASES I S E VERY M ONDAY AND T HURSDAY BY COURTESY PHOTO Paul E. Kingsbury will be the featured artist this month at Old Town Coffee. Mr Kingsbury is a seascape artist, and lived in the Pacific Islands for fifteen years. Paul’s love for the surging sea and dramatic sky are reflected in bold, brilliant realism. His works are created in acrylics in the style of oils. Mr. Kingsbury’s work will be shown daily at Old Town Coffee in Florence through the month of June, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friends seek new drivers The Friends of Florence, a nonprofit organization, is in need of volunteer drivers. The only requirement is a clean driving record and under the age of 80. Friends of Florence drivers provide free transportation, Monday through Friday, for cancer patients seeking treat- ment in the valley. Drivers transport patients needing radiation treatment at the Williamette Valley Cancer Institute in Eugene or the Oregon Urology Center in Springfield. Drivers leave Peace Harbor Hospital at 8 a.m. and are usu- ally back in Florence between noon and 1 p.m. There is no charge for this service. Drivers usually only drive one day each month. For more information or to volunteer as a driver, contact Bart Mealer, Driver Supervisor, at 541-997-8663. Pioneer Cemetery offers lunch on Memorial Day On Memorial Day, May 29, this year’s Pioneer Heritage Day at the Deadwood Pioneer Cemetary will be bigger and better than ever. Starting at noon with lunch, there will be free hot dogs, chili and drinks, and the public is welcome to contribute potluck items such as desserts or sides if desired. Enjoy old-time music by Guthrie. After lunch, there will be displays, items for sale, kids games and activities, and a living history presentation by Civil War expert Dave Burkett. Afterward, join in bringing together folk history and mod- ern technology by starting a geocache and learning GPS use. Bring your own GPS device or use one that can be provided. Try to win the pot at a GPS Poker Run, learn how to clean historic headstones, and give your opinion on current plans for a log-style gazebo, military memorial wall, landscaping and ash garden. Bring a friend and a chair, and maybe a story or some- thing to share. Deadwood Pioneer Cemetery is located 13 miles east of Mapleton on Highway 36. Turn north on Deadwood Creek Road and take an imme- diate right on the gravel drive. N OON . E MAIL P RESS R ELEASES @T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM .
