OPINION
Blue Mountain Eagle
A4
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Legislature has
no time to waste
in special session
T
here is a growing
probability that Gov.
Kate Brown will call a
special session of the Oregon
Legislature within the next few
weeks to deal with expected
budget shortfalls created by the
COVID-19 virus outbreak.
Brown should call the spe-
cial session and shouldn’t wait
very long to do so.
That’s because the state
is beginning to stagger after
weeks of closed businesses and
high unemployment. Already,
Brown has asked state agencies
to create a plan to slash their
budgets by 17%. We will all
find out more May 20 when the
latest report from the Office of
Economic Analysis is revealed,
but not even the most optimis-
tic pundit should expect any-
thing other than very bad news.
Oregon faces another chal-
lenge — the state constitution
demands a balanced budget.
Unlike the federal govern-
ment, Oregon can’t put every-
thing on a virtual credit card
and let the future take care of
itself.
That creates steep challenges
for lawmakers, and their jobs
during the special session will
be crucial. What simply cannot
happen is a divergence away
from the budget woes and how
to deal with COVID-19 into
yet another series of legislative
battles over issues tied to party
dogma.
We don’t have the time now
to watch the special session
descend into chaos because a
group of lawmakers suddenly
decide to resurrect some flash-
point issue from the past. The
only goal must be to face the
budget shortfall and balance
the budget, and then get back to
dealing with the virus outbreak.
Anything less will be a
betrayal of voters. Party lead-
ers and the governor need to
meet before the special session
and craft an agreement that nar-
rowly defines what the special
session will tackle. That agree-
ment must be clear and pre-
cise and include provisions that
there will be no deviation from
the pressing matter — the state
budget — at hand.
Oregon lawmakers no lon-
ger have the privilege of wast-
ing away days on the legisla-
tive time clock fighting over
pie-in-the-sky, New Age polit-
ical initiatives. Lawmakers can
do that later. Policy issues that
are not related to the state bud-
get and the COVID-19 out-
break should be jettisoned.
As is always the case,
elected leaders from both par-
ties will have an opportunity to
do some good work if a special
session is called. They will be
presented with an opportunity
to face a serious set of prob-
lems, work on them together
and solve them.
Wasting time in any other
fashion is simply that — wast-
ing time. That’s time the state
does not have.
WHERE TO WRITE
GRANT COUNTY
• Grant County Courthouse — 201
S. Humbolt St., Suite 280, Canyon City
97820. Phone: 541-575-0059. Fax:
541-575-2248.
• Canyon City — P.O. Box 276, Canyon
City 97820. Phone: 541-575-0509.
Fax: 541-575-0515. Email: tocc1862@
centurylink.net.
• Dayville — P.O. Box 321, Dayville
97825. Phone: 541-987-2188. Fax: 541-
987-2187. Email:dville@ortelco.net
• John Day — 450 E. Main St, John
Day, 97845. Phone: 541-575-0028.
Fax: 541-575-1721. Email: cityjd@
centurytel.net.
• Long Creek — P.O. Box 489, Long
Creek 97856. Phone: 541-421-3601.
Fax: 541-421-3075. Email: info@
cityoflongcreek.com.
• Monument — P.O. Box 426,
Monument 97864. Phone
and fax: 541-934-2025. Email:
cityofmonument@centurytel.net.
• Mt. Vernon — P.O. Box 647, Mt.
Vernon 97865. Phone: 541-932-4688.
Fax: 541-932-4222. Email: cmtv@
ortelco.net.
• Prairie City — P.O. Box 370, Prairie
City 97869. Phone: 541-820-3605.
Fax: 820-3566. Email: pchall@ortelco.
net.
Blue Mountain
EAGLE
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Email: www.MyEagleNews.com
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John Day, Oregon
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GUEST COMMENT
Remember those who sacrificed
lives while serving others
By the American Legion with
National Commander Bill Oxford
E
very crisis has new heroes.
During the 9/11 attacks, they
were the first responders run-
ning into burning and crumbling build-
ings as others ran out. Now, during the
coronavirus pandemic, the most visible
heroes are the health care professionals,
who are saving others and risking their
own lives while doing so.
These heroes have much in com-
mon with the people that we honor
today — America’s fallen veterans.
They are men and women who have
sacrificed their own lives so others
could live. They are both elite and
ordinary. They are elite in the sense
of character. Giving your life so oth-
ers could live is the ultimate definition
of selfless.
They are ordinary in the fact that
they represent the diverse fabric of our
country. They are rich and poor, black
and white, male and female. They
come from every ethnicity and back-
ground. In short, they looked like any-
one of us.
As we celebrate the selfless and
untiring performances of the health
care workers during the COVID-19
pandemic, it brings to mind the mili-
tary medics, doctors and nurses who
sacrificed their lives while treating
others on the battlefield.
One such hero was Pharmacist
Mate Third Class Jack Williams. The
Navy Reserve corpsman was only 20
years old when he landed on Iwo Jima
75 years ago.
On March 3, 1945, James Naugh-
ton, a Marine in Williams’ unit, was
wounded by a grenade. While under
intense enemy fire, Williams dragged
Naughton to a shallow depression and
treated his wounds. Williams used his
own body as a screen and was shot
four times. Yet he continued.
After he treated Naughton, Wil-
liams dressed his own wounds.
He then proceeded to treat another
Marine, despite his own immense
pain. While heading to the rear, he
was hit by a sniper’s bullet and killed.
For his actions, Petty Officer Williams
was awarded the Medal of Honor.
We also remember Army veterans
like Lieutenant Sharon Lane.
According to her biographer,
Philip Bigler, Lt. Lane threw herself
into her work as a nurse. While serv-
ing in Colorado, she requested a trans-
fer to Vietnam.
“There, at least, you are busy
12 hours a day, six or seven days a
week,” she said in a 1968 letter to her
parents.
Her dedication was obvious, even
as she treated enemy Viet Cong sol-
diers who would return the favor by
kicking, cursing and spitting at their
American captors.
In the early morning of June 8,
1969, Sharon’s tour of duty ended. A
Soviet-built rocket struck the hospital.
Lieutenant Sharon A. Lane was killed
in action at age 25.
If she were still here, her skills
as a nurse might still be benefit-
ing us during the current crisis. But
not all of the heroes working during
the COVID-19 pandemic are in the
healthcare industry. Grocers, first
responders, delivery workers and
drive-through restaurant employees
are just a few of the many people that
we rely on to provide vital services for
society while risking their own safety.
The military also has heroes in
every occupational field. Truck driv-
ers, cooks and administrative clerks
have all paid the ultimate price. At sea,
on land or in the air — military ser-
vice requires great risk.
Roy Knight Jr. was a pilot in the
U.S. Air Force. On May 19, 1967, he
was shot down while attacking a tar-
get on the Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos.
He was posthumously promoted to
colonel. Last year, a joint team from
the Defense POW/MIA Accounting
Agency discovered and later identified
Col. Knight’s remains.
When his remains arrived at Dal-
las’s Love Field, a crowd had gath-
ered to witness the dignified trans-
fer of the flag-draped casket from the
Southwest Airlines jet into the recep-
tive arms of the military honor guard.
One observer reported that the entire
crowd fell silent.
The Southwest flight was piloted
by another Air Force veteran, Col.
Knight’s son, Bryan. Bryan Knight
was only 5 years old when he said
goodbye to his father as the elder
Knight left for Vietnam.
This is yet another legacy that
these heroes leave behind. A legacy
that includes their sons, daughters,
grieving parents, grandparents and
friends.
Their heroic acts are sometimes
performed to protect those with whom
they serve. Corporal Jason Dunham
was a squad leader with the Third Bat-
talion, 7th Marines in Iraq.
On April 14, 2004, his squad
approached a Toyota Land Cruiser.
After his squad discovered AK-47s
in the vehicle, the enemy insurgent
exited and engaged in hand-to-hand
fighting with the unit. The driver
dropped a grenade.
To save his fellow Marines, Cor-
poral Dunham made the ultimate sac-
rifice. He threw himself on the gre-
nade and tried to use his helmet to
shield the blast. Severely wounded by
the grenade’s fragments, Cpl. Dun-
ham was taken off life-support eight
days later.
Corporal Dunham died so other
Marines could live. He, too, was
awarded the Medal of Honor for his
gallantry.
Approximately one million men
and women of the U.S. military
have lost their lives in defense of our
nation since the founding of this great
republic.
Not all have died from enemy fire.
Some have died from diseases that
have too often festered around war
zones. Often times, deaths from dis-
ease and accidents outnumbered casu-
alties caused by enemy weapons.
During the Spanish American War,
60 soldiers of the all-black 24th Infan-
try Regiment volunteered to serve as
nurses. Thirty-six of them would later
die of yellow fever or malaria.
A generation later, the flu would
kill nearly 16,000 U.S. soldiers in
France during World War I. Another
30,000 American servicemembers
died in stateside camps. These men
and women could have isolated safely
in their homes. But they knew they
had an important job to do. A mis-
sion to accomplish. They were all on a
mission to serve.
Even when the enemy is an invis-
ible virus or a microscopic germ, the
sacrifices made are just as meaningful.
The U.S. military has already lost ser-
vicemembers to COVID-19.
This Memorial Day, as we con-
tinue to honor those who fell for us in
battle, let’s also pause to remember
those who have also sacrificed their
lives while serving others.
May God bless them, and may
God bless you for remembering them
here today.
The American Legion with
National Commander Bill Oxford,
legion.org.
GUEST COMMENT
Marketing during COVID-19
T
here is not a single person
who has not been affected in
some way by the fact many
businesses have been forced to tem-
porarily close. However, don’t
assume you should not continue to
market your business, especially as
the economy begins to open. Here
are some tips to consider:
• Stay connected with your cus-
tomers. If you do not have a web-
site or social media presence, create
one now. Offer a sign-up portal and
send emails about products avail-
able, changes you anticipate making
to your business once the economy
opens and let them know you care
about them and their families.
• Offer ways people can con-
tinue to purchase your products
or services online, including gift
certificates. Social media ads to
boost awareness are effective and
affordable.
• Fortunately, not all custom-
ers have lost their jobs and want to
support their favorite hometown
businesses. Consider having some
T-shirts or hats designed and offer
them online. You may be surprised
how quickly they sell and are a great
way to advertise.
• Come up with
a fun contest or
way to interact with
your customers.
This might include
a photo contest
Greg Smith
in which people
upload candid shots
to your Facebook page of their pets
or children. One business encour-
aged clients to share their favor-
ite recipes online. Perhaps a prize
might include a gift card or dis-
count to be used when your business
reopens.
• This is a great opportunity to
find ways to help support your com-
munity. There are many avenues
available to assist others, and if you
are not in a financial position to do
so, initiate a food drive or encour-
age people to donate blood. There
are many needs.
• Spiff up your store. Take this
opportunity to consider painting,
rearranging and updating displays
and planting flowers. Wash win-
dows and even the outside of your
building. This will provide an invit-
ing, fresh look for your customers
when they return.
• Consider joining other busi-
nesses in sharing the cost of buying
radio or newspaper ads.
Marketing really is about devel-
oping long-term relationships.
Offering products and services cus-
tomers want to buy, providing out-
standing service and being per-
sonable are all part of an effective
marketing plan. Top of the mind
awareness has never been more
important, so being resourceful and
creative will help you be resilient
and among those standing after this
crisis is over.
Finally, it is imperative to learn
from this instantaneous and dra-
matic economic downturn. Be
determined to get a handle on your
finances, better manage your cash
flow, update or create your business
plan and, most importantly, create a
rainy-day fund as anything can hap-
pen at any time.
Greg Smith is the director of the
Eastern Oregon University Small
Business Development Center. For
free, confidential business advis-
ing, call 541-962-1532 or email
eousbdc@gmail.com.