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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 28, 1963)
2 aniiiiiniiitUMi HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES, Thursday, November 28, 19G3 THF W ' HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES MOEHOW COUNTY'S NEWSPAPER The Heppner Gazette established March 30, 1883. The Heppner Times established November 18, 1897. Consolidated February 15, 1912. WESLEY A. SHERMAN Editor and Publisher HELEN E. SHERMAN Associate Publisher Subscription Rates: $4.50 Year. Single Copy 10 Cents. Published Every Thursday and Entered at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon, as Second Class Matter. Himilllllllllil IIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIMMIIIIIIIIIIIIMI"ii"IMM"M"",m,",m,,,,",,,,,,",,,m He Continues to Achieve in Death A cowardly assassin's bullet cannot undo nor blemish the good works of a noble man. It cannot halt achievements that will continue to come after death as a world of decent people reacts in memory of a dedicated leader. Probably at no time in human history has one small man, by a single malevolent act, offended and hurt so many. President John F. Kennedy was a courageous man, showing this trait throughout his lifetime. Americans and the peoples of the world admired this courage at the time he stood firm at the Cuban crisis and ordered the blockade to prevent shipments of Russian missiles and weapons to that country. As a young naval officer in World War II he demonstrated his fiber when his PT boat was sunk, and through harrowing days that followed, sustained and saved his fellow crewmen by acts of heroism under acute hardships. It is incomprehensibly incongruous that such a man, now consecrated to the task of serving the United States as its loader and devoted only to doing good for mankind, should be struck down from behind in an indefensible position by a hidden lurking coward, a character so despicable that he borrowed money from the government of this nation, which he had re nounced, so that he could return from Russia and accept, once again, the sanctuary and freedom of America's shores. President Kennedy's death brought a stunning numbness to the world that is without parallel In history. Many individuals, particularly among those who had been opposed to some of his policies and in the other political party, were amazed at the personal grief they felt. Never has such a myriad of emotion penetrated so quickly and deeply into the souls of our citizenry humiliation, anger, shame, grief, and fear. And many, unable to understand why they were so deeply touched, were awed by their own feelings. If the assassin felt that somehow he would draw some applause from some quarter, he was dead wrong. From the time the first of the murderous bullets found their mark, the stricken leader had no foes. It is one of our peculiar idealistic principles that once the president is elevated to this highest position in the world, he is not president of the Republicans nor of the Democrats, ho is the president of the United States. While many criticize, oppose and condemn, they will all unite in a time of distressing emergency. The humiliation, shame and indignation of the assassination was coupled with a sense of unfairness. Americans traditionally are taught fair play. They Instinctively react to unfairness, and nothing could be more unfair than this senseless murder of the president of their country. It is amazing to contemplate what a grip President Kennedy had attained on the American people. No poll could have pre dicted this reaction to his death. After all, he had been in national prominence actually only since the Democratic convention of 19G0, less than four years ago. True, he was well known as a senator and had been a candi date for vice president in the convention of 1956, but to the ordinary citizen across the country he only became truly known with the I960 presidential campaign. He won the presidency by the narrowest of margins 130,000 votes. He was criticized by many and was condemned, soon after taking office, for the Bay of Pigs Incident at Cuba. But, lying deep in the hearts of all Americans, both friends and foes, was a deep admiration for this youthful president with his vigor and vitality, his manifest goodwill for all men, his sense of humor, his sincerity, and his courage. And now, as we emerge from the somber numbness that has gripped the nation in the dark and bizarre days following thi assassination, it Is apparent that President Kennedy, as another slain president, Abraham Lincoln, once phrased it, "shall not have died in vain." Never in the modern history of this country have men's souls been touched so deeply. Never have they felt so keenly the com punction of conscience. Never have they been so Inclined towards rededicatlon. Universally across the nation, all have turned to God in their perplexity. Memorial services in churches have brought crowds without precedent. The stunning developments of the dark days have found the good and decent people everywhere searching for answers as they confront questions beyond their understanding. This reaction restores faith in the soundness of America. If our people now consecrate themselves to dispelling their hatreds, quelling acts of bigotry, and join in working for the good of the country as they follow the example of their fallen leader, he will go on achieving. This rededicatlon may bo manifest In the everyday little things the manner in which one acts towards his neighbor, the courtesy he shows as a good American on the highway, his diligence In voting at every election, his restraint from condem ning a fellow man, his tolerance and respect for those of another color or religious belief. This is what President John Fitzgerald Kennedy worked for. This is what he gave his life for. Diligent attention to them would be the greatest tribute to him, far transcending any memorial or statue that could be erected. A Thanksgiving Message (Editor's note: Following the custom established last year of having guest editorials on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter by local ministers, in turn, the following is presented by Father C. Bruce Spencer, rector of All Saints' Episcopal church). By Father C Bruce Spencer As I write this, I find it difficult to place my mind in the proper mood becoming to an adequate Thanksgiving Day message. The events of the past three days have been so shocking I find myself almost without words. We have just laid to rest a gallant American, with all the dignity we can muster, with a feeling of deep humiliation and shame that what happened did happen herel And in the land of the Free and the Brave! Until it suddenly came to me, "We have much to be thankful for!" A sacrifice has been made for the cause of democracy, and our commander-in-chief has gone down in the midst of battle, fighting for the cause of freedom and the dignity of mankind all over the world. And I am proud of him. Thankful! Certainly we are humiliated! But at the same time, we are proud to be Americans! That which we have inherited from our valiant forefathers we must strive to preserve from those that hate us, in whose hands the world would languish in a feudal state were not the shots of '76 still ringing in our ears. God has indeed been kind to us. I am thankful. As I reflect on our American heritage, my thoughts are filled with visions of yesteryear. The struggle for freedom has not been without cost. I think of the early colonies and the overbearing hardships endured by those freedom-seeking folk who struck out on their own against tyranny and bigotry. And I hear a small voice shouting . . . "Give me liberty or give me death." And, another quiet voice in the midst of the clamor of national Insurrection, saying, "This too will pass." And again, "Four score and twenty years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal . . ." And then I am proud to hear the loud voice of one of our own generation saying, ". . . for we have nothing to fear but fear itself." And, ". . . that as long as we trust in Almighty God, and humanity, the world can trust the United States!" And then quite clearly another voice raises itself abovp the clamor of the everyday world and shouts to us with all the Irish American "vigah" it can muster, saying, "Ask not what your country can do for you! Ask what you can do for vour cuunuy. Ana again, ask noi wnat your country can do for you, but what your country can do for humanity." And death stills another Liberty Bell, pealing out to us on the still quiet air of the American countryside. O, yes, my friends, we have been singularly blessed with patriots' and leadership. Men, who, as in the days of Exodus, took the staff in hand from the fallen Moses and led us into the land of plenty where freedom flows like milk and honey. And we have another group of unsung champions. They lie in unmarked graves in Arlington of four wars; they fought for freedom well! As we speed gaily past the wonders of this great Western country of ours, who sees the multitude of stones along the western trail beneath which sleep the hardy folks of yester year who blazed the road to victory over the wilderness? But let's not forget other heroes as we listen to sounds of liberty! Those men now long gone who smelled of sweat and smoke, of bacon rind and axle grease, who bound a nation from east to west with a chain whose links were forged with flinty hooves and wooden wheels, iron shoes and determination, to hold (for posterity) that which was won that day. For these men I am grateful, too. What would our country be without the sounds of axes thudding deep in new-peeled logs and sounds of winter gales whistling round the corners of new-built cabins, nestled in bosoms of new-found claims; of hardened muscles and calloused hands hard at work bring life from virgin soil. For these men I am thankful. We have many prayers of thanks to offer Almighty God today, but I am reminded, particularly, of one which came from the dusty face of one near and dear to me. As he stood on his own back porch in the evening of a summer day and raised his eyes to heaven, he said in a quiet voice, aloud . . . "Thanks a lot, God, for all of this, and for this day." And he got himself off to bed to sleep the sleep of the free man! He's the man who feeds you and me, and I am thankful. And I am grateful for the man who wants no praise for past glory, sacrifice or valiant deed, who said to men, "We want no flag we must call for . . . no reward unearned, save the joy of living in a land of freedom where we can exercise our right to speak and do as free men will. No parades or pomp or children in paper hats and wooden swords. Just place on me the yoke of liberty and let me live! And spare the speeches, father, if you will!" Pioneer, teamster, soldier, cattleman or sod buster all have rung the freedom bell. Doctor, lawyer, teacher; pastor, minister, priest or rabbi; farmer, rancher, clerk , or laborer; all have heaved the lanyard down to let ring out the joyous sound to all the world! . . . That in America the sacred trust has not been broken but still lives on for all, who for the dignity of man, will struggle for tomorrow's right to say, "Thank you God for everything," in any way we will. And so here it is . . . today! The baton has been passed from hands of yesterday to us. Will we run the race as well? Time will tell. But I am sure of a race well run tomorrow! And why am I so sure? Because we are a nation of iron men with iron will. The temper of character is forged in the fires of adversity. For these men I am thankful. But most of all, I thank my God for being here, to see His hand in all our works of valor for the cause. And I pray to keep us near Him that we might know from whence it came and be ever ready to say, "Thank you, God, for everything!" TO THE EDITOR. . . COMMUNITY I J BILLBOARD V Coming Events THANKSGIVING SERVICE Thursday, Nov. 28, 10:30 a.m. All Saints' Episcopal church. Sponsored by Heppner Min isterial Assoc. Public welcome. GRAND CHRISTMAS OPENING Downtown Heppner, Saturday, November 30. Free parking Window Guessing Contest, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Many nice prizes. Santa Claus to greet youngsters. CHRISTMAS BAZAAR By St. Monica's Guild Saturday, December 7 Episcopal Parish Hall Many lovely Christmas gifts MISCELLANEOUS SHOWER Benefit for Wade Bothwell family. Lexington IOOF Hall Monday, December 2, 2 p.m. Home furnishings, food, cash cheerfully accepted. Public invited. SPONSORED AS A PUBLIC SERVICE BY C. A. RUGGLES Insurance Agency P. O. Box 247 PH. 676-9625 Heppner To the Editor: We didn't all agree of what our president said or did but as our president of the U.S.A. we should have defended, (quote) to the death his right to say and do as he thought right to do so. He was our leadman and a soldier, regardless of politics or religion. We will all miss Mr. Kennedy as a very swell young United States President. Yours sincerely, Andy Hayes Ray Cole Serving On USS Henrico Raymond L. Cole, engineman second class, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde R. Cole of Hepp ner, is serving with the staff of Commander Amph i b i o u s Squadron One aboard the at tack transport USS Henrico which returned to San Diego, Calif., November 13 with other ships of Amphibious Squadron One. The squadron has completed a nine-month tour of duty with the Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific. While with the Seventh Fleet amphibious force Henrico participated in fleet operations and training exercises. Squadron ships also visited ports in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the Phil ippines and the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong. Tea Postponed Due to the death of President Kennedy, the Silver Tea, spon sored by the Women's Society of Christian Service, scheduled for Saturday afternoon, was post poned until sometime in the spring, according to Mrs. Ken neth Batty. File cards and guides, 3x5, 4x6 and 5x8 at the Gazette-Times. When you patronize Gazette Times advertisers, you help make a better paper. Tell them you saw it in the Gazette-Times. DANCE IONE AMERICAN LEGION HALL Saturday, November 30 Music By THE AVANTIES -Rock and Roll -10:00 P. M. to 1:00 A.M. ADMISSION: $1 per person Ik) SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30 Coffee and Doughnuts Balloons & Gum for Kids All GENERAL and GLIDDEN PAINT 15 OFF Discontinued Colors 25 Off. Many Other Items At Bargain Prices During The Day 3 DOOR PRIZES Paint For One Room Small Fire Extinguisher Transistor Radio Paint And Antiquing Demonstrations Throughout The Day By MAURICE MILLER Of General Paints PLYWOOD ALL GRADES PANELING HARDBOARD AND PLYWOOD THERMO-RITE FIREPLACE FRONTS PLUMBING MATERIALS ELECTRICAL MATERIALS DIMENSION LUMBER LAY-RITE BUILDING BLOCKS Concrete, Pumice, Half and Half and Shalex Blocks SfE SELL: ALUMINUM AND GALVANIZED CORRUGATED ROOFING GENERAL AND GLIDDEN PAINTS ZONOLITE INSULATION WEPCO STORM AND SCREEN DOORS AND WINDOWS SHEETROCK NAILS WIRE STEEL POSTS REMEMBER THE CHRISTMAS OPENING SATURDAY- Guess The Mixed Nails in the Jar For One Gallon of Glidden Paint PETTYJOHN'S Farm and Builders Supply M-,4Af.Mi (Formerly Barratt Sales Co.) "SEE US FOR ALL YOUR BUILDING NEEDS" HEPPNER PH. 676-9157
