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HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES, Thursday, November 28, 19G3
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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.
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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.
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make a better paper. Tell them
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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