LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. —
To the editor:
I am writing to thank Buddy Butler and the others involved for organizing the memorial activities for our Vietnam veterans. Those of us who came of age during that era have many mixed memories and emotions. My husband and I were stationed on Guam, and that was a surreal experience. Every day on my way to school American bomb trucks passed me, carrying their lethal loads from the Magazine to Andrews Air Force Base at the other end of the island. Some mornings a student would come to my class to tell me that someone’s father had left on a mission the night before. While we were on the island, none of my girls lost her father, but except for that evidence of the war, Guam was an idyllic island with close-knit families, sparkling ocean waters, religious festivals and beautiful tropical scenery.
We were fortunate to spend almost four years in the Navy outside of combat involvement. But when we returned home, my husband was deeply hurt by the reception he received — or rather, the one he didn’t receive. No one acknowledged his years in the service, his interrupted education, or his willingness to complete his patriotic duty to his country. He carried this pain with him for years. And I know his experience was repeated again and again for thousands of other young men and women, and was deeper for those who came back impaired.
Last summer at my high school reunion we held a memorial service for our one class member lost in combat in Vietnam. He was drafted after his sophomore year in college and died six weeks before the end of his tour. The service was moving, especially when his cousin donated his combat medals to the community’s historical society, but for me, the emotional impact came right here in London. Friday afternoon after school I walked out to the Wall, and a very nice gentleman looked up Kenny’s name in the book and took me to find him on the wall. He made a rubbing of the name for me, and even now it brings tears to my eyes, for this more than anything else has made the loss real to me. When I look at this little piece of paper, I will always remember how I felt the moment that I saw his name on that Wall. …
I had a nice, informative conversation with the veteran who took me to the Wall, and so I want to thank all of those who made it possible. The Wall and the candlelight vigil gave me a chance to acknowledge the sacrifices made 40 years ago, and I am thankful we had a chance to do that here in London.
Catherine Ruby
London
Letters to the Editor
Vietnam memorial helped honor sacrifices made
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- Pros and Cons of Expanded Alcohol Sales
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Looking for a miracle on Broad Street
A reader sends out a plea to help save the Pennington House.
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Dogs could hurt children in subdivision
(Recently) my cat died at the animal hospital, because dogs are able to run loose in the area — three dogs, two of them without a dog tag one. The other has a tag which was stolen from around my dog’s neck and placed on the third. I called the dog pound, when I learned there is no dog tag required in Laurel County. If so, why did I have to pay for one on my dog? They said they couldn’t do anything unless I was able to catch the dogs, and then call the animal warden to come get them. I called Noah Baker, the magistrate for my area, and never received an encouraging word.
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Thank you to participants in first 5K for Justice
We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who participated in the first annual 5K Race for Justice on Oct. 9. We at the London Department of Public Advocacy and the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office are truly appreciative of all of the runners who came out, and would like to particularly honor the American veterans who ran with us that morning, showing their support for London’s Welcome Home to Vietnam Veterans. We are honored to have had the opportunity to host our race in support of that event.
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Pennington House could be a bed and breakfast
I know we are going to save the Pennington House. That’s a no-brainer!
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Churches challenged to give $100 per month to shelter
My name is Brother Johnny Jervis. I have pastured in and around Laurel County for many years. I am a former board member of the Christian Shelter for the Homeless Inc. in London, and I continue to support that ministry.
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Former resident proud of his hometown
My wife and I visited friends and relatives in your area for 10 days in early October, as we have done many times over the years. I grew up in Laurel County but left at age 18 and never lived here since. That is not necessarily by my choosing, but career choices lead me to other places. However, Laurel County has always been “home” to me.
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Trying to enforce ‘good prevails’ lessons of life
We have been living in the London area for the last three years. We noticed early on there is a problem with some in the community not following parking laws in the handicap and fire lanes.
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Vietnam memorial helped honor sacrifices made
I am writing to thank Buddy Butler and the others involved for organizing the memorial activities for our Vietnam veterans.
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Girl Scouts enjoy ‘the Hannah experience’ too
I wanted to express my delight at Tara Kaprowy’s “As bright as the sun” article in Friday’s Sentinel.
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