Memorial Day is set aside each year to remember those brave men and women who died defending this great country and its freedoms. So why are we as a nation not remembering? Why is it that when a comic book super hero has a new movie released and millions of dollars are made, millions attend the theater to view it, but the real heroes have only a few hundred attend a national cemetery to pay respect? It should not take offers of free music and hot dogs to entice people to come pay respect to those who died for our freedom.
It should be that as a country we still care. It should not be that businesses advertise discounts to sell their products for a Memorial Day sale and never mention the heroes who died. Memorial Day should not be commercialized for profits but observed as a reminder of sacrifices by thousands of soldiers a long way from home, who died on foreign soil never to return to their families.
Has this country become one of “give me” instead of “give back”? Why aren’t our children taught about the great battles of war and the heroes who died and why wars are necessary to ensure freedom? No one is born a hero, but their actions in battle dictate that then they should be respected as one. A stranger died for you, your family and your freedom. The least you can do is spend one hour a year paying respect to them. Would you not give thanks to a stranger on the street who saved you from being attacked?
Politics and greed are quickly replacing the patriotism and sacrifices that were once the hallmarks of a grateful and caring country. Visit a national cemetery and pay your respects on Memorial Day. Your rewards may be great.
— Rodney Cress

Salisbury

Regarding recent articles about Yoshiko Otey’s origami cranes and “Let’s Get Connected Day”:
The words “heart warming” and “renewed hope” keep coming to mind. The public response to my wife’s story has been very heartwarming. The folks at the Salisbury Post led by editor Elizabeth Cook are awesome. Columnist Mark Wineka and photographer Jon C. Lakey are a great news team. In reporting on “Let’s Get Connected” (May 20 edition), Hugh Fisher was outstanding and personable, while capturing the essence of each prayer at the Peace Pole Dedication.
How Mark Wineka packed 30 years of complex miracles into one powerful short human interest story (“Gift of 1,000 paper cranes,” May 12) is mind boggling. Jon C. Lakey’s display picture is worth 1,000 words.
Many folks at church excitedly said how meaningful the article was for them. Since its publication, wherever we go and whomever we meet, people express empathy and ask how to fold the Japanese paper cranes which fly in flocks like our American geese.
The Salisbury Post has been outstanding in covering so many different events these recent weekends. Yet behind the scenes in the events, many, many people (dignitaries, teens and grassroots folk) worked many hours to make things go smoothly for those of us who happen to be out front. In addition to Betty Jo Hardy, there were Darlene Hollock and Rebecca Moser, who led a Cherokee song. To me, my beautiful wife Yoshiko, is one of a kind. Yet there are many like her, where the husband/preacher spouse gets most of the credit, while the wife/partner spouse does most of the backup-work.
Yoshiko and I are so appreciative and grateful and thankful for so many blessings and encouraging words that have come our way as a result of your articles. In turn, we give blessings and uplift prayers to all
— Rev. Fleming Otey

Salisbury

The Salisbury Symphony presented a great concert on Saturday evening, May 18. The music brought back great memories, topped off by Conductor David Hagy playing violin with the concert master. Just awesome. Thank you, maestro.
— Joe Lancione

Salisbury