EDMOND —
To the Editor:
I am a lifelong Edmond resident and a Vietnam combat veteran who served in the U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division. I am writing this letter in the hope that our city officials, who look after Gracelawn Cemetery at Broadway and Danforth, will take note of this issue.
My family and I have many relatives and friends who now rest in Gracelawn Cemetery, and each year we place flowers on their graves on Memorial Day. We have attended the memorial services, and we also support and show our appreciation to those servicemen and women who have served and those who have given their lives for our great country.
This Memorial Day, as well as last year, was a total disappointment to our family, and I’m sure to others with loved ones who rest in this cemetery. We expected the grounds to be freshly mowed and trimmed, only to find once again, the complete opposite. The grounds were completely overgrown and unkempt, and the entire cemetery was very unsightly. Last year, I contacted the person in charge of upkeep of Gracelawn and expressed that it is an embarrassment to the residents of Edmond, as well as those from out of town who come to the cemetery and memorial services to honor their loved ones.
It looked more like a field with tombstones instead of the peaceful, neat and welcoming place it should be.
I was told it was a matter of timing, and the crew hired to maintain the grounds were not scheduled to mow that week. I told him this should not happen and that this is a special day set aside for our loved ones and our military who have passed. He was very nice and seemed very concerned, and I felt certain this would not happen again. To my surprise and disappointment, this year was a repeat of the last, and the state of the grounds overshadowed this day of remembrance.
It seems to be of little concern to those in charge that this is a special day. Could it be possible, when bids are taken for grounds keeping on a site such as this, to include a stipulation stating that “Grounds must be freshly mowed and trimmed for the Memorial Day celebration”? It seems to me to be a simple request.
I know I speak for others who share my feelings. We should at least show our respect for those who have given their lives so we can live ours freely by having a beautiful place for them to rest in eternity.
George W. Lynch
Edmond
Letters to the Editor
Writer: City should take better care of cemetery
- Letters to the Editor
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Oklahoma cannot stand alone
o the Editors:
President Obama visited Oklahoma on Sunday. He assured us that Oklahoma would receive every support needed to rebuild after our devastating storm. Gov. Fallin told reporters that she would “hold his feet to the fire.” Ask the people of Missouri or in New Jersey if the president needs to have his feet held to the fire!
This was the second time for President Obama to visit Oklahoma. In March of 2012, no Oklahoma top official greeted our president. Choosing to snub our president, Gov. Mary Fallin left for a family vacation in Puerto Rico and Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb attended a conference in Washington. Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett did greet the president on his arrival at Tinker Air Force Base. Thank you, Mayor Cornett, for your respect and sense of protocol! - LETTER: Words of comfort for the many recent storm victims
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Senators give criminals a pass
Oklahoma’s U.S. Sens. Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe were among 45 senators who recently helped block a sensible measure to reduce gun violence. Specifically, they voted down a measure to expand background checks for gun buyers — a step favored by 86 percent of Americans, according to recent polls. Our senators were not even asked to vote for tougher measures like bans on military-type assault weapons or high-capacity magazines, also favored by 56 percent of Americans, according to a Quinnipiac University poll.
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LETTER: Senators give criminals a pass
To the Editor:
Oklahoma’s U.S. Sens. Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe were among 45 senators who recently helped block a sensible measure to reduce gun violence. Specifically, they voted down a measure to expand background checks for gun buyers — a step favored by 86 percent of Americans, according to recent polls. Our senators were not even asked to vote for tougher measures like bans on military-type assault weapons or high-capacity magazines, also favored by 56 percent of Americans, according to a Quinnipiac University poll.
By opposing background checks for gun buyers, Sens. Coburn and Inhofe voted in favor of allowing the mentally ill and criminals to buy guns! They call it “Second Amendment” rights. I call it cash for their campaigns from the gun lobby. -
LETTER: Postal carriers seek to ‘Stamp out Hunger’
To the Editor:
On Saturday, help your letter carrier “Stamp Out Hunger” by leaving canned food donations by your mailbox. In Edmond, donations benefit the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s partner agencies HOPE Center of Edmond, Route 66 Project and Edmond Grace Fellowship. This effort is part of the 21st annual Letter Carriers’ Food Drive, which is the largest one-day food drive in America. -
LETTER: Unanswered prayer leads to lower taxes, honorable policy makers
To the Editor:
In a recent column, Oklahoma Rep. Jason Murphy (“How a no vote solved gas tax problem,” The Edmond Sun, April 30, 2013) commended the wise and educated voters of Oklahoma for seeing through the 2005 fuel tax increase and demanding more action of our state policy makers. With the recent work of our elected officials, along with the Department of Transportation, our roads and bridges have seen much improvement during the past couple of years. -
LETTER: Senate bills will help veterans living in centers
To the Editor:
I just viewed a short video done by Brig. Gen. Steve Ritchie who recounts the rescue of downed Vietnam pilot RogerLocher in April 1972. Ritchie said that Loche’s rescue was the farthest behind enemy lines and superceded all air operations that day. -
LETTER: President: OneNet saves UCO money
To the Editor:
Discussion continues in The Edmond Sun publications regarding upgrading and consolidating information technology resources in state government. While I respect the viewpoint that has been expressed so far, certain facts should be taken into consideration that directly affect the University of Central Oklahoma and the 17,000 students we serve. -
Bond debt not an unpardonable sin
Is Oklahoma bond indebtedness for Oklahoma infrastructure an unpardonable sin? No! Rep. Jason Murphey wrote a good op ed dealing with what he bemoans as oppressive state bond debt. He calculates each Oklahoman owes $649 in state debt. He and the rest of the ultra-fiscal conservatives can’t bring themselves to support bonds to pay for the state Capitol repairs, building a medical examiner’s office or other legitimate capital expenditures. So using his logic I decided to apply that thinking to my personal and business life.
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Senate bill potentially denies women’s rights
Once again, our state Legislature is moving toward passage of another bill that will not stand up to a court challenge because it is contrary to federal law. It also follows the pattern of many of these failed laws in that it attempts to limit the choices women have in our state.
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Oklahoma cannot stand alone
