I was absolutely appalled by your editorial “More normal Memorial Day” in your May 25 edition. You stated that 42 years ago, “We specifically cited editorials related to Memorial Day as an example of the sort of editorials we would never write. Sure, we were taking a shot at our competition at Oak Leaves who often wrote a lot of mush about what a great holiday Memorial Day was.” Mush? Unbelievable!
During my lifetime, over 100,000 American soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice in wars (Korea, Vietnam, Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan) to defend the United States of America and its Constitution. And what does Wednesday Journal think of this sacrifice? Not newsworthy? Mush?
Each one of those soldiers took an oath, which states in part: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” My recollection is that the Constitution has 33 Amendments, and the First Amendment says something about Freedom of the Press. Have employees of Wednesday Journal ever heard of it? Do they think it’s worth defending? Or is it just more mush?
As a veteran, as Memorial Day approaches, I get emails that contain messages such as this:
“On Memorial Day, my one request is this …
When you view the names and faces of these fallen men and women at Memorial Park located in Arlington Heights or at a memorial near you, I challenge you to approach with a heart of recognition and gratitude and say, “thank you.” Remember why you get to live in this great and free nation and the great price of that freedom.
When gathering with your friends and family to enjoy your picnic or barbeque, take the time to teach your children and others about the true meaning behind this day, and to remember our fallen heroes and their families.
And always remember, freedom is not free.
Katie Stack, Gold Star wife of LCpl James Bray Stack, USMC, KIA, Afghanistan Nov. 10, 2010”
Then I open the latest edition of Wednesday Journal, my “community newspaper,” and I see that to the Journal, Memorial Day means that “maybe, just maybe, [the editors might get to see] that giant Jewel shopping cart.” The word “mush” does not adequately explain my reaction to that attitude.
I will be the first to admit that I am not one who goes around waving the red, white, and blue. I do not have a U.S. Flag bumper sticker on my car. I was not happy when I got my draft notice that eventually sent me to Vietnam as a combat infantryman. But I know the meaning of Memorial Day, and it is not a giant Jewel shopping cart.
Your editorial also stated that, 42 years ago, you said you’d only write editorials that had a discernible and local point of view. Maybe you could write an editorial about what that local “Peace Triumphant” monument at the crest of the hill in Scoville Park is all about. There was some “mush” going on there on Memorial Day.
Alan Krause is an Oak Park resident.
