The Mail-Journal, Volume 19, Number 19, Milford, Kosciusko County, 26 May 1982 — Page 4

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., May 26,1982

4

Editorials

Merinorial Day • I-) . Memorial Day began — as a national observance — during the Civil War, first in Mississippi (Columbus and Vicksburg), Virginia (Winchester) and other states, and by 1865 was observed nationally. That year the adjutant general of the US Army suggested graves be decorated throughout the country. Christianity, idealistic and moral principals notwithstanding, unless a free nation contains men willing to fight and die for country and freedom, liberty cannot survive. These are the thoughts which should engage us over the coming week end as the Lakeland Communities observe Memorial Day with parades and observances at cemeteries. To all who responded to their duty when their country called, and who their lives, the nation is indebted. It is too much to expect each individual soldier, sailor or airman to pass individually on the rightness or wrongness of the foreign policy of his government and act accordingly. Rather, a nation must necessarily depend on brave men who believe, as Robert E. Lee did, that duty (but not blind obedience) is the subiiraest word in the English language. Early birds arriving at lake This “Early Bird” edition of The Mail-Journal is to welcome those who have arrived here this week to spend the summer in the Lakeland area. With graduation comes summer and the arrival of the lakers the people who will be or have arrived here to spend the summer in the Lakeland area. They are city folks who come to enjoy our company for the three precious summer months each vear. This issue is one way of saying welcome. It also gives them a chance to see what the merchants of the area have to advertise. The lakers come each vear from Chicago, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend and other metropolitan areas to join those who live here year around. With summer approaching the Lakeland area turns into a beehive of buzzing people who are hurrving here and there to get as much done in one day as they can. They swim. boat. fish, golf and do so many other things as they can do in any one 24 hour period. This issue is full of “Early Bird” advertisements with merchants showing their wares to the manv who are now coming to the area to open their summer homes and to the residents who enjoy the area’s recreational facilities all year long. , . “Early Bird” advertisers in this boxholder edition range from furniture stores to grocery stores and from clothing stores to marinas, jewelry stores and car dealers. Read the ads in this paper for unbelievable “Early Bird” bargains and patronize the Lakeland merchants. Bravos And Boos ■ f ° ** i i ® ‘ /’’’ (Contribution* from readers to “Bravos and Boos 1 ar ® welconW; publication will be at the editor's dis- 'IjL f 'P Vyj cretion.) f f £ 1 JaJ »,.«4 common or. otlwiMM and place do,, « ,T„ * —— BRAVO to those who saw fit to contribute to our new column. We appreciate your thoughtfulness. RRA VO to the work being done on the sewer system at Milford. BRAVO to the Wawasee High School graduates — 223 received diplomas on Sunday BRAVO to the money being raised at Syracuse to build a new daycare center and to the United Way for its support. BRAVO to those who have a smile and pleasent greeting to all, young and old alike. BRAVO to the people who are baking items this week end for either the Milford MAD bazaar to raise monies for the community building or on Memorial Day to raise money to support the Youth League this summer. 800 to poor sports who feel rules and decisions are made for others but not for them. 800 to the Syracuse police officer who was too busy to take the time to say hello to a five-year-old from out of town recently when both stopped at an area restaurant for a bite to eat. 800 to those who don’t work and have very little to do but don’t have time to help on any projects. 800 to those who have the money but won't help by even giving a small amount to community projects!

What others say —

Copy cops solve a sordid case of word abuse

by GREG DAWSON 9 It was 2 a m. and I was writing along on say IBM Seiectric doing 25 words a minute when a copy cop pulled up alongside and motioned for me to shut off the motor. "OK, buddy, where's the fire?’’ he said, taking out a pad and blue pencil. "Huh?" "Radar had you doing 60 in a 40-word per-minute story." “That’s impossible It was 35. tope." "Liston, buddy, you were weaving back and forth across the page and ignoring every grammatical rule in the book. May I ptoarr see your [>oetic license and typewriter registraUon ’ I fumbled through the contents of my desk drawer to find the documents. "Are you aware thnt your poetic license axnirod in August?" the word cop said. •Tea been meaning to get it renewed." I stokL “I just haven t had the chance."

' Please step away from your typewriter. sir. and write a straight declarative sentence in longhand on this sheet of paper ’’ "What for?" “To determine the error content of your copy. Anything above 0.14 and you are considered legally unreadable." The task proved more than I could handle. The nouns and verbs blurred on the page. “I'm afraid I’m going to have to take you in." the cop said. There ensued a struggle in which the officer attempted to remove the paper from my typewriter aa 1 flailed at the keys Since I didn't have the 500 words to poet bail. I had to spend the night in the think tank.' The next morning 1 appeared before the circuit literary judge.' "Failure to punctuate, failure to yield writo-of-way, failure to atop at a period, driveling under the influence, aaaault with

Soma paop/a coll me Old Glory others coll ma The Star Spangled Banner. but whatever they coll me. I om your flog the flag of the United States of America something has been bothering me. so I though I might talk it over with you because you see. it is about you and me. I remember some time ago people lined up on both sides ci the street to watch the parade and naturally I was leading I was leading every parade proudly waving in the breeie When your Daddy saw me coming, he immediately removed his hot and placed it against his left shoulder so that his hand was directly over his heart, remember? And you. I remember you Standing there straight os a soldier You didnt have a hot. but you were giving the right solute Remember little sister? Not to be outdone she was saluting the some os you with her right hand over her heart remember? What happened? I'tn still the some old flog. oh. I hove a few more stors since you were o boy A lot more blood has been shed since those parades of long ago But now I don’t feel os proud as I used to When I come down your street and you just stand there with your hands in your pockets and I may get a small glance and then you look away Then I see children running around and shouting they don't seem to know who I om I sow one man take his hat off then look around He didn t see anybody else with their s off so he quickly put his bock on And whot about that night ot the baseball gome when they ployed the Star Spangled Bonner and I waved so proudly in the breeze Nobody bothered to sing They stood up alright os a sort of mild patriotic gesture but then they talked among themselves about the gome, about the weather But they didn't sing I felt hurt Is it a sin to be patriotic anymore? Hove you forgotten what I stand for and where I’ve been? Anzio. Guadalcanal. Korea and Viet Nom Take a look ot the memorial honor rolls sometime, of those who never come bock to keep this Republic free One Notion Under God When you salute me. you ore actually saluting them I may not be coming down your street for a long time It seems that patriotic parades ore a thing of the post But when Ido won’t you do me a favor ? Stand up straight, place your right hand over your heart and if they play the Star Spangled Banner sing out loud and clear and I’ll salute you by waving bock Show me that you remember — Copied Letter to the editor

This is only my opinion. Chances are very great that 1 am wrong. Nevertheless. I want to express my feelings, hoping not to be offensive, but acting only as a concerned citizen of the community. A number of people in Syracuse have expressed concern about the condition of our streets, vacant lots, and other areas that need attention. At a recent town board meeting. I asked some questions pertaining to these areas, especially streets, with the usual answer being “no money available”. The first question that comes to my mind is why we should spend between $550,000 and $771,000 for a new town hall when we have these areas of need that cannot be taken care of 1 have since learned that taxes are frozen by state law except for funding of buildings Let me say that I am not opposing a new town hall and that the present town board is living with a problem it did not create. 1 have been told by two different board members that taxes will not be increased to finance a new building, but I have question of how that could be possible I am told that a new building has nothing to do with money for street improvement and other areas of need. I am also told that we cannot expect any appreciable improvement regard less of whether we build or not Frankly. I cannot get overlyexcited about a new building unless somehow we can get some

intent to kill the English language-an impressive night's work. How do you ptead?” "Desperate—desperate for a column, your honor. I'm sorry. It won't happen again. 0 "I don t know whether the literary court can trust you. The officer found more than 100 unpaid deadline tickets in your deck. " The hterary judge consulted with the arresting officer and the prosecuting, editor. "Do you understand the seriousness of your actions?" the judge said. "A typewriter is a dangerous instrument in the wrong hands. " "Yes. your honor. I understand. My best friend was cleaning his typewriter one day when it accidentally went off. He was killed by flying sentence fragments. " "Since you are a first offender. I have decided to be lenient,” the judge said. "1

WWW WWW

A concerned citizen

am suspending your poetic license for one year and ordering you to report to remedial English classes every weekend for six months. You’re lucky I don’t send you back to the fourth grade "It would give me a chance to finish it, your honor. " "Young man. you are the beet argument I have over seen for typewriter control.", "May 1 remind your honor that our right to bear typewriters is protected by the First Amendment to the Constition. Selectrics don’t kill English; people kill English "Do not test the patience of the court, young man or I will cite you for contempt.” "My readers already have taken care of that, your honor." Greg Dawson « a writer for the Bloomington (Ind' kjerafo-Tefophone. from which this is reprinted

improvements in these other areas of need. It's almost a certainty that a new building will not help the situation at all. In fact, the community we formerlylived in did exactly the same thing and services to the town declined after the building was completed and occupied If anyone has feelings one way or the other. I feel they should make those feelings known to the board in a respectable way. realizing that serving on the town board is a thankless job and those that do serve are to be commended for the time they give. Construction could begin by fall. Thomas L. Koble THE MAILJOUtHAL (U S P S 32SM0> PubhiMd by Th* evert W»dn«*d«y and *nl»r«d M ssc»nd Clan mattar at the Past OHtca at Syracaaa. Indiana a«M7. S«and class *aata«a paid at 103 E. Main Straat, Syracaaa. Indiana aasar and at additional antry tH<a» Übscriptian *l3 par year In Kasctaske Caanty. *l3 oatsida county POSTMASTERS: Sand chanqo e» addrass farms to Tba Mail Jaumal. P O B*i IM. MiHard. Indiana \° 7

"CRUZIN AROUND 'CUSE"

COMING UP in the Syracuse community is the big Memorial Day week end — really the only such patriotic day observed during each calendar year. And we want to call as wide a public attention to this observance as we can. Accordingly, we call attention to the detailed article on page 1 of this issue, outlining plans for the community parade and memorial services to the fallen veterans buried in the several area cemeteries. The parade is scheduled to form at Railroad Park at 1 pm, and it is to step off at 1:30 p.m. sharp Sunday, May 30. according to Maury Snyder, parade chairman. The parade will move north on Huntington Street to Main Street, then turn west and follow the customary route to the Syracuse Cemetery where appropriate services will be held. Members of the Syracuse-Wawasee American Legion P05t.223 late this week decorated soldiers' graves in six area cemeteries, as they do each year. The Syracuse community is fortunate enough to have an active American Legion Post (No. 223) and an active Veterans of Foreign Wars Post (No. 1342), both of whom work wonderfully well together to make the Memorial Day services meaningful and worthwhile. As well, they cooperate in observing Veterans' Day each year at 11 a m. on November 11, marking the end of World War I. _ In a larger sense Memorial Day services serves as an opener for the summer activities around the community and its several lakes. It's a kick-off for the summer we've all waited for so long. We call attention to a supplement to this week's Mail-Journal entitled SUMMER, and invite your scrutiny in order to set the mood for a good summer following a hum-drum. long. cold, snowy winter But back to the Memorial Day observance. We should point out that Danny Bill Jones, commander of Post 223. will serve as master of ceremonies and general coordinator, with Maury Snyder serving as parade chairman. Paul Wixson is cdmmander of VFW Post 1342. whose unit will post the flag at the cemetery The American Legion will furnish the firing squad t . Pastor Frank Barcus. of the Grace Lutheran Church of Syracuse, a World War II veteran and Legionnaire himself, will speak at the cemetery services. We’re informed that the Legion and VFW Auxiliary Units and members of the Women’s Relief Corps will also participate in the services. -oMEMBERS OF the Wawasee Yacht Club are anxious to get as much attention they can to their sport of sailing on the Big Lake. And they were pleased with a new addition to the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette beginning Sunday and running each Sunday, called their Lakes Edition. Yachtsman Bob Troutman brings to this column's attention the Sunday issue of The J-G which features a lengthy story by writer Tracy Warner, entitled. “Year-round lakers savor best of both worlds.” and in it are quotes from Joe Todd. Harlan Steffen and Jane Nearing, she the executive secretary of the Wawasee Property Owners’ Association. More to come, we've been promised. -oWE'RE HEARING less than floral reports from local mushroom hunters who have been scouting the woods of northern Michigan. In fact, we’ve yet to hear where anyone has come home with what they consider a real good find. , -°- YOU’VE GOT to give credit to Mike and Darlene Gala brace, owners of the Sleepy Owl. for the way they have fixed up the front of their eating establishment located on State Road 13 south of town. They've spent a few bucks fixing up the front of their building and it looks nice. Good comments all the way around. —O—GRADUATION NOTES: SOMETHING THAT went almost totally unnoticed by those attending Sunday's Wawasee High School graduation was the fact that one male student, dressed appropriately in cap and gown, kept staring intently on a young lady in the audience's front row. The student was Mark Warren, and he was observing Sue Leatherman of Goshen as she delivered the ongoing services to Mark in sign language Mart, the son of Jack and Beverly (Musser) Warren of 238 North Street in Syracuse, has been almost totalh deaf since birth, according to his proud mother as she sat quietly watching her son as he was handed hh cherished high school diploma Sue Leatherman studied sign classes two years (1978-80) at Goshen College in its continuing education department, then studied for nine weeks in a summer sign language interpreter training classes at California State University at Nor thridge near Los Angeles. Mark is interested in graphic arts, did studies at West Noble High School's graphic arts department, and plans to enter Colgate College at Washington. D. C.. to further his studies in this field. AND... ABC sportscaster Chris Schenkel and his wife Fran, of Lake Tippecanoe, were as proud as any parents could possibly be as they watched their son John receive his diploma John to the third Schenkel youngster to graduate from Wawasee High School. It was Tina in 1873. who to also a Purdue graduate. Ted in 1975. who to a Pardue graduate, and John hopes to enter Purdae in the fall, perhaps to study music. Chris, a native of tiny Bippus. Ind., was a

student at Purdue himself when, due to an illness of a regular network sports announcer, got his first big break, and from that point all of his career is history. On Monday morning Chris was off to Rome, Italy, on assignment for ABC. -0AND . . . 808 List, a budding photographer, who has made a few bucks on the side by taking photos of graduates as they receive their diplomas, then making his pitch to sell a few copies, found himself juggling two cameras to get the job done as wife Ida kept them reloaded with film. He fell behind, to be sure, and later commenting on the ordeal, said. “Don (Kesler, who read the graduates* names off) read those names like an auctioneer." Bob will soon be opening a photo studio in North Webster. _ o _ AND . . . WHS principal Howard J. Hull, not even a full year on the job and already in charge of his first graduating class, had this comment to make following graduation services. “This was one of the best (graduating classes). And we owe it to the class of (982 — one fantastic group of individuals.'' _o_ AND A number of the graduates had tears in their eyes as they sang the Wawasee High School Hymn by Amy (Coy) Matherly. Class of 1970 One could not go on. and simply sat down. —o— AND ... A number of the graduates had their own “following" among the audience, noticeable by cheers from scattered groups here and there that went up when individual names were called. -oAND REV Paul Steele and his wife Diana were at the school early in order to secure a frontrow seat to be on hand to photograph daughter Jennifer Joanne when she was handed her diploma Jennifer J ranked fourth in her class academically. Her brother. Richard Paul, received top academic honors two years ago when he graduated from WHS. and is now completing his second year at DePauw. Univ. Greencastle -oAND ... ALSO among the proud parents were Jack and Genieve Oswald (of Three Flags, 1 and 2> to watch daughter Pamela Ann graduate. Jack comments. “Finally after 32 years we don’t have any kids in school." Pam has four brothers and two sisters w ho preceded her in receiving high school diplomas. -oAND . . . FINALLY, it was all over, and the relief of graduation showed on the faces of graduates as the recessional ended. There was a lot of handshaking, hugging, kissing, saying goodbye, as many graduates said a final word to their friends — and then it was all over. - — —o—--1 MOST PEOPLE have never heard, let alone seen, a fourleaf clover — the type that brings the finder good luck. This certainly doesn’t apply to John J. Mason, a resident of Musquabuck Park (Dewart Lake), r 5 Syracuse For John came into our offices last Wednesday with a double four-leaf clover with one extra pedal. More, it was attached to just one stem John claims be found it in a woods while hunting mushrooms. He found no mushrooms but was doubly joyed with having found this little gem. He claims to have found a seven-leaf clover at another time. The affable Dewart Laker posed for this photo with considerable pride, and announced. "This is for double good luck w ith a little extra boost." A neighbor. Ethel Chalk, was along when the “great find" was made, and readily vouches for everything John says. —o— A WELL known uptown Giri Friday will be changing bosses the first of June, but not changing lines of work -oLOOK FOR an announcement that Fidler Re*dv-Mix of Goshen will merge with Yoder Ready-Mix of Elkhart. Fidler to "Mr. Big" in the ready-mix business in these parts, with his home plant at Goshen and other plants at Warsaw. Wolcottville and Angola, while Yoder z ßeady-Mix (Continued on page 5)