The Mail-Journal, Volume 19, Number 21, Milford, Kosciusko County, 9 June 1982 — Page 4

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., June 9,1982

4

Editorials

Fly your flag Monday When they look at the flag of the United States, high atop a flagpole, many people can see nothing but a piece of cloth silhouetted against the sky, and this is unfortunate. If they would look only a little more carefully, adding an element of reflection, they would see the banner’s brightness as a symbol of freedom and liberty cherished and protected at great sacrifice since the birth of our nation. . By presidential proclamation, next Monday, June 14, is Flag Day across the nation. Displaying the flag on this special occasion is away in which we can expresss patriotism — the spirit of love and devotion to a national heritage of “ ... one Nation, under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.” But we should remember that patriotism is shown not only by heroism on the battlefield, but by the practice of good citizenship in peacetime as well. This Flag pay each citizen in the Lakeland area should dispiay the flag as a simple gesture of faith in the ideals of personal liberty for which our country stands. Os the thousands of words written about the flag some stand through the ages: Woodrow Wilson, in 1912: ‘‘l cannot look upon the flag without imagining that it consists of alternate stripes of parchment upon which are written the fundamental rights of man, alternating with the streams of blbod by which those rights have been vindicated and validated. ” And, five years later in 1917, Theodore Roosevelt: “We can have no ‘SO-50’ allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all. We are akin by. blood and descent to most of the nations of Europe; but we are separated from all of them ... and we are bound always to give our wholehearted and undivided loyalty to our own flag, and in any international crisis to treat each and every foreign nation purely according to its conduct in that crisis.” Over the years, the American flag continues to have profound meaning for most Americans. When we celebrate Flag Day next Monday, let us pay homage to the flag of freedom. Let’s fly it proudly ! Books needed by August In August of 1982. the Ronald McDonald House of Indiana is scheduled to open. The Ronald McDonald House is being built in conjunction with Riley’s Children’s Hospital It is a 24-bedroom home for families using Riley Hospital. The home will ? i have a kitchen, family room, recreation room, laundry facilities and a library. 1 Unless the people of Indiana help, the library will be furnished but it will have empty shelves when the house is opened. ’District Six of Association for Indiana Educators has established the Ronald McDonald House Library as an important priority. When the doors open to the home they hope the shelves will be filled. They hope to develop three basic areas: 1. reference for parents. 2. adult collection and 3. young adult thru preschool They are looking for donations of both new books and monetary donations. The reference collection will be costly and purchased entirely by donations. The reference collection will be purchased upon recommendations of other Ronald McDonald Houses, doctors, the resident manager, parents and media specialist. Address donations to AIME-District 6 RMHL. Address all materials to Mary M. Wolcott. Pleasant View Elementary Media Center, Yorktown, Ind. 47396. We think this worth supporting and feel the same way. Politics, Social Security For the last several vears every expert in the field has been warning thAt the US Social Security system will be broke by 1983 if no change is made in the payment system * Since the federal budget is already deeply in the red and no diversion of general revenue funds to the social security system is possible, obviously there must be changes in the system. They need not be major changes, and relatively painless revisions can get the job done — without cutting off payments to the elderly, or reducing them. ° Cost of living increases should be made annually. Some who shouldn’t be on Social Security can be eliminated. Some programs can be altered so that the federal government picks up slightly less of extra bills than now. Etc. Most elderly Americans understand this necessity. They will go along with the changes as sensible, good citizens Politicians in Congress are the weak sisters The Senate has just voted to dodge the issue, by postponing a final decision until — you guessed it — after the fall elections. The House, controlled by Democrats, is even less inclined to do what’s necessary There many members seek to use the dilemma to gain political advantage. with the usual line that they care more about the poor, the president doesn't, etc. Congress, by continual overspending, got the country in the mess it’s in. In this fall’s elections, voters should make it clear to every House candidate that they expect reforms in Social Security, and in other entitlement programs, to be speedily enacted into law

What others say— Messages onfbbtnpers ( Bumper stickers have become apart of American tradition in recent years, replacing the once popular Burma (§have signs which proclaimed both serious and humorous messages on fence posts along our highways. Now, you can get a laugh, be irked or provoked into deep thought by observing bumper stickers on passing vehicles. We ait remember the sticker, “America — Love it or Leave it.” In its own way, it was a protest to those who were vocally tearing this country down in public. Closer to home, we learn that the Police Chief of Terre Haute has paid for 100 bumper stickers which proclaim, “Fight Crime — Shoot Back,” as part of the chief’s anti-crime campaign. We learned just last week that those convicted of drunken driving in Hendricks County may have to apply a bumper sticker to their vehicle, telling the world, “I Was Convicted of Drunken Driving” as part of the probation terms for convicted drurtk drivers. If this cpmes about it will be through the effort of MADD (Mothers Against Drunken Driving). Perhaps, more than ever, pollsters should start observing bumper stickers to determine the mood of the people. And of course, there is always need for a humorous message, such as ‘‘Frogs are lucky... they can eat what bugs them.” — The Danville Gazette

ft / . Si I IO jS • h a / Or { Monday, June 14, is flag day — the first official American flag was adopted by Congress on June 14, 1777, and symbolized each of the 13 colonies with a star and a stripe. As the young United States grew, the flag was adapted to show the changes by adding both a star and a stripe. Later the flag was taken back to the original 13 stripes, however, the stars kept with the 50 stars in today's flag representing the 50 states. The 13th star on the flag represents the state of Indiana.

Unsung heroes — K JERRY BUfcNS k North Webster fireman continues family tradition

For North Webster resident Jerry Burns being a member of the North Webster Volunteer Fire Department is something of a family tradition. His grandfather has been a volunteer firefighter for nearly 50 years, and his father, tax? le and brother have all the department ai e time or another Bums hims< . has been a member of the department for two years Burns explained that coordination within the group is essential when fighting fires “You'll usually have several people doing several jobs.” he said. “Obviously, the first ones on the scene will do what needs to be done first. As others come in. they'll step in and do whatever s needed. It's a matter of doing anything you can." In addition to his fire department duties. Burns is active with the North Webster EMS squad He began with the group as a driver, and recently took the state test to become an emergency medical technician “The results of the test won't be in for a few weeks," he said.

Burns said the chief reward of his volunteer servibe was “the satisfaction of helping your fellow man." A 1978 graduate of Wawasee High School. Burns is employed as a diesel mechanic He resides in the Barbee Lakes area

THt MAII-XNIMUI (uses Pvfehywd by TM jMrnal «v«ry W»dn««d*y Mkretf M Second Claw manor at Post OMco at Syracwa. Indiana**}*? Second ciau part at IM E. Mam SVool Syracuaa Indiana «*S*7 «nd additional entry otttcei SMtacrtphon M 3 par year in KmovskoCarnity. Sl] ovtiMe county. POSTMASTERS Sond chanpe at addrrss terms la The Mail Journal P O Bea IM. MtHard. IndianaMSC

"CRUZIN AROUND 'CUSE"

IS SYRACUSE ripe for a Welcome Wagon? This isn’t a new question, but one that bobbed its head last week in a private conversation among several businessmen. The remark was made that a new family moved into the community and lived here for two years without anyone asking them to join a church, a service club, a volunteer group of any kind, nor did anyone ever come to their door and say something as simple as “we’re glad to have you in the community.” The charge is made that Syracuse is chcky. hard to break the social ranks. Is this true? Many so-called "old timers" never perceived it this way. but we lack the vantage point of a new family in town. The suggestion was made that the community needs a Welcome Wagon, such as has been so successful in many communities. Businessmen could make up a package delineating their services. and include a handful of “freebies ” The idea might be worth further discussion. We hold that if such an idea has any validity it will take root with one or more of the community's organized groups. We’ll see. —O'SYRACUSE MORTICIAN Charlie Harris is something of a cut-up. Now. wait, let us explain. Friday Charlie was mowing his Wawasee Village lot when be looked down, saw his daughter's photograph, then his driver's license, then several checks (one from California, it turned out). He lost his pocket book while mowing and cut it to shreds before noticing what he had done. -O'REV. ROSS Ritchey, pastor at the Leesburg United Methodist Church for the past three years, returned home from the Cleveland Clinic on Friday, following an examination of his eyes after a severe loss of sight He preached his final sermon from the Leesburg pulpit on Sunday. May 23. before his retirement, and. accoiding to his son Ron. had difficulty reading his text. Rev. Ritchey fell in the spring while playing tennis, and injured his head. When he suffered a loss of sight in his right eye as a result of the fall he underwent brain surgery at the Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne for the removal of a brain clot. A week ago sight in his right eye began to fail. He is hopeful of sight being restored in his left eye. however. A year ago Rev. Ritchey had open heart surgery at the St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis from which he made good recovery. Son Ron thinks the eye problem may have resulted from high blood pressure and a slight stroke. Rev. Ritchey was pastor at the St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church in Syracuse for four years, and served that .pastorale during the building of the new church north of town. The Ritcheys retirement home is at 3115 Jackson Blvd.. Elkhart. —o— CALVIN E. BECK, a resident of Bonar Lake, recalls graduating from the old Syracuse High School, located uptown, in the year 1912. the first year Syracuse had a basketball team. Coach: One Mr. Johnson. Beck took a 12-week teacher's course at TriState College. Angola, then returned to teach math and coach at Syracuse, circa 1915-1918. He said he was attracted to coach at Etna Green by a S3OO per annum increase in salary Cal remembers that move as a mistake, for the next year the Syracuse basketball team, featuring the legendary Emery Dr ucka miller and Guy RaHck and Russell Lepper, among others, went onto enter the state "Sweet Sixteen" under coach Cmirt Slabaugh the next year. 1920-1921. He also remembers being the first coach in the then new Syracuse Hi|h School gym. now the Junior High School gym. Sports have never left the Beck household, as Cal continues to be a fan of the Chicago Cubs, plus a continuing interest in the Wawasee Warriors. —O—AUGSBURGER'S SUPER Valu in the Village has its own brand of beer Not really, but they dtf sell a brand of Augsburger beer, light and dark, billed as a “genuine Bavarian beer." and do a brisk business in this brand which is prominently displayed in the local store. —o— BANKER HENRY Smith (Lake City) is showing signs of too many dinners with prospective customers, and is Ate to return to the tracks to get into shape fsr the July 3 road race. -OREV PAUL and Diana Steele left Tuesday of this week for Fort Wayne where Paul will take up his new position as pastor of the Bethany United Methodist Church, located on the northeast side of that city. He has been pastor of the Calvary UM Church in Syracuse for the past four years. But this summer son Richard, who will be a pre-taw junior at DePauw. Greencastle, in the fall to working at Klink s market. He to a ,1980 WHS honor graduate: and Jennifer, who just received

her diploma at WHS and will be a computer science freshman at DePauw in the fall, will serve this summer as a lifeguard at the high school and at Oakwood Park. —o— s SYRACUSE HAS an industrial “giant" in its midst in the Commodore Corporation, according to Fortune Magazine's figures. Commodore, with international headquarters here, ranks in the second 500, or 790 in the nation with 1981 sales at $199.3 million. They manufacture mobile homes and RVs. Indiana had 13l1ndustries in this "second 500" class. ' Others include Skyline Corp, of Elkhart. 662 d with 1981 sales of $276.6 million; CTS Corp of Elkhart, 772 with 1981 sales of $209.6 million; and Coachman Industries. Inc., of Middlebury, 778' with 1981 sales of $209.6 million in recreational vehicles. —oKEITH CRIPE, former Syracuse resident who moved to Osceola County. Florida, in 1963 and died April 14 of this year, has been given credit for single-handedly forming a fire department in Kissimmee Heights. Fla., and since his death has been the subject of considerable newspaper publicity. We quote here at length from an article in the area paper by reporter Joe Kilsheimer:

Cripe was chief of the Kissimmee Heights Volunteer Fire Department, a position he had held since 1970. With 14 fire trucks, three stations and 38 volunteer firefighters. it is larger than any other department in the county, including the municipal departments in Kissimmee and St. Cloud.

He was well-known throughout Osceola County as a staunch foe of fire taxing districts. More than once during his tenure, he became embroiled in controversies over the boundaries of his district, the fire protection fees he charged, and how he raised the money to buy fire equipment. But friends Thursday said that despite his rough manner, despite the controversy. Cripe essentially was committed to serving the community. • “He was a gruff man. yes. but he was kind, he was dedicated to his men." said Dave Barnes, one of Kissimmee Heights' original members “He was gruff when it came down to doing the job that needed to be done. " > Four years later, in early 1967, after three homes in the north section of the county were gutted by fire in one day. Cripe and about 15 other men banded together to form the county’s first volunteer fire department. Cripe, who had been a volunteer firefighter in Indiana, was elected to a one-year term as chief. Like any new business venture, the early days were financially rough for the fledgling department that struggled to raise money at a time when Osceola County was still a small, primarily rural county; “People didn’t want to participate. They thought we were just a bunch of kids who wanted toplay with red fire trucks.” Barnes said. The department s first piece of fire equipment was a 1940 Mack fire engine, purchased from another department for $2,800. Several of the firefighters took out personal loans to help pay for the purchase. It is still working and is based at the department's No. 1 station on Old Dixie Highway. The firefighters also raised money by converting a burned-out trailer into a mobile canteen and selling refreshments at various community events. Cripe also organized a women’s auxiliary, consisting mainly of the firefighter’s wives. In 1968. tfe auxiliary held a number of bake sales and bazaars and raised enough funds to buy • a pumper with a 500-ga Hon tank. The department’s first modem piece of equipment.,a $35.#00 pumper, was delivered in 1973. Success also was tempered by adversity and embarrassment. In 1974. a fire gutted Cripe’s cabinet shop, where most the department’s equipment was stored. Barnes said he had to rebuild the 1940 fire engine, which had been heavily damaged in the fire. “They had a lot of problems there, but he hung on with his bulldog grit and it turned out pretty good," said St Cloud Fire Chief Kermit Wheeler, a longtime friend. “He was an outstanding friend. He did a lot for the community 7—' “He lived and breathed that department." said Sheriff Ernest P. Murphy. "I hope it runs is smooth now as it always has." Deputy Fire Chief Bill Fluke, who is how acting chief until the department’s governing board decides who it wants at the helm, said that 4 the volunteers “have all intentions" of keeping the department alive. Cripe was a veteran of World War II; a lifetime member of the Disabled American I Continued on page 5)