Letter to the editor: Picturing Cpl. Frantz
To the editor:
I never had the privilege to meet Cpl. Lucas Frantz personally but I feel we had some things in common, both serving in the Army. Listening to his many friends mention Sept. 11 and what impact it had on his life, I picture Lucas …
I picture Lucas at Valley Forge standing by the fire, and Gen. Washington asking what makes these men stand and fight for this new nation and Washington’s aide answering, there are three things.
I picture Lucas at Gettysburg and Gen. Grant asking where do these men come from and what makes them fight for freedom. Again, three things.
I picture Lucas in World War I with Gen. Pershing, asking the same question. Again, three things.
I picture Lucas in World War II with Gen. Eisenhower, asking the question. Again, three things.
I picture Lucas in Korea, where Gen. McArthur had the same question. Again, three things.
I picture Lucas in Vietnam and Gen. Westmoreland’s aide giving the same answer: three things.
I picture Lucas in Iraq with Gen. Jacoby asking his aide the question with the same answer: three things.
The three things that Lucas and all who have gone before him lived by are:
He loved his family.
He loved his friends.
He loved his country.
Mayor Dave Taylor,
Tonganoxie.
Letter to the editor: What an insult
To the editor:
On my way to pick up by 6-year-old grandson on Thursday morning, I observed four men on motorcycles with small American flags on the backs of their bikes. My heart sank, as I knew they were in Tonganoxie for the funeral of Lucas Frantz. As I turned on Main Street, I saw the American flags on display. The tears just started falling down my face.
I knew the men on the motorcycles were here as a buffer to the protesters who were to attend Lucas’ funeral. The men on the cycles came to protect Lucas’ family and friends and our little town of Tonganoxie. How dare the protesters appear at such a solemn, sacred occasion? This young man died protecting our town and every other town in America.
If I live to be 100 years old, I will never be able to understand how outsiders are able to justify trying to impose their beliefs on us in the name of religion. How dare they insult Lucas’ family and our town?
I hope these outsiders know just how lucky they are to live in America, where they can interfere in such a private matter as burying one of our brave men. They would not be allowed such freedoms without such brave men as Lucas.
I do not know what the outsiders are feeling as they leave Tonganoxie to go home and go to bed. I wonder when the lights are out and the night is completely silent if they really know in their souls that they contributed as a source of support to the grieving family — I think not.
The grieving family will survive. I do not suggest it will be easy, but they will heal. I wish Lucas’ family peace of mind and heart.
Loueta Brulja,
Tonganoxie.
Letter to the editor: What are you thinking?
To the editor:
Vandals, what are you thinking of?
Evidently, late Saturday night or before 4:30 a.m. Sunday, a group decided it was time to hit the mailboxes.
We paid $50 for a supposedly “vandal-proof” mailbox. It is mounted on two 4-by-4’s in the stem of the mailbox. A year or two ago, they removed the screws, knocked the box over with mail in it, and the mail laid in the rain all night. We then re-did the mailbox and set it in 6 inches to 8 inches of concrete. Now, they used a vehicle to knock concrete and all down.
I wonder if they ever think about the people who own the mailbox and what they have to go through to replace it. We both are in our 70s, and we never have intentionally destroyed anything in our entire lives. What did we miss?
Whoever did this damage: Aren’t you proud of yourself?
Gene and Mary Ann Allen,
Tonganoxie.
Letter to the editor: Thank you from father
To the editor:
I would like thank Kelly and the Jeannin family for showing so much love to my son, all of Lucas’ friends for being there for him, the VFW, and town of Tonganoxie for all the love and support you’ve shown to my son. I could not have asked for a better place for him to have been raised. I will never forget all you have done for Lucas, and I wish there were a way I could repay all of you. So I say, “thank you,” one more time. Your town will always be on our mind. God Bless.
Gary Frantz,
Topeka.
Letter to the editor: e-Bay purchases saving money
To the editor:
After reading comments concerning Darlyn Hansen’s purchasing items for the school district through “creative and unconventionable” methods, I thought I could clarify some of misconceptions.
Misconception No. 1: Mr. Hansen is getting paid 40 hours per week at $40 per hour just to sit and shop on the internet.
Fact No. 1: Mr. Hansen puts in well over 40 hours a week researching, negotiating, taking care of shipping hassles, storing and perfecting each and every purchase for the school district. Time spent to do all this would cost them much more than what he’s charging. Being the owner operator of the Amanna Elan Hotel, owner operator of Micro Resource and working as a member of the school board doesn’t leave 40 hours a week to shop online, and yet I’ve personally witnessed his dedication to the task given him by them. He is responsible and committed to helping save as much money as possible and improving the quality of items bought. (That’s why they call it “shopping.”)
He already has saved not hundreds, but thousands of dollars for our school district.
Misconception No. 2: The items are used and less than new quality.
Fact No. 2: Most of the items are new. Some are slightly used. All items are in perfect working order when offered to the school district. I’ve seen Mr. Hansen buy an item that cost thousands of dollars, spent $300 to $600 on the item, repair a used electrical wire, a gasket set, a fuse, or whatever was wrong with it and create a product that is even better than new because of the workmanship and parts installed by Mr. Hansen. This has taken place more than once.
For lack of space I will conclude with this thought: I know we all buy new cars and none of us drives a slightly used vehicle that is economically a sound investment. The homes we live in are all brand new and not a few years old. And none of us shops at Wal-Mart because of the price.
I, for one, admire Mr. Hansen’s creative prowess and business savvy in trying to make our school a better place.
Robert Norris,
Tonganoxie.
Letter to the editor: A veteran’s view
To the editor:
After reading in the various newspapers and seeing on almost all major news channels the stories, videos and pictures of Phelps and so many others protesting at military funerals, I had to speak up in outrage and disgust.
As well as shame.
Phelps and all the other protesters have shamed, disgraced and dishonored the men and women who have fought, bled, suffered and died for them. The very people who paid one heck of a price for the right and freedom to protest and speak freely are being disgraced and dishonored by these people.
We, America’s fighting men and women, defenders of freedoms that few other countries have, should not be disgraced and dishonored in life or death.
We gave the American people those rights and freedoms and paid a price few have and few will.
They have shamed this great nation and all who serve and have served her.
Phelps and all the other protesters should take up a weapon and stand a watch. Then they might have a better understanding of the cost of the freedom they are so badly misusing.
They call themselves Christians.
How dare they disgrace not only our men and women who lay it on the line each and every day to give them those freedoms but they shame the one they call the most high.
They shame their God.
In the Bible it says to treat others as you would be treated. It says to love your brother as you love the father.
Veterans Day, which is Nov. 11, soon will be upon us. I will stand beside my fellow comrades-in-arms at dawn services in the place warriors of freedom call the holiest of holies.
I will say a prayer for my fallen friends, their families left behind, comrades and those who follow in our path.
I will also say a prayer for those like Phelps and the other protesters that they will realize the injustice they do and the shame they cause.
M. Hunter King,
Wichita.
Letter to the editor: Interchange costs too high
To the editor:
The proposed turnpike exchange and the addition to the city of more than 2,000 acres at the Tailgate Ranch would be a fiasco for Tonganoxie. We have no infrastructure for such an addition. About 2,000 acres could accommodate 6,000 homes. That could mean 21,000 new citizens. A more conservative estimate of 1,500 homes in five years would mean 3,000 adults — and approximately 2,250 children added to the school system.
New schools double or triple the size of our current schools would be needed at a cost of roughly $40 million to $50 million.
The city would need a new city hall and a police station for such a change in population.
Additional city workers also would be needed. A new fully equipped, paid fire department and a fire station at the ranch site would be necessary. City work forces would need to be doubled. Additional city hall workers and law enforcement officers would need to be hired and equipment purchased.
The sewer plant would have to be greatly enlarged. Bigger water lines from Kansas City, Kansas Board of Public Utilities would be needed or wells would have to be drilled on city-owned land in the Kaw bottoms and a water purification plant would have to be built.
We don’t need a financial adviser to tell us that it would cost at least $50 million to $60 million, in addition to the above school costs.
The new road on County Road 1 would run approximately $8 million to $10 million. Instead, the cross-country road would be $4 million to $5 million. New numbers in a recent edition of The Mirror stated $10 million to $15 million for county Road 1 and only $3.5 million less for the cross-country route. It’s a no-brainer cross-country route.
As for the development of the Tailgate Ranch and other properties, the city has no firm idea as to what they will put on that land. So treat it like any other development and let the developers bear the cost of the infrastructure and let them pay for it.
Jack M. Wolfe,
Tonganoxie.