A military hero’s
send off
In response to Gary Harrold’s Tuesday letter to the editor regarding rifle shots at the East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery, the rifle shots you hear are a final send off to honor those who have served in our military. This final salute is offered in respect and appreciation for their selfless service to all Americans, maintaining the freedoms we sometimes take for granted.
My grandfather was a Pearl Harbor survivor. One can only imagine the “stress-producing noise” the birds, dogs, cats and nearby neighbors experienced Dec. 7, 1941, when the “drum beats of violence and war” were heard leaving 2,403 dead.
When my grandfather passed, the Navy’s Honor Guard participated and honored him with the appropriate 21-gun salute. At the same time others were being buried in relative proximity. When the command of “Ready” was shouted, others paused with their services without complaint of noise or inconvenience to honor a military hero’s send off.
I’d suggest that “silent contemplation” is something you might want to consider participating in every time you hear those rifle shots knowing that another hero is being honored for their selfless service so that you might continue to enjoy your freedoms as an American.
Steven M. Rich, U.S. Army veteran
Waikoloa
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Unequal enforcement
I want to thank Heidi Jaworski for bringing forth the issues we are facing in Ocean View and the lack of attention our complaints are receiving by county officials in her letter to the editor Tuesday.
Hawaii County statutes stipulate a limit of 200 square feet of nonoperational vehicles per property, which equals about two vehicles. One block from me, no fewer than 30 vehicles and hundreds of tires are piled on one lot. Next door to that lot, a woman has built a 15-foot fence to gain some privacy. Her thoughts about selling and moving are no longer helpful because her lot is now unsalable with the lot next door. Other neighbors have filed formal complaints and nothing has changed and some have never received a reply. Kona wouldn’t put up with this. Ocean View residents want to know why the laws are not being enforced in our neighborhood.
Martin J. Weiner
Ocean View
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