ok72076
Jacksonville, AR
56, joined Jan. 2008
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| 1. Hell yes |
| 2. yes, but parade on the wrong day |
| 3. may be |
| 4. no but parade on the wrong day |
| 5. Heck no |
| 6. no opinion |
What in the bloody hell is wrong with all the unpatriotic residents of Jacksonville, especially the leaders of civic groups, scouts and school groups?
Were you among the majority of Jacksonville who didn't bother to show up to salute our Vietnam veterans at the Jacksonville Museum of Military History's dismal third parade down Main Street two weeks ago to welcome vets home? If so, you're part of the problem.
Rick Kron's Reporter's Notebook Saturday expressed the same sentiments I felt after the parade and had put down as a draft for this letter.
For the third year the parade's participation level and attendance really stunk and was pathetic despite, I'm sure, the best efforts of its organizers. Like Rick, I too wondered why our schools didn't participate in the parade.
It's really sad our school leaders aren't more active in community affairs and don't let the public know sooner about school plays and concerts. Telling people to see your website doesn't do any good if people don't have a computer or an internet-access phone.
Where were the scouts-- both boys and girls -- from Jacksonville? The only scout representatives came from Sherwood, the air base and elsewhere.
]Where were the airmen from the air base's Air National Guard units, the 19th Airlift Wing and the new Air Reserves unit? Where were the National Guard troops from Camp Robinson? At least the Marines from the air base and the 314th Airlift Wing showed up. But it's really too bad Camp Robinson didn't send over a unit from the National Guard's Razorback band for some good military music.
So what's wrong Jacksonville? is it that no one thinks of April as a military holiday? Would the museum be better off combining this Vietnam vets celebration with a celebration honoring Armed Forces Day on May 17, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day in November, the Fourth of July, Labor Day or even the Air Force's anniversary on Sept. 18?
Do all the old-time civic clubs like the Rotary, Civitians and Kiwanis need to start meeting at dinner time or form an evening and weekend chapter? Perhaps they need some new leadership that wants to be active in town. Right now many residents can't participate in a lot of groups because of jobs in Little Rock. Heck, I bet some people are even too busy to get off the air base for more than a quick run to pick up some food.
Does the Chamber of Commerce and city hall have to produce a directory/Excel spreadsheet of the email addresses, names and phone numbers of the top three leaders of all the area groups -- be it school, civic, church, community or governmental body – in order for event organizers to contact everyone personally? Leaders shouldn’t wait for an invitation if they see an event their group could participate in.
In summary, like Rick's Reporter's Notebook, one has to hope that Jacksonville groups and residents, including those from the air base, do better in the future. Your next test is FestiVille on Sept. 26-27 at Dupree Park. And, remember, we are Arkansas' Military City USA.
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sammie5995
Bismarck, AR
59, joined Oct. 2011
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