Flags accepted
Pea Ridge VFW post 8109 will be accepting torn and frayed American flags from 8 a.m. until noon March 28 at the Neighborhood Market in Pea Ridge. Please bring your flags by so they can be retired.
We will also be accepting donations for the Veterans Memorial that will be constructed across from City Hall here in town.
Jerry Burton, senior vice commanderVFW Post 8109Pea Ridge, Ark.
Freedom isn't free
Mr. Leo Lynch:
I apologize for the delay in thanking you for your excellent article in The Times of Northeast Benton County back on Feb. 4. At that time, my wife Roxie and I were in NW Arkansas and while at a local restaurant I picked up a copy of the issue containing your article. I read your article with interest and when finished I told Roxie that you are a real American patriot. I agree with your comments and in particular your comment that we Americans take our freedoms at times for granted. Your analysis of the importance of military snipers over our history is right on target. We have seen the movie "American Sniper" and have followed the stories on Chris Kyle's and his friend's murders and the subsequent trial ending with a guilty verdict. As a retired Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) and Vietnam veteran, I know that war is a last resort and thank goodness we have well-prepared men and women in uniform ready to defend our freedoms and to keep us safe.
As a graduate of University of Arkansas with a MBA and doctorate from that fine university, we will be returning back to NW Arkansas in July following my retirement in June 2015. We have purchased a lakefront home on Beaver Lake near Garfield and are excited to be returning to beautiful NW Arkansas. Roxie and I have just celebrated our 50th anniversary and in June I will have completed 45 years of a military and educational leadership career. I look forward to reading your future articles. Again, thank you for a superb article.
Dr. James C. Underwood, presidentKaskaskia CollegeCentralia, Illinois
Teacher and community help students
Dear Editor:
As a Pea Ridge High School teacher, National Honor Society sponsor, and senior class sponsor, I am often burdened with the idea of my students being in need. Last year I was one of the sponsors in charge of prom. I knew many of my students would not be able to go because they could not afford the proper attire, but members of the community via Bright Futures stepped up and made it possible for Pea Ridge juniors and seniors to go to prom who might not have been able to do go. My heart was grateful for the kindness of strangers who made that possible.
This year, I see the same struggle. As sponsor of the National Honor Society, I have many students in the club who have maintained a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, have volunteered countless hours of community service, and have been an all-around good citizens and PRHS students. At graduation, the seniors of NHS will wear a gold stole/sash in honor of their achievements. Unfortunately, NHS members do community service instead of fundraisers, so there is little in the way of funds to purchase the stoles for the seniors. Many times seniors borrow stoles, but there is nothing like owning your own achievement.
Because I have to order these very soon (April 2), in order to get them here before baccalaureate, I have asked them to purchase them by that date. I have used social media to get the world out to the parents of the NHS members. Today, a kind heart offered to purchase two stoles for two seniors who could not afford to purchase their own. I have not met this angel, but I have her as a "friend" on Facebook which is how she contacted me. I have to say that I teared up at the generosity of this kind soul.
I had several more donations for NHS. I had a family in Pea Ridge donate $125, a friend in Tulsa donate $50, and a student walked up to my desk and laid down $40 in cash. I am overwhelmed at this point in the day.
I would like to say "thank you" to all the kind people who have donated items to help my students, my kiddos. Whether it was for prom or graduation attire or NHS regalia, you have made the way for many students to have special memories of high school. Pea Ridge, Ark., is truly a wonderful place to "grow" students.
P.S. All sashes have been purchased by donors and Bright Futures. Pea Ridge is a great lil' town.
Kindest Regards,
Roxanne Enix, PRHS English teacherNational Honor SocietySenior Class Sponsor
Games men like to play
I read a book back when I was a teenager about all of the misery that the soldiers on both sides of the battle had to deal with during the Civil War. It was very graphic.
There were men on both sides who were forced to join or die. Boys as young as 12 or 13 were also encouraged to join if they could hit what they were aiming at.
The men from the North were not used to the heat down South and the men from the south were not used to officers ordering them around. Many an officer was killed for talking down to their men because these men were not used to being talked down to.
The uniforms did not fit very well and the boots were very rough on the soldier's (sic) feet, even when they got the correct size issued to them. They would wear blisters on their feet after just a few miles of marching. Many times the soldier's (sic) would get what is called today as "trench foot." This was caused by their feet getting wet and cold. When untreated, trench could turn gangrenous and would eventually result in amputation. The men would wear their socks and underwear until they fell apart. Toiletries were non existent in the field.
Many a night, the men slept outside in the ran or snow without any tents or covers for that matter. When they did have tents, the officers generally commandeered them for themselves.
Many a soldier found out the hard way what ticks and chiggers and other insect bites were all about. Food and water was scarce on the field of battle most of the time.
Dysentery was the leading cause of death among the soldiers besides being killed during battle. It was a very bad condition of diarrhea with blood in the intestinal track (sic). This was mainly caused by unclean sanitary conditions. Medicine was scarce.
Many times when the soldiers were wounded, the doctors would just cut a leg or arm off before the men woke up instead of sewing them up and letting them heal.
I wrote this because I wanted to let everyone get small idea of what the Civil War was really like. It is hard to put it all to paper in 500 words or less.
The next time that you have an occasion to go and watch one of these Civil War reenactments where all these men come from all over the country to "play war" in their pristine uniforms, just remember that this was not a game. Men and women all over the country lost their lives and their property. Many of them lost their arms and legs and their sight.
This is why you will never see me at one of these plays. You never see little children taking part in these grown up games. We did all of this to our own countrymen.
Boyd B. McNielPea Ridge, Ark.
Editorial on 03/25/2015