World War I: Lest we forget
For the past 12-plus years my husband has been sharing his knowledge of the history of the U.S. Army by creating military displays. This August will probably be his last new display due to his declining progressive health condition. This year's display will tell the story of the U.S. Army in the First World War. In nine months the U.S. will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the United States entering the First World War.
My husband has shared this knowledge by creating military displays at local gun shows. The topics of his displays have included the End of the U.S. Horse Cavalry, Remembering D-Day, the U.S. Army in Alaska during World War II, The End of World War II, The Korean War and the Cold War Era. His displays consist of military collectables including equipment, uniforms, firearms and documents. All the items standing, displayed on the tables or worn by a mannequin have detailed descriptions of the historical significance of the item. The displays also include story boards explaining the important facts of the historical event or time period. The items on display this year are about 100 years old.
Most tables rented at gun shows are for the purpose of selling or trading guns or hunting-related items. My husband rents five tables for the sole purpose of educating the public and sharing his knowledge of U.S. military history. If you have attended the Palmer Lions Club Gun Show at the fairgrounds or the Mat-Su Veterans Foundation-sponsored Gun Show in Anchorage over the past 12 years, you have seen his "mini museum" displays.
This year's display will help the public understand the historical significance of World War I, also known as the Great War. My husband's "mini museum" display can be seen at the Mat-Su Veterans Foundation Gun Show at the Lumen Christi High School this Saturday and Sunday. I hope you will support the Mat-Su Veterans Foundation by attending the gun show and learning a little about United States military history.
— Lyndell Roe, a proud wife
Anchorage
Khan family badly treated
As the father of a serving military pilot and the son of two World War II veterans I am appalled by the flippant and insensitive response of candidate Trump and the Republican Party in general to the parents of Capt. Humayan Khan (deceased). Military families do sacrifice far more than others, so it is particularly aggrieving to see someone who has enjoyed all the benefits of that service while risking so very little treat the Khan family so inappropriately. Enough is enough.
— Ian Dutton
Anchorage
Inmates control the asylum
Charles Krauthammer's piece July 29 … What does Hillary Clinton aim to do?
It's very clear. A chickadee in every pot, a '68 Yugo in every garage, and Billy's trike in the driveway, up on blocks. Socialism always rewards incompetence. Trump may be a psychoceramic (that's a crackpot) but he is a successful capitalist, and that's what the socialists hate. When you let the inmates run the asylum, what else do you expect?
— Will Hayes
Palmer
Give the other team a chance
To all you working stiffs out there: If you think that the Republican majority in the Legislature has got your back, please let me disabuse you of that notion. The chairman of the House of Representatives' most powerful committee (Rules), Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage, recently said, "I think the new 'raise' in the private sector is just keeping your job." Clearly the Republicans in the Legislature think that working Alaskans are doing just fine and only the ailing oil industry needs their help. If you don't agree, perhaps it is time to stop supporting Republicans for elective office.
The oil pipeline was supposed to last 30 years. As we end its fourth decade, Republicans, who have been in charge for decades, still have not prepared Alaska for a post-oil economy. Maybe it's time to give the other team a chance. Remember that Albert Einstein famously said the definition of insanity is "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
— John A. Farleigh
Anchorage
This gift comes with a price
I felt so very lucky. Someone I hardly knew gave me a car. I could never afford a car before. Wow! A car! My life would be so much better now. I have a car. Think of the things I can do now. Think of the things I no longer need to worry about. But then, sadly, I discovered that this car only runs on diamonds. And not any diamonds, but 1 carat or larger flawless diamonds. What the heck. Why would someone, a jerk, give me a car that I can only utilize if I can afford lots of perfect 1 carat diamonds? Who can afford to burn flawless 1 carat diamonds? That would cost more money than I could ever think of earning. So what, now I have a car. A perfectly useless car that I can't afford to use. Sort of like "Obamacare" and health insurance now.
— Eric Olenick
Anchorage
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