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Another vote for saving Casa Verdugo

Hooray for Louise Phelan and Franklin Ruehl (“Casa Verdugo library must survive,” May 19) sticking up for Casa Verdugo Library and pointing out the solid grass-roots base of support and need for that library! When I lived in that part of Glendale, that was my library too.

OK, there is need for economizing in the city budget, but come on, city of Glendale, we all know there are plenty of unnecessary and unproductive weeds in the budget whose elimination can create the necessary savings. It may require more work to discover and cut them out, but that effort will be decidedly better than plowing up the grass-roots need for a good local library.

Besides, have you ever tried to find a parking place at Central Library? What would that be like if you add Casa Verdugo patrons to the mix?

Honor Haase

La Crescenta

Remember the troops on Memorial Day

I rarely speak publicly about my military experience in Vietnam because I feel lucky to be one of the soldiers who returned home in one piece and in sound mind.

I was in my early 20s, naïve and fresh out of college, when I volunteered for the Army. The politicians called Vietnam a “conflict,” but to the soldiers on the ground it was “war.” When talking about the war, I would say to family and friends I was a “lover” and never a soldier. When I was discharged, there was no military parade for me and my comrades-in-arms, as it was just best to blend into society and move on with one’s life.

I was one of the lucky ones who were able to make the transition. I knew, on the other hand, many soldiers came home with limbs gone, drug addicted and broken hearted.

About two years ago, I visited the veterans hospital in the valley and saw an establishment that made me want to cry. Acres of rundown buildings and landscaping, the complex was old and, because of politics and government neglect, reminded me how lucky I was to have been able to transition to civilian life and live comfortably.

At the Veterans Affairs hospital were hundreds of people with serious problems, unlike me, being pushed around in wheelchairs, on crutches and with sadness in their eyes? Why wasn’t this country honoring these heroes with an environment that was new and cheerful, not old and neglected?

Last month in the newspaper, I read where the city of Burbank was honoring a local hero by dedicating a city park in his honor. Cpl. Larry Leonard Maxam had received the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroism while serving in Vietnam. I never knew Maxam, but I did something I had never done before. I got involved and went to Pacific Park and became one person in a crowd of hundreds honoring an individual I had never met.

As Memorial Day is just around the corner, I am reminded every Tuesday evening how lucky I am to be able to appear before my City Council and staff and tell the members how I feel on different issues. The other evening was no different for me and, I am sure, for the thousands of other citizens throughout our country doing the same thing.

We know we live in a democracy where we would not be put in jail for not agreeing with our elected officials — I approached the speakers stand and looked right into the eyes of my five elected City Council members. As I made eye contact, I reminded our council members how lucky we all are for all the Maxam’s who gave their lives so we could be free to disagree.

This Memorial Day, I would be honored if the good citizens of Glendale paused for one moment and said a prayer for all the Maxams who made it possible to be living in a free country, despite all its warts and shortcomings.

Mike Mohill

Glendale
 
 

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