THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 25, 1995 TAG: 9505230079
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
What if every house of worship opened its service, or before the benediction there were three minutes of silent prayer expressing gratitude for what we have in this wonderful country and then prayer for those in any leadership capacity to be guided into making peaceful and harmonious decisions for the good of all.
These people need prayers to know how to go and what to do. Everyone can participate in this prayer - and what a power of thought this can be.
Jeanne S. Ellis
Apple Tree Lane Thanks to Virginians
As one of the Task Force II Rescue Team members who went to Oklahoma, I wanted to take the time to express my deep appreciation for the love, prayers, compassion and support the people of Virginia have shown the state of Oklahoma and, in particular, the citizens of Oklahoma City.
There is a great amount of appreciation and thanks that has been expressed to the people of Oklahoma City for their caring and concern of Task Force members while we were there dealing with the most difficult and horrifying task that any of us ever had to experience.
While in Oklahoma we rarely had the opportunity to receive local news from our hometowns, but once we returned to Norfolk Naval Air Station, I had the opportunity to reflect on my surrounding communities, and I was absolutely astonished with the many blood drives, food supply shipments, letter writing, gift and monetary donations, even the small children of Virginia donating their favorite toys to the children of Oklahoma City, was beyond comprehension and too much for this Task Force member to bear. And if all that you had done weren't enough, you graciously welcomed us back home.
Thank you, Virginia, thank you so very much for making me proud and honored to belong to such a wonderful, caring and compassionate state.
Jimbo Meagher
District fire chief
Norfolk Naval Base Fire Department What the kids think
During the '94-95 school year 31 schools utilized the resource provided by Sheriff McCabe's youth crime prevention program delivered by one of his deputies who is a ventriloquist.
The following comments from students at Ruffner Middle School, James Monroe and Poplar Halls Elementary Schools show what they think and what they learned.
``I really learned what drugs can do to you.''
``Your visits to each school make a difference.''
``When you came to our school to talk about drugs and how it can harm us if we use them, I really learned a lot from it.''
``Thank you for your ventriloquist act. Tell Matthew (dummy), I'll send him a box of termites!''
``That talk you had with us was encouraging. I bet you don't know my mom was shot in a drive-by.''
``You taught me something that I did not know.''
``The program showed how to say no to drugs and how to walk away from it.''
``You got your point across in a really fun way.''
``I've never laughed harder at a dummy. Your speech and poem made me pay attention.''
``I still can't figure out how you don't move your lips but you can still make noise.''
``It is cool how you do ventriloquism. You talk about real life so that people understand you.''
``I had a lot of fun looking and listening to what you said.''
``I learned that hitting people is not the way to solve problems.''
``Deputy Bob made us realize that we need to make good choices instead of making bad choices.''
``I enjoyed your demonstration and learned or to fight or get mad.''
``I learned about being kind.''
``I am going to color the coloring book. Your dummy looks nice.''
``We will make good choices.''
Bob Walsh
East Randall Avenue by CNB