THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 27, 1995 TAG: 9508250171
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 275 lines
Congratulations to the members of Portsmouth City Council for putting to rest the issue of the new I.C. Norcom High School. It will be built.
Norcom has always been more than simply a school in the African American community. As a result of its long and rich history Norcom has, for many, become the most important institution outside of the black church. The school's struggle for survival for a significant number of citizens has come to represent our own efforts to live and grow in an increasingly hostile environment. The construction of (a new) Norcom, rightly or wrongly, had become the lightning rod for all that is ugly in our city concerning the issues of race.
When we consider the city's modest tax base, it took courage, vision and sensitivity to understand that only with the construction of (a new) Norcom would Portsmouth finally be able to heal the wounds of racial animus and mistrust that lay just below the surface. That healing is absolutely critical for a city that is half African American and half white. The fact that the construction fits neatly into the Vision 2005 Economic Development Plan is a huge bonus.
We all know that Portsmouth can be a jewel in the South Hampton Roads metropolitan area. With a population near 100,000, the city is a manageable size for redevelopment purposes. If we are finally able to pull together, black and white, the city can become a clean, safe and comfortable bedroom community where people are proud to live and work.
If Portsmouth is able to cultivate and maintain the image of a community that is simply a good and pleasant place to live we will dramatically benefit from the synergy of the growth of Hampton Roads as a whole.
With the Norcom decision behind us, the City Council has made a giant step at achieving this goal. Let's get on with the business of rebuilding our city and making it a great place to live.
Kenneth R. Melvin
Portsmouth
Aug. 23 Protect the veterans
As I was growing up in the late 1930s and early 1940s, I remember a group of World War I veterans who had built a bunk house in which they lived. They were fed by the people who lived in our little town along the Susquehanna River. I never thought much about them until as a disabled veteran of World War II, I attended DAV State and National Conventions recently. There we heard a speech by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from Washington, Jesse Brown, and at the National Convention we heard the DAV National Commander D.A. Siosa. They told about Veterans of World War I who had received benefits, but had them taken away in the '30s. Now here we are in 1995 and we veterans are being threatened by some in Washington who are trying to take away benefits from disabled American veterans. They are also talking about closing over 150 veterans hospitals.
If all those people who are proposing to cut out veterans benefits could have seen all the disabled veterans assembled at the National Convention, they would appreciate the sacrifices they have made for our country. Some had one limb missing, some two limbs, and some with all limbs gone, some blind, and some unable to function without help.
Our country can never replace all that was lost by these deserving veterans. It is a shame that some in Washington would take away the benefits from those who have earned them and deserve them.
We at Chapter (NU)22, 4648 Portsmouth Blvd., have a service officer on the premises. If any veteran, disabled or otherwise, needs any help at all, we are available to assist.
We are asking all veterans and other members of our society to write to their congressmen on our behalf. We are not to be considered as welfare cases. We did the job that was asked of us 50 years ago, and I think we did a good job. We deserve our benefits. We earned them, so please help us keep them.
The percentage of disabled veterans from the wars are as follows: World War II - 41.2; Vietnam - 28.9; Korea - 8.8; Persian Gulf - 6.9; World War I - 7.8. Made up of well over 1 million men and women, disabled in our nation's defense, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is dedicated to one purpose - representing the interest of disabled veterans, their families, their widowed spouses, and their orphans before Congress and the White House as well as state and local governments.
James F. Cerza
Forest Haven Lane
Aug. 22, 1995 `Character education'
Hats off to the Rev. Charles Bowens II for his efforts in urging the Portsmouth City School Board to investigate ``character education'' programs that are being used in school districts across the country.
The Portsmouth City School system already has a well-defined policy on ``Rights and Responsibilities of Students'' and individual schools have their own discipline plans in action. In addition, many parents sent their children to school with their values and moral character already in place. However, respect, self-discipline and responsibility are still critical concerns in our schools.
I am certain that parents, educators, and all individuals and groups who are concerned about the teaching of basic values in the schools join me in urging Superintendent Trumble to ``renew'' the effort to learn more about ``character education'' programs used in other school districts.
We thank Superintendent Trumble and the entire staff for past efforts and offer our best wishes for a very successful 1995-96 school year.
Rose Driver Williams
Killian Avenue
Aug. 8
Congratulations to the members of Portsmouth City Council for putting to rest the issue of the new I.C. Norcom High School. It will be built.
Norcom has always been more than simply a school in the African American community. As a result of its long and rich history Norcom has, for many, become the most important institution outside of the black church. The school's struggle for survival for a significant number of citizens has come to represent our own efforts to live and grow in an increasingly hostile environment. The construction of (a new) Norcom, rightly or wrongly, had become the lightning rod for all that is ugly in our city concerning the issues of race.
When we consider the city's modest tax base, it took courage, vision and sensitivity to understand that only with the construction of (a new) Norcom would Portsmouth finally be able to heal the wounds of racial animus and mistrust that lay just below the surface. That healing is absolutely critical for a city that is half African American and half white. The fact that the construction fits neatly into the Vision 2005 Economic Development Plan is a huge bonus.
We all know that Portsmouth can be a jewel in the South Hampton Roads metropolitan area. With a population near 100,000, the city is a manageable size for redevelopment purposes. If we are finally able to pull together, black and white, the city can become a clean, safe and comfortable bedroom community where people are proud to live and work.
If Portsmouth is able to cultivate and maintain the image of a community that is simply a good and pleasant place to live we will dramatically benefit from the synergy of the growth of Hampton Roads as a whole.
With the Norcom decision behind us, the City Council has made a giant step at achieving this goal. Let's get on with the business of rebuilding our city and making it a great place to live.
Kenneth R. Melvin
Portsmouth
Aug. 23
As I was growing up in the late 1930s and early 1940s, I remember a group of World War I veterans who had built a bunk house in which they lived. They were fed by the people who lived in our little town along the Susquehanna River. I never thought much about them until as a disabled veteran of World War II, I attended DAV State and National Conventions recently. There we heard a speech by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from Washington, Jesse Brown, and at the National Convention we heard the DAV National Commander D.A. Siosa. They told about Veterans of World War I who had received benefits, but had them taken away in the '30s. Now here we are in 1995 and we veterans are being threatened by some in Washington who are trying to take away benefits from disabled American veterans. They are also talking about closing over 150 veterans hospitals.
If all those people who are proposing to cut out veterans benefits could have seen all the disabled veterans assembled at the National Convention, they would appreciate the sacrifices they have made for our country. Some had one limb missing, some two limbs, and some with all limbs gone, some blind, and some unable to function without help.
Our country can never replace all that was lost by these deserving veterans. It is a shame that some in Washington would take away the benefits from those who have earned them and deserve them.
We at Chapter (NU)22, 4648 Portsmouth Blvd., have a service officer on the premises. If any veteran, disabled or otherwise, needs any help at all, we are available to assist.
We are asking all veterans and other members of our society to write to their congressmen on our behalf. We are not to be considered as welfare cases. We did the job that was asked of us 50 years ago, and I think we did a good job. We deserve our benefits. We earned them, so please help us keep them.
The percentage of disabled veterans from the wars are as follows: World War II - 41.2; Vietnam - 28.9; Korea - 8.8; Persian Gulf - 6.9; World War I - 7.8. Made up of well over 1 million men and women, disabled in our nation's defense, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is dedicated to one purpose - representing the interest of disabled veterans, their families, their widowed spouses, and their orphans before Congress and the White House as well as state and local governments.
James F. Cerza
Forest Haven Lane
Aug. 22, 1995
Hats off to the Rev. Charles Bowens II for his efforts in urging the Portsmouth City School Board to investigate ``character education'' programs that are being used in school districts across the country.
The Portsmouth City School system already has a well-defined policy on ``Rights and Responsibilities of Students'' and individual schools have their own discipline plans in action. In addition, many parents sent their children to school with their values and moral character already in place. However, respect, self-discipline and responsibility are still critical concerns in our schools.
I am certain that parents, educators, and all individuals and groups who are concerned about the teaching of basic values in the schools join me in urging Superintendent Trumble to ``renew'' the effort to learn more about ``character education'' programs used in other school districts.
We thank Superintendent Trumble and the entire staff for past efforts and offer our best wishes for a very successful 1995-96 school year.
Rose Driver Williams
Killian Avenue
Aug. 8
Congratulations to the members of Portsmouth City Council for putting to rest the issue of the new I.C. Norcom High School. It will be built.
Norcom has always been more than simply a school in the African American community. As a result of its long and rich history Norcom has, for many, become the most important institution outside of the black church. The school's struggle for survival for a significant number of citizens has come to represent our own efforts to live and grow in an increasingly hostile environment. The construction of (a new) Norcom, rightly or wrongly, had become the lightning rod for all that is ugly in our city concerning the issues of race.
When we consider the city's modest tax base, it took courage, vision and sensitivity to understand that only with the construction of (a new) Norcom would Portsmouth finally be able to heal the wounds of racial animus and mistrust that lay just below the surface. That healing is absolutely critical for a city that is half African American and half white. The fact that the construction fits neatly into the Vision 2005 Economic Development Plan is a huge bonus.
We all know that Portsmouth can be a jewel in the South Hampton Roads metropolitan area. With a population near 100,000, the city is a manageable size for redevelopment purposes. If we are finally able to pull together, black and white, the city can become a clean, safe and comfortable bedroom community where people are proud to live and work.
If Portsmouth is able to cultivate and maintain the image of a community that is simply a good and pleasant place to live we will benefit from the synergy of the growth of Hampton Roads as a whole.
With the Norcom decision behind us, the City Council has made a giant step at achieving this goal. Let's get on with the business of rebuilding our city and making it a great place to live.
Kenneth R. Melvin
Portsmouth
Aug. 23
As I was growing up in the late 1930s and early 1940s, I remember a group of World War I veterans who had built a bunk house in which they lived. They were fed by the people who lived in our little town along the Susquehanna River. I never thought much about them until as a disabled veteran of World War II, I attended DAV State and National Conventions recently. There we heard a speech by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from Washington, Jesse Brown, and at the National Convention we heard the DAV National Commander D.A. Siosa. They told about Veterans of World War I who had received benefits, but had them taken away in the '30s. Now here we are in 1995 and we veterans are being threatened by some in Washington who are trying to take away benefits from disabled American veterans. They are also talking about closing over 150 veterans hospitals.
If all those people who are proposing to cut out veterans benefits could have seen all the disabled veterans assembled at the National Convention, they would appreciate the sacrifices they have made for our country. Some had one limb missing, some two limbs, and some with all limbs gone, some blind, and some unable to function without help.
Our country can never replace all that was lost by these deserving veterans. It is a shame that some in Washington would take away the benefits from those who have earned them and deserve them.
We at Chapter (NU)22, 4648 Portsmouth Blvd., have a service officer on the premises. If any veteran, disabled or otherwise, needs any help at all, we are available to assist.
We are asking all veterans and other members of our society to write to their congressmen on our behalf. We are not to be considered as welfare cases. We did the job that was asked of us 50 years ago, and I think we did a good job. We deserve our benefits. We earned them, so please help us keep them.
The percentage of disabled veterans from the wars are as follows: World War II - 41.2; Vietnam - 28.9; Korea - 8.8; Persian Gulf - 6.9; World War I - 7.8. Made up of well over 1 million men and women, disabled in our nation's defense, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is dedicated to one purpose - representing the interest of disabled veterans, their families, their widowed spouses, and their orphans before Congress and the White House as well as state and local governments.
James F. Cerza
Forest Haven Lane
Aug. 22, 1995
Hats off to the Rev. Charles Bowens II for his efforts in urging the Portsmouth City School Board to investigate ``character education'' programs that are being used in school districts across the country.
The Portsmouth City School system already has a well-defined policy on ``Rights and Responsibilities of Students'' and individual schools have their own discipline plans in action. In addition, many parents sent their children to school with their values and moral character already in place. However, respect, self-discipline and responsibility are still critical concerns in our schools.
I am certain that parents, educators, and all individuals and groups who are concerned about the teaching of basic values in the schools join me in urging Superintendent Trumble to ``renew'' the effort to learn more about ``character education'' programs used in other school districts.
We thank Superintendent Trumble and the entire staff for past efforts and offer best wishes for a very successful 1995-96 school year.
Rose Driver Williams
Killian Avenue
Aug. 8 by CNB