DATE: Sunday, June 15, 1997                 TAG: 9706130016

SECTION: COMMENTARY              PAGE: J4   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letters 

                                            LENGTH:  121 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

WORLD WAR II

On D-Day, what's in the paper? Peanuts!

Having just read the June 6 paper, I found it interesting that on such an important day, with the exception of Charles Schulz's comic strip with Snoopy, there was no mention of D-Day and what it meant in history and to the veterans and civilians who gave their lives.

As Hampton Roads is a major military community, and with our schools not teaching that much history, it would be nice for the paper to dedicate at least a small amount of space to subjects that were significant events in our country's growth and heritage.

Bob Wood

Virginia Beach, June 6, 1997

No ``merci'' for French major's remarks

I am really disappointed at your newspaper for not mentioning on June 6 that it was the 53rd anniversay of D-Day. Yet on June 7 you had the audacity to print a big release from The New York Times about the French soldier, Maj. Bruno Mignot, spouting his views about our military. He even had the nerve to say that Americans ``gave the French a hand'' in World War I and again in World War II.

If I remember correctly, many an American boy died or was scarred for life on June 6, 1944, in efforts to free the French people from the Nazi tyranny. And I remember even more so Vichy and the North Atlantic, where the French fired upon our troops.

If I were able to answer Mignot, it would be one sentence: If it were not for the American servicemen in World War II, you would be speaking German today.

Hal Milgrim

Virginia Beach, June 8, 1997

HARBORFEST

Festevents, city deserve our thanks

After thoroughly enjoying Harborfest, I must congratulate and thank Festevents for its outstanding event. Music, and more music, as well as great food, boats and extraordinary fireworks make this happening spectacular.

Residents of Hampton Roads are so very lucky to have such wonderful entertainment, free, in Town Point Park. I have enjoyed Pam Tillis, The Coasters, The Drifters, the jazz/blues festivals and many other groups and special events.

Thank you again to Festevents and the city of Norfolk.

Janet Marvel

Norfolk, June 8, 1997

A big ``gracias'' from the area's Hispanics

I would like to thank Festevents and all the people involved in organizing the Friday night shows at Harborfest. It was an experience I will not soon forget. All the performers - Tito Puente, Poncho Sanchez, Bio Ritmo, New Generation - were superb.

Everyone - old, young, Hispanic, black, white, Oriental - was having a good time and enjoying the music - clapping, dancing, singing or just plain having fun.

Festevents, thanks a million and do it again. We (at least the thousands of area Hispanics) will be there to support you.

Fred Zayas

Virginia Beach, June 9, 1997

GUNS

NRA doesn't teach suicide prevention

The Virginian-Pilot is to be commended for the recent public-safety article focusing on the disturbing reality that nearly 1,000 individuals in Virginia died from gunfire in 1995. Sadly, the number of deaths and woundings from gunfire has risen over the past several years. The Pilot was correct to highlight the fact that, statewide and nationally, the majority of gun deaths are the result of suicide.

The same later stated, ``The National Rifle Association and other groups are trying to combat the misuse of firearms in suicides and homicides with an extensive education program.'' A call to the NRA confirmed that the NRA does not have a suicide-prevention program. The NRA does provide safety training and educational materials related to gun safety.

There is a significant difference between the NRA's teaching ``proper use of firearms'' and the knowledge needed to deal with the complex issues related to suicide and homicide prevention. The NRA leadership advocates that an armed society is a polite society. NRA slogans such as ``guns don't kill people, people do'' make light of the complexity of life and the lethality of guns. Most recently the NRA leadership has gone on record opposing legislation that would require trigger-locking devices despite the fact that this simple addition could save lives.

Some ``other groups'' who do deal with the complex issues related to gun deaths are the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence, The Children's Defense Fund, The American Academy of Pediatrics, The Center for Disease Control, The Virginia State PTA and Virginians Against Handgun Violence.

Kaye Tice

President

Hampton Roads Chapter

Virginians Against Handgun Violence

Norfolk, June 5, 1997

COMIC STRIP

Give cartoonist time to tell his story

I'm writing in response to the June 6 letters concerning the ``Fox Trot'' cartoon. The writers were upset about the use of shoplifting as a story line. They both seemed to be under the impression that the comic was encouraging this criminal act. However, since they both wrote after only the first two days of the story line, they didn't give the artist time to develop the story one way or the other.

This sort of snap judgment of others is actually a far greater problem than shoplifting. I feel the comic is proceeding at a realistic pace to show the whole of what shoplifting is about. I hope it shows the results (i.e., arrest, embarrassment, etc.), but I'll let the artist tell the whole story before I pass judgment on it.

David W. Dodge

Norfolk, June 6, 1997

MILITARY

Bumper vindication

Your June 6 article concerning lack of funds for military maintenance projects finally grants vindication to those who have driven around for years with that obviously most prophetic of bumper stickers:

``It will be a great day when our schools have all the money they need and the Air Force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber.''

Scott D. Henrichsen

Virginia Beach, June 6, 1997

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