Letters to the Editor

Ed. note: The text of the Resolution mentioned in both letters is below.

To the Editor:

The petition that more than 80 people signed to have an article entitled "A Resolution to Support and Protect the Soldiers and Families of the Maine National Guard," put on the May 2 New Gloucester Town Warrant might have been more clear if I had called it simply "Support Our Troops" - because that is what it is intended to promote.

The resolution has to do with putting our money where our mouth is, as a country. It is about our government supporting the troops with more than words and medals when our nation calls them to duty. They risk their jobs, financial security, health, futures for their families, and their very lives on our behalf. The least we can do is our patriotic duty - support them as they need to be supported.

I focused on the Guard because the impact on their families, as well as on the small businesses that must hold their jobs open while doing without their work, is heavier than that borne by the standing armed forces, while the risks are just as great.

I focused on taking back the tax cuts until members of all the armed forces are trained, equipped, and supported going into war, and taken care of afterwards, because it is a debt we owe.

It is appropriate for us as town citizens and taxpayers to come together as a town and direct our elected officials to convey our collective will to our elected representatives in Washington.

I ask all New Gloucester voters who believe we owe more to our troops to come to town meeting, and speak with your vote.

Support our troops. It is the fair, honest, responsible, patriotic, and American thing to do.

Sincerely,

Penny Hilton,
New Gloucester


To the Editor:

As a citizen of New Gloucester and the wife of a National Guardsman who proudly served in Iraq, I wholeheartedly disagree with the resolution that a citizen proposed to the Selectmen at their regular meeting and reported in The Monument. My husband has served with the active duty army and the national guard for 18 years.

He has served his country and his state for all of these years with no complaints, always knowing that duty may call at anytime. As a family we were prepared for him to go wherever that may be and still are. After spending 15 months apart and meeting other guard families and soldiers I believe that the majority of them feel the same way, doing a job they have trained for all their adult lives and considering it a privilege to serve.

They do their jobs as well as any active duty component. They were prepared for Iraq, they had the proper protective gear, they had up armored Humvee, contrary to what the media tried to make us believe. Every time someone tries to say that we should replace National Guard soldiers with active duty personnel it does these soldiers a disservice. If you would like to have the town pass a resolution, then I would suggest that you do it in a manner that would show them that you believe in their ability to perform.

Please just thank them, they have chosen to be soldiers, made a commitment, and are prepared to follow through. It is for your sake and mine that they do so.

Sincerely,

A very proud wife of a National Guard Soldier,
Robin Ray
New Gloucester

"Resolved: that the citizens of New Gloucester, in support of the Maine National Guardsmen and their families, direct the Board of Selectmen to send a letter on our behalf to our state representative, state senator, US Senators, and US Representative to Congress, communicating the following requests:

1) That they pass legislation prohibiting deployment of National Guardsmen and Women for active combat without sufficient combat training and personal and vehicle armor appropriate to the kind of assaults that can be expected;


2) That they pass legislation prohibiting long-term or repeated deployment of National Guard soldiers to areas outside the territorial United States;

3) That they repeal all federal tax cuts instituted since January 1, 20002, and prohibit creation of additional tax cuts until all programs to train and equip military personnel, including those in the National Guard have been fully funded; and until all benefits to military families and veterans have been funded sufficient to their actual needs, and to our debt and promises to them."