ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, July 31, 1996 TAG: 9607310085
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A10 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTER
I WAS BASKING in a warm, fuzzy glow after reading of the brother and sister reunited in Israel 60 years after fleeing from Nazi persecution (July 24 article, ``Brother and sister reunite 60 years after death camp''). Both thought they were the only survivors of a family murdered in the Treblinka Death Camp.
My joy for them was cut short by the next headline: ``Nazi's war crimes trial goes unnoticed in Rome.''
Ex-SS Capt. Erich Priebke, now in his 80s, stands accused of war crimes for his part in the massacre of 335 people in Rome on March 24, 1944. His defense: ``I was only following orders.''
This Nazi officer is being tried by a tribunal that usually handles barracks brawls and disciplinary actions. The judges have rejected witnesses, of which there are many, for reasons of ``time and relevance.''
In this day of neo-Nazism and revisionist history when people doubt the truth of the Holocaust, this trial - probably the last for Nazi atrocities - should be broadcast live around the world, and covered in detail in every newspaper. (CNN, where are you when we need you?) And Priebke should be made to face all his accusers. (There is the suspicion that Rome isn't yet ready to deal with the shame of its Nazi collaboration.)
We must learn and teach our children that the Holocaust is historical fact, with millions of pages of testimony and documentation and thousands of gruesome photographs to prove it.
On the next page, another article, ``Mourning Tutsis stone Hutu Leader,'' about a ``mass funeral for some 300 people - mainly women and children.'' Genocide is still among us. We must learn from history.
Lest we forget. KIM LaBRECQUE ROANOKE
Poor planning for I-81 rest stops
A LETTER to the editor on July 18 (``I-81 travelers need more rest stops'' by Harold G. Ramsuer) expressed concerns for more rest stops on Interstate 81 in the distance of 105 miles between Ironto and Mt. Sidney.
I believe, as the letter writer stated, that northbound motorists got cheated. They have no rest stops and southbound motorists have two.
Did the plans get mixed up? Was one of the rest stops planned for the northbound lanes, instead of two for southbound lanes? A correction of this mistake by the Virginia Department of Transportation is long overdue. DORIS M. ARMSTRONG STAUNTON
Bible tales used out of context
RESPONSE to John Hodges' July 20 letter to the editor, ``Clinton lacking by Bible's sex standards'':
I find it very hard to believe that anyone could be so irresponsible as to take words from the Old Testament of the Bible and use them in his own self-serving way as was done in this letter.
As everyone knows, the Old Testament is that part of the Bible that deals with time before Christ's birth. Hodges has created a big distortion by taking these items out of their original context.
If President Clinton is just half the person he would have people think he is, then I don't think he would be pleased with this analogy.
I think Hodges better read the Bible a little more thoroughly so that he has an understanding of the reprisals that were brought to bear on people who didn't obey God. BARBARA GROSECLOSE TROUTVILLE
Boating education is recommended
YOUR JULY 16 article, "Gun bags the boat that got away,'' failed to tell the whole story.
I witnessed much of the action that occurred approximately 31/2 miles downstream from Hales Ford Bridge during a violent storm that dumped more than two inches of rain on the area. There was wind and dangerous lightning, and visibility was reduced almost to zero. The game wardens and volunteer firefighters - with lights flashing - surrounded the runaway boat, giving the only warning to boat traffic that anything was amiss. Had they not been there, a serious accident could have occurred.
As darkness approached, the runaway boat spiraled closer to the Bedford County shore of Smith Mountain Lake. A few minutes more and it would have crashed ashore, destroying the boat and possibly doing additional property damage.
The game wardens and marine firefighters are to be commended. They risked their lives for the good of the public. All this could have been prevented had the boat operator been wearing the lanyard for his engine's kill switch, and had he been operating at a safe speed for the conditions.
Situations such as this, which endanger both the public and public servants, can be avoided through education. ELIZABETH N. LAMONS State boating instructor ROANOKE
Many depend on public buses
REGARDING Henry Wiesen's July 20 letter to the editor, ``Public bus service isn't practical'':
If he were a widow lady, a nondriver and an elderly person, he would say bus service would be very practical.
By the way, we don't have Sunday bus service [as his letter implied].
I will be glad to pay taxes for any bus service we can receive. But don't take our only transportation away from us. GERTRUDE W. LESTER VINTON
Rescuer's concern won't be forgotten
I READ with interest, as much as I could, your excellent July 21 news article, ``The golden hour of Life-Guard 10.'' I wanted to read every word, but was emotionally unable to as it revived a rush of memories - some good, some horrific.
I was uplifted as I read the name of Jeff McKinney in the article. What a joy to know that he's thriving, and with Life-Guard 10 now.
Eleven years ago, my two young sons and I were involved in a terrible accident. Life-Guard 10 was called and airlifted me to Roanoke Memorial Hospital. At that time, McKinney was a member of the Bedford County Volunteer Rescue Squad. He was only 21 years old, but was instrumental in maintaining my sanity throughout that traumatic ordeal.
They flew me in the opposite direction from where they were taking my boys, who were transported by ambulance to the local hospital. The rescue workers knew I had a broken back and a broken neck. I also had a high-level spinal-cord injury and was totally paralyzed. They also knew it was very likely that I might remain paralyzed.
What they didn't realize was the biggest injury I suffered was a broken heart. I couldn't move to help my boys. Then, they were going in one direction and I in another. I've been blessed with many talents and I'm many things, but I'm a mother first. You bet my heart was broken.
McKinney was such a young man then, and I'll never forget him. He stayed with me throughout the ordeal, and over the next few weeks, he came to visit me at the University of Virginia each time he made a transfer there for the crew.
Many others were at the accident, but when you go through trauma, I guess only a choice few stay fixed in your memory.
Some emergency flights made on Life-Guard 10 end in heartache. I'm sure the heartache isn't only on the shoulders of the victim's family, but also on the shoulders of rescue workers. I've experienced firsthand how compassionate they are. BRENDA C. WALKER BEDFORD
The changing hues of Roanoke's star
WHAT HAVE you done to your star? It looks like a Christmas ornament.
When you gaze upon a star-lit sky, you expect to see brilliant white stars - not red, white and blue ones. Why do people always think they can improve on perfection?
Also, it's my guess that some were bothered by the star burning red when there was a traffic fatality. Maybe it made certain Roanokers uncomfortable.
While growing up nearby, and as a resident of Roanoke for a few years, that red star always seemed to heighten driver awareness and act as a sober reminder of what can happen on the road. KATHERINE TAYLOR STAUNTON
LENGTH: Long : 144 linesby CNB