Veterans Day ceremony drew small crowd
Were you there? Causland Park on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, were you there?

The canon was fired, but that was the only official ceremony. Those gathered chatted in disbelief.

Eventually a woman stepped forward and led the group in an appropriate prayer. Then a neighbor who had brought his guitar sang a song of his own composition honoring veterans and led the group in singing “This Land is Your Land” and “America the Beautiful.” Another neighbor led in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

The veterans in the group were honored and gathered to shake hands. It was the kind of impromptu ceremony that Americans can do so well, simple, sincere and honest. But it was far less than what our town has done in the past and far less than what the day deserves.

Ten years ago being new to town I wrote to a friend living back east about the moving Veterans Day ceremony that I had attended in my new home town. 

Veterans Day
If you travel north and west, as far as you can go within the lower 48 states, you will reach a place where the land dissolves into a series of islands, a wonderful mixture of sea, forest and mountains. Towns are young here and unpretentious, much like those ideal small American towns that in other parts of the country are spoken of only in past tense. Our town was named by its founder after his bride, Annie Curtis.

About a hundred townsfolk of all ages are gathered in the little park near the center of town. The Boy Scouts stand in ranks and shift their weight from foot to foot on this cold November morning. A small detachment of Marines present the flag. The mayor speaks briefly. He mentions that in years past there were always Gold Star Mothers here. There are none today. A Navy captain from the Naval Air Station on a neighboring island speaks. Many of his sailors and aviators are our neighbors.

My wife and I are new in town. After many years of living and working in our nation’s capital we are impressed by the heartfelt simplicity of the ceremony. Then they begin reading the names, those from our town who have fallen in battle and will never grow old. The woman seated next to my wife begins to silently cry.

Harry Causland, one of General Pershing’s “Immortal 100” and for whom our little park is named. The Allen brothers, Phillip, Barney and Robert. Robert and Barney died while prisoners of the Japanese. Phillip, the youngest, died in the Battle of the Bulge.

The woman next to my wife is now silently sobbing. Her head is down and her shoulders shaking. She is older, one of the generation of Americans who made the great sacrifices. How many of the named did she know? How many did she love? My wife asks me if she should put her arm around the woman but the ceremony quickly ends. A Marine bugler plays taps and we all leave just as the rain starts.

It’s Veterans Day in Anacortes, Washington.
Rodger Asbury
Anacortes

City can’t take care of everything
This letter is in response to Janet L. Moore’s (no relation) letter published in the Oct. 21 issue of the Anacortes American, in which she stated that she was “unable to get off the hill and to work for over a week” during last winter’s “great snowstorm.”

Citizens cannot expect government to take care of everything, especially acts of nature such as last December’s weather, which seemed to be an anomaly. It’s expensive to have snow removal equipment and personnel waiting around for an event that may not occur.

During the years I lived in a wintry locale, it took time to plow major roads, and none of the side streets in the city ever were plowed. There, as here, thanks to my four-wheel drive vehicle, I’ve had no problems getting to and from work.

Ms. Moore commented that since she was unable to get to work, it cost her “a lot of money.” Even though my fellow employees — most of whom also have 4WD or all-wheel drive (I was happy to transport a co-worker who did not have 4WD) — and I were able to get to work, our employer closed business early a number of days because few people were shopping.

Mayor Maxwell is an effective and proven leader. Once again he had my support in his campaign for re-election.
Andrea Moore
Anacortes

Help needed in finding where descendants are
I am searching for descendants of Della Martin Marinakos. She was married to George Marinakos and they ran a restaurant in Anacortes. Della was the daughter of Elizabeth Gaddy Martin and Presley Martin. I have pictures and family history to share.
Dave Gaddy-Cox
Kansas City, Kan.

Oyster Run appreciates all the support
The Oyster Run Committee would once again like to thank the many people who helped to make this year’s Oyster Run a success: Anacortes service clubs; Anacortes Public Works for maintenance/sanitation, etc.; downtown businesses; Anacortes Police Department; Birch Equipment for barricades and cones; Safeway; City Street; Ace Hardware; Anacortes Fire Department; Brian Geer at the Red Cross; Mount Baker H.O.G. for volunteering at the information booth; Christian Motorcycle Association for set-up and traffic monitoring; and Jim McNally and his crew, Wrestlers For Life, for cleaning everything up after the event, as well as anyone we may have forgotten to mention.

Your help was very much appreciated.

We would also like to thank everyone who came to have a great time and check things out. We hope you had as much fun as we did.
Angie Haynes
Bellingham

Hedgehog Gathering was so much fun
I want to thank Anacortes for making the seventh Hedgehog Gathering such a success. Each year has become easier and easier to put on this wonderful party for all of you.

Special thanks to the merchants who contributed enthusiastically to the show and to the city of Anacortes for the generous tourism grant this year.  Your participation helps the Depot Arts Center and Gallery and the Anacortes Community Theatre. 

In this year’s survey of the out-of-towners, many mentioned the reader boards next to the highway as their first introduction to the HH Gathering. The banner across Commercial also paved the way for the new visitors.

This year certified judge Marc Hines agreed to do “one more show.” Next year Kim Miller has had enough supervised training to be the new judge, so keep your fingers crossed.

A special thank you to the Huffstodt children and their dad, Ron, who worked tirelessly putting the show up and taking it down and cleaning the Depot. Thanks also to the Key Club members who are a joy to be around and for their help.

Of course the most fun are the dozens and dozens of curious and laughing children who introduce us to the wondrous world of discovery every year.

My apologies to those who came to the show after 4 p.m. and missed the hedgehogs.

I saw the hedgehog owners peel off the HH covers so everyone got to see and pet. Next time we might have another event so the show will not close down early.

Thank you everyone. I never have so much fun.
Carroll L. Meek
Hedgehog Gathering sponsor

Many helped with couple’s anniversary
We would like to thank all the people who helped us celebrate our 50th anniversary reception at the United Methodist Church, the people who sent us cards and called us, the United Methodist women who set up the tables and made coffee and punch, and Gere-A-Deli who catered the food.
Willy and Jean Lundin
Anacortes