Allegiance

Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner, left, and Clark County Judge Executive Henry Branham lead the students attending the Winchester-Clark County Campus of Bluegrass Community and Technology College in the Pledge of Allegiance during a Constitution Day program Thursday. A large number of the more than 720 students enrolled at the college this fall attended the program held on Constitution Day. The color guard was provided by members of the George Rogers Clark High School Junior ROTC program.

By the time the next Journal is published, the mid-term elections will be history. Campaign signs will be coming down, and the focus of the media will shift to the 2012 elections. A new class of elected officials will be seated, and many will begin from day one calculating how to get re-elected. Such is the life of politicians. To assist them, I’m writing for the newly-elected a Voter’s Guide to Re-election. First, remember where your allegiance should lie. It’s not with your political party, nor your legislative/governmental peers, nor the lobbyists who want to be your new best friends.

Dear Editor, I recently read Gerry Bandy's letter to the editor in which she stated, "now it seems sad, and offensive, that the public school system was used to impose religious views on others" (in 1962) and "I don't think you want to go there again. " Considering the state of our public school system today, I would definitely rather go back to the way it was. From the Class of 1985, I remember when I started school we said the Pledge of Allegiance every morning followed by a prayer.

Nov. 17, 1986 The Boonesboro Lioness Club celebrated the 10th anniversary of its charter under Lions International at the Nov. 13 meeting at the Golden Corral Family Steak House. Vertie Thomas, president, conducted the meeting, the Pledge of Allegiance was given by Patsy Riddle and the invocation was given by Fred Gaither, Boonesboro Lions Club. The Cotton Branch-Hunt Homemakers Club will have its annual Christmas party and gift exchange Wednesday, Dec. 10, according to plans made at the Nov. 12 meeting held at the home of Mrs. Ruth Highland, Rowland Avenue.

Dear Editor, Is patriotism blind allegiance to a person, a cause or a principle? No, but it doesn't make one any less patriotic, either. Patriotism isn't always determined by one's allegiance to any one ideal. Patriotism, the kind that columnist Brian Cooney finds offensive, is the ability to support our country's goal while not agreeing with all the methodology used to achieve the result. Patriotism is the ability to espouse an opposing view without diminishing the democratic principles of the country.

Chapter 1828 of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees met Tuesday at a Taste of China with 40 members and guests attending. The meeting was conducted by Gayle Rees, president. Ruby Lenox gave the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by the president. Mrs. Joan Veazey, who was introduced by Don Spillman, program chairman, was the featured speaker. Mrs. Veazey is NARFE Chapter 97 president (Central Kentucky - Lexington) and is current vice chairwoman and past chairperson of NARFE Alzheimer's National Committee.

Winchester Lions Club held its annual Christmas dinner Saturday at First Church of God on Colby Road, catered by Women of the Church of God.  The evening opened with a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and the invocation by Paul Baber. Richard Garrett served as master of ceremonies, and Bill Bender was recognized for his service of 20 years as chairman of the committee on sight conservation. Dickie Piercefield was recognized as council secretary, Multiple District 43, Lions of Kentucky and John Jenks, Boonesboro Lions Club, was recognized as past governor, District 43Y. The program by The Winchester Journeymen began with an introduction of the quartet, composed of Bob Cowen, Miller Gaunce, David Rogers and Mike Sheffield with Betty Cowen at the keyboard and Linda Koppelman on bass.

Nine of 10 Kentuckians support a state legislative proposal to mandate that public schools set aside time each day to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. SB 15, called the Kentucky School Patriot Act, sponsored by Sen. Vernie McGaha, R-Russell Springs, is before the Senate Education Committee. It doesn’t require that students actually say the pledge, but they must stand or sit quietly and “respect the rights of those pupils electing to participate.” But what about respecting the rights of those students who elect not to participate?

Nicholasville student receives scholarship Chelsea Denise Garza, a junior majoring in Anthropology at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, is a recent recipient of a $1,000 TREA Scholarship which is awarded to The Retired Enlisted Association's members' children and grandchildren. Her parents are Javier and Judy Garza of Nicholasville. Her grandparents are Raul T. and Eva Garza of Brownsville and Stella Curnutt of Corbin, Ky. Her TREA sponsor was her father. TREA's mission is the advocacy and maintenance of the rights and benefits due to retired enlisted personnel from all service branches.

Nov. 17, 1986 The Boonesboro Lioness Club celebrated the 10th anniversary of its charter under Lions International at the Nov. 13 meeting at the Golden Corral Family Steak House. Vertie Thomas, president, conducted the meeting, the Pledge of Allegiance was given by Patsy Riddle and the invocation was given by Fred Gaither, Boonesboro Lions Club. The Cotton Branch-Hunt Homemakers Club will have its annual Christmas party and gift exchange Wednesday, Dec. 10, according to plans made at the Nov. 12 meeting held at the home of Mrs. Ruth Highland, Rowland Avenue.

Nine of 10 Kentuckians support a state legislative proposal to mandate that public schools set aside time each day to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. SB 15, called the Kentucky School Patriot Act, sponsored by Sen. Vernie McGaha, R-Russell Springs, is before the Senate Education Committee. It doesn’t require that students actually say the pledge, but they must stand or sit quietly and “respect the rights of those pupils electing to participate.” But what about respecting the rights of those students who elect not to participate?

By the time the next Journal is published, the mid-term elections will be history. Campaign signs will be coming down, and the focus of the media will shift to the 2012 elections. A new class of elected officials will be seated, and many will begin from day one calculating how to get re-elected. Such is the life of politicians. To assist them, I’m writing for the newly-elected a Voter’s Guide to Re-election. First, remember where your allegiance should lie. It’s not with your political party, nor your legislative/governmental peers, nor the lobbyists who want to be your new best friends.

The Boonesboro Lioness Lions Club met Aug. 13 at the Breaking Bread Cafe. The meeting was called to order by the president, Bonnie Noplis. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Tammy Riddle and Martha Gaither led in prayer. Following a delicious dinner, Ashley Nicole Marcum, daughter of Ted and Cindy Marcum, and a 2009 graduate of George Rogers Clark High School, was presented a $600 scholarship by Janet Gaither, past president of the Boonesboro Lioness Club. Marcum is attending Midway College.

Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner, left, and Clark County Judge Executive Henry Branham lead the students attending the Winchester-Clark County Campus of Bluegrass Community and Technology College in the Pledge of Allegiance during a Constitution Day program Thursday. A large number of the more than 720 students enrolled at the college this fall attended the program held on Constitution Day. The color guard was provided by members of the George Rogers Clark High School Junior ROTC program.

Tuesday was a big day for Jayme Phillips. Tuesday morning he was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by Judge Executive R. W. "Buckwheat" Gilbert, and Tuesday night he was named Citizen of the Year by the Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce. Phillips and many other notable county residents were recognized for their contributions during the preceding year at Tuesday night's annual Chamber Banquet. Dinner in the Lincoln County High School cafeteria was preceded by the presentation of colors by the high school Junior Guard and singing of the national anthem.

Dear Editor, I recently read Gerry Bandy's letter to the editor in which she stated, "now it seems sad, and offensive, that the public school system was used to impose religious views on others" (in 1962) and "I don't think you want to go there again. " Considering the state of our public school system today, I would definitely rather go back to the way it was. From the Class of 1985, I remember when I started school we said the Pledge of Allegiance every morning followed by a prayer.

Dear Editor, Is patriotism blind allegiance to a person, a cause or a principle? No, but it doesn't make one any less patriotic, either. Patriotism isn't always determined by one's allegiance to any one ideal. Patriotism, the kind that columnist Brian Cooney finds offensive, is the ability to support our country's goal while not agreeing with all the methodology used to achieve the result. Patriotism is the ability to espouse an opposing view without diminishing the democratic principles of the country.

The outcome of congressional left-wingers' attempts to kill the Colombian free-trade agreement plays out as critically for Kentuckians as for Colombians. Most Americans don't understand the stakes, a reality that politicians such as Reps. John Yarmuth and Ben Chandler - both opponents of the agreement - seem all too willing to exploit. These congressmen need to part with their narrow-minded union pals on this issue and think about Kentucky's - and our nation's - economic and political future.