Disappointed By Veterans' Day Decision

By CURT CLARK

Published: Nov 13, 2009 12:00 am

Disappointed By Veteransâ Day

Decision

To the Editor:

Yesterday, 13 members of the US Army were killed by a fellow soldier at Fort Hood, Texas. The serviceman allegedly responsible for the crime was in what has been described as preparedness training for deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. As I watched the tragedy unfold at Fort Hood, it reminded me how upset I am that the Town of Newtown Board of Education and the Superintendentâs Office have decided to remove the Veteransâ Day holiday from the 2009 and 2010 school calendar.

In 1964, I enlisted in the US Army, and served until 1967. It remains one of my proudest life accomplishments. Right now our country is involved in an extremely unpopular war with an elusive enemy. According to the most current statistics, over 4,300 US servicemen and women have lost their lives since the warâs inception in 2003. And as I write this letter, more forces are being readied for deployment. Some service members are on their third and fourth deployment. The Fort Hood tragedy was allegedly perpetrated by an Army doctor opposed to being deployed to the Middle East.

Despite all of this, the Town of Newtown has elected to remove the Veteransâ Day holiday from the 2009 and 2010 school schedule. This is simply sending the wrong message to the students (and frankly the entire population) of this wonderful town. Our students enjoy many religious and social holidays throughout the school year. This year, the town has chosen to not honor our veterans, an honor and a holiday that crosses all social, religious, racial, and economic lines. I am very disappointed that the board has chosen not to honor those who have served, some of whom never came home. As a result, I would call upon the parents and residents of Newtown to privately remember and honor those who have served, and remind our students that many have made sacrifices for our continuing freedom, something that the Board of Education has clearly forgotten.

Sincerely,

Thomas M. Adams

22 Littlebrook Lane, Newtown Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â November 6, 2009

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I appreciate the passion behind this message, and I absolutely understand the desire to invest in our town. That said, I voted no — not because I don't care about Newtown, but because I do. Fiscal responsibility is not about ignoring problems, it’s about making sure we address them in a sustainable and transparent way. It’s frustrating to feel like every year there’s a new “urgent” reason to raise taxes, with little serious effort to curb spending or prioritize needs. I worry this just sets the stage for another round of increases next year. That doesn't mean I’m against education, safety, or our town’s future — it means I believe in accountability and in asking tough questions about how our money is managed. Voting no wasn't a rejection of Newtown — it was a call for more thoughtful, balanced leadership. I hope future conversations can include all perspectives, not just those willing to write a bigger check.

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Disappointed By Veterans' Day Decision

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