Remember the sacrificeJanuary 23, 2011Dear Sir,After reading the letter to the Editor from Clinton A. Paynter of St George’s, concerning his anger at being required to serve in the Bermuda Regiment for three and one half years, I write the following.Hello Bermuda. Remember me. I am the veteran of US Naval Station Bermuda. I am the Airman of Kindley Air Force base. I am the US Coast Guardsman of the Atlantic and the Naval surface and underwater US Navy that year in and year out protects not only America, but also the tiny speck of an island called Bermuda. All of us that served for so many years in the Armed Forces of the United States were given years of isolation, danger, low pay, family and loved one separations, and yes, death. We too received the violent and profane treatment of boot camp, weapons training, and severe loneliness. We to resented the loss of future college brought about by the draft or enlistment. We too resented greatly our deployment thousands of miles away, only to receive combat, Dear John letters and death.The next time, Mr Paynter, you put on that uniform or hold and shoot that rifle or pistol, remember this. You have been given the honour of defending your land, your country, your freedom, your family, and your Queen. Britain, Canada, and the United States, have paid for your freedom. I strongly suggest you read your history and you might remember a few things.I am an American Veteran who not only values highly my freedom, but I back that freedom up with the training I received, and the pistols, rifles, assault rifles I own.In the future, the next time you encounter an Canadian, American, or British service man, remember the price that has been paid in places called D-Day, Omaha, Utah, Juno and Sword.Remember the U-boats surrounding your island while so many Bermudians went hungry. Remember over 50 million deaths that just one dictator created. Remember the rapes, beatings, imprisonments, and ovens of death.Remember me and my fellow Naval Seabees that maintained your Naval Station all the while walking post during the Cuban crises and countless other duties. Remember Mr.Paynter, to look upon very man or women in uniform from Canada, England and the United States, as your defender for the right and privilege to wear the Bermuda uniform. Moreover, to hold that weapon of freedom.RONALD ARTHUR SLATERUSAWork, don’t begJanuary 24, 2011Dear Sir,Over the past few years I have lost count of the children who have knocked on my door “begging” for donations for a school prom; majorette outfit; sports related travel and a host of other things.My standard response is: “No, I do not give money to beggars”. I tell them that what they should be doing is knocking on doors and asking if there is any work they can do to earn it.When I was a child, there were many things that I would like to have done if my parents could afford it. But we couldn’t afford it and we simply did not do a lot of things that we would have liked. That was a fact of life that me and most of my peers lived with.So I would say to parents out there that if you cannot afford to purchase the necessary items for your daughter to be in the majorettes, then your daughter should either try to earn the money to purchase the items, or simply live with the fact that you cannot afford it! We all can’t afford everything and that’s the way life is.Teach your child to work for whatever he or she wants, because going from door to door asking for money is no better than begging on the streets.NO BEGGING PLEASE!Sandys