• Thank you to all the volunteers

Keep Lowndes/Valdosta Beautiful would like to thank all of the volunteers that came out Saturday, Oct. 3, to help out with Rivers Alive and Hands on Georgia Day.

We had four extremely successful cleanups. 188 volunteers gathered at the Little River off of St. Augustine Road, One Mile Branch at VSU’s Main Campus, Two Mile Branch at VSU’s North Campus, and the Alapaha River at Old State Road to help clean our city and county’s waterways.

This effort was sponsored by Keep Lowndes/Valdosta Beautiful, and it was part of Georgia’s Eighteenth Annual River Cleanup. One ton of debris, including hundreds of bags of trash, furniture, three tires, small appliances, televisions, shingles, and a wheelbarrow were among the items pulled from the waterways.

So a whole-hearted “thank you” goes out to all who volunteered, all of the sponsors, and all of the media that covered the event. All of our annual cleanup events are about more than just picking up trash. They are about education and learning by doing, building community and forging organizational relationships, and just about doing the right thing.

A total of 26 clubs and organizations, including the Valdosta High NJROTC, Lowndes High Environmental Club, Brooks County H.S., and several fraternities, sororities, and organizations from VSU participated in Rivers Alive. I am looking forward to another successful Rivers Alive event next year. The citizens of Valdosta and Lowndes County once again came together to help keep our most valuable resource clean and beautiful.

Be on the lookout for some of our future projects including Make-A-Difference Day on Saturday, Oct. 24, and the Electronics Recycling Event on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Please call either (229) 671-2497 or (229) 671-2499 to volunteer for Make-A-Difference Day or for more information on the Electronics Recycling Event. Thanks again, and remember that litter never picks itself up.



H. Aaron Strickland,

Executive Director



• President Obama not above criticism

I am writing in response to a recent letter to the editor titled "Divided we fall."

The letter writer, an Obama supporter, bemoans the fact that the president has been "attacked." He goes on to make the preposterous allegation that the criticism of Obama is unprecedented. I wonder where the writer has been for the past eight years of the Bush administration. George W. Bush was demonized by the media and the Democrats from day one. During the presidential campaign, the day after John McCain named Sarah Palin as his running mate, the media descended upon Alaska like a pack of jackals. Although they didn't have time to investigate Obama's radical past, they dug up every bit of dirt they could on Gov. Palin and her family, including her children. Meanwhile, the mainstream media have been completely in the tank for Obama.

Since the letter writer brings it up, let's look at Obama's record as commander-in-chief. What sort of commander would ever declare that victory in a conflict is not a goal? In July, that is exactly what Obama said about Afghanistan. He has decreed unrealistic rules of engagement which will result in an increase in our number of casualties. Gen. Stanley McChrystal was named commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan in June; in August, he requested 40,000 more troops warning that if they were denied the war would be lost. The president found time to be on all the talk shows, appear on Letterman, and make a trip to Copenhagen to hype Chicago for the 2016 Olympics. However, until he was shamed into meeting with Gen. McChrystal in Denmark, Obama had talked to his ground commander only once in 70 days; he still has not approved the general's request for more troops. While the commander-in-chief dithers, our brave warriors are dying on the battlefield.

Every president since George Washington has been criticized. Why should Obama be any different?



Richard C. Sturtevant,

Valdosta



• Care of flag left deep impression

This is not about the flag. This letter is about caring. It is about you caring for me and me caring for you. It is about treating our neighbors as a gift from God’s blessing us with each other. It is being there for each other when no one is watching.

Apparently, my flag was in distress for one reason or another. A person filled with patriotism and honor saw my flag, stopped, rescued this symbol of our great nation, folded it in the traditional triangle, and laid it with care at my door.

This person has served our country with dignity and honor. He or she didn’t seek recognition or even a thank you.

They understand this great symbol we fly in honor of our America, this symbol of freedom. You can bet they have served their country and understand deep within themselves the many sacrifices made by those who are keeping us safe and free, not only on our own soil, but in many foreign lands.

My husband served 21 years in the Marine Corps and served as principal of schools of 20 years after that to help train and be an example to our youth, as they prepared for their adult world. We know first hand the sacrifices they and their families make to keep our nation free.

Many are trying to destroy our Constitution, undermining the values set forth by our Creator and our fore-fathers. We dishonor the 400 years of sacrificial service when we don’t uphold Biblical values laid in the Constitution for the benefit of America’s being the greatest nation ever founded.

The way my anonymous rescuer took such gentle care of my American flag left a very deep impression on me. It told me volumes about this individual without a word spoken. Let us take a lesson from this thoughtful citizen. Make a conscious effort to watch out for one another in whatever way the moment may present itself.

Let us be an example in caring for our neighbor, and let our children see what being a good neighbor is all about. I love America. I remember the rationing and the hard times of WWII.

I have lived 74 years of the history that has brought us to this time. We can and must do better by our fellow man. God bless us as members of this great America, and may God bless our nation. Let us strive more diligently to show concern for our fellow citizen. We can have a better world, we can have a better Valdosta if we are better citizens.



Joyce Koening,

Valdosta



• Helping us help the homeless

My name is Bro. Henry Moore and I hold the office of evangelist in the church that Christ is building.

I represent Mission Point which is located at 100 N. Ashley St. here in the beautiful city of Valdosta where Mike Nelligan is the Senior Pastor.

Our mission is “Because we chose to accept it” to first and foremost reach those who are lost and dying, to win souls to Christ, and to reach out to the homeless and people who are down on their luck. Some because they made bad choices in life and some because life has dealt them a bad hand and some because of circumstances that are beyond their control. But the reason for their misfortune is irrelevant. I represent Mission Point in challenging you to help us donate clothing, blankets, food and medical supplies, such as aspirin, Tylenol and such like.

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Mal. 3:10.



Evangelist Henry Moore,

Valdosta