Remember the war-torn beaches on Memorial Day

For more than a month some of the most patriotic groups in Rome and Floyd County have dedicated vast amounts of their personal time to planning a day of enthusiastic support of their friends and comrades in arms who died in service to this nation.

These admirable gentlemen from the Exchange Club of Rome, the American Legion, the Korean Veterans and Marine Corps League have a purpose in mind — making Memorial Day in Rome, Georgia, a day of remembering our heroic fallen.

Too many people envision the last Monday in May as a time to hit the beaches at Panama City, Pensacola or Gulf Shores. What they tend to forget on Memorial Day are the men who hit Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword beaches along the coast of Normandy under altogether different circumstances in 1944.

Approximately 80,000 men lost their lives in that battle that led to the defeat of Adolph Hitler.

People also forget the beaches at Iwo Jima and the 6,800 American men who lost their lives there.

“Operation Frequent Wind” was more than a wind storm advisory in Vietnam and “Operation Baby Lift” was more than a diaper change. Operation Apache Snow for Hamburger Hill was one of the fiercest and bloodiest battles of Vietnam. That war cost 58,000 American lives.

On Monday, May 26, 2014 — Memorial Day — men from some of these battles and operations will share their stories between the hours of 1: 30 and 5: 30 p. m. at Ridge Ferry Park. They will tell those who truly desire to learn the real purpose of Memorial Day: what it is all about and why they did it. We all need to be there. Giles Chapman

Rome

The membership rolls for Obamacare constitute 8 million strong and are growing.

Since the inception of Obamacare, more than 370 innovative preventive medical care practices — Accountable Care Organizations — have materialized.

Emergency room visits to some medical facilities have decreased by 15 to 20 percent.

Some drugstore chains are working in tandem with hospitals and ACOs to give patients more places of access for securing and coordinating treatment.

Some states, such as California, are challenging laws that prevent qualified medical personnel — pharmacists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, emergency medical technicians — from engaging in specific forms of medical care.

The uninsured rates have decreased three times more rapidly in states that have adopted Obamacare. The state with the lowest uninsured rate, 4 percent ( Massachusetts), has a Democratic governor (Deval Patrick) and the state with the highest uninsured rate, 24 percent, (Texas), has a Republican governor (Rick Perry).

Medical insurers must spend 80 percent of insurance premiums on medical care or award you a rebate.

The solution to preserving Obamacare and to securing an extension of unemployment benefits for the long- term unemployed is to elect political progressives and thereby save America from the ravages of the political right. Charles R. Shiflett

Rome

But what about safety valves in the event a catastrophic change occurred? The 2006 PAEA had no provisions that allowed the Service to suspend payments if an economic downturn befell this country, (and) 80 percent of the losses over the last six years can be attributed the 2006 PAEA. In fact, pre- funding accounted for 100 percent of the USPS losses in fiscal year 2013.

No other government agency or private sector pre-funds at such an aggressive schedule. At present there is over $ 50 billion in that fund, which is more than enough to pay any obligations to retirees for several decades out.

Many thought the Internet caused the decline in total mail volume, but it is proving to be a boon for the Postal Service. Online shopping is the future, and the Postal Service needs the tools to be competitive and innovative.

Let’s not let Congress destroy a way of life for the American people that they have depended on for over 150 years as handed to us by our forefathers in the Constitution of the United States of America.

Tell your Congressman to fix the pre-funding requirement, retain mail delivery for six days a week and stop closing post offices.

Fred DeLoach President, Georgia Rural Letter Carriers Association

Gibson, Georgia