Iraq

Re: Bush Can't Protect Us (letter to the editor, La Cañada Valley Sun, Sept. 16): I too am greatly saddened about the 1,000 plus young men and women who have given their lives for the war on terrorism in Iraq. Let us also not forget the almost 3,000 Americans who died on September 11, the day that marked the start of this war. I can't believe any thinking American would refer to this as a war "for the enrichment of a few." This is a war to protect America and our way of life.

I am responding to Rhoda McComb's letter in the Sept. 23 issue of the Valley Sun regarding the war in Iraq. In defending the war in Iraq, Ms. McComb states that "September 11th [was] the start of this war." This is the big lie that the Bush Administration is pushing on the American public, and seemingly much of the public is buying. September 11th was a terrible event, one I'm sure that none of us will ever forget. We must do everything in our power to ensure that such an event is never allowed to recur.

He is 27 years old, stands fit and trim at 6'2'' and will return for a second tour of military duty in Iraq sometime this month. His name is Cpl. Michael T. Morton and he is a U.S. Marine. For me, the war in Iraq now has a face. I met Morton and members of his family last Saturday night during a surprise birthday party for his father, Marty Morton, who is director of Maintenance, Facilities and Operations for La Cañada Unified School District. The party in La Crescenta celebrated a dual purpose, as it was also a farewell send-off for Mike.

Enclosed is a copy of a letter I received yesterday from a Marine Unit in Iraq. The content is so explicit I could not file it away without sharing it. The story began sometime in November 2004 when I read an obituary in our Daily News of the death of Marine Lance Corporal Nick Anderson. I was not acquainted with Nick but was so touched by his obituary which included the mailing address for his unit in Iraq and a request to send certain items to his unit in Nick's memory in lieu of flowers.

Congress and the people of this nation were told we were in imminent danger of attack by Iraq's chemical and WMDs. Danger was so imminent we could not allow UN Inspections to complete or form a truly unified coalition against Iraq. The U.S., being strong of will and righteous in our quest, would go it alone against the looming forces of evil. So, Bush formed a weak/symbolic alliance, preemptively invaded Iraq, alienated the UN and significant multinational supporters, deeply divided our nation, depleted our budget surplus and created the largest budget deficit in our history; only to find there were no WMDs or imminent danger.

In response to Ms. Rhoda McComb (Our Readers Write?or Wrong, 9-23): You are correct; President Clinton and President Bush relied on advisors as to the location of Bin Laden; neither was able to find him. In addition to the nearly 3,000 who died on 9/11, more than 1,000 Americans have died in Iraq; over 100 American military have died in Afghanistan. We have been told that the attacks of 9/11/01 were the result of Osama bin Laden/Al Queda. That was the basis for our attack on Afghanistan.

Letters to the Editor 'No' to Bump-outs Explain it to me, please. I enthusiastically invite the city council to explain the obstruction being built on the corner of Foothill and Rinetti. This "bump-out" forces all bicycles into the traffic lane and into great danger. Why would the city want to eliminate the areas where a bicycle commuter can ride? Will the city be liable if a cyclist is injured? Is the council aware that many people in La Cañada are avid cyclists, and a significant number actually commute by bicycle whenever weather permits?

Approximately 60 people, some of them grouped in families, gathered for a candlelight vigil last Thursday evening at La Cañada's Memorial Park. All came to mourn the 1,000 American troops dead in Iraq, which was announced by the media two days earlier, on Sept. 7. The vigil was led by Conchita Marusich, who organized the grassroots gathering with Ellen Young. "I was watching a collage on TV of these people who are just?gone," Marusich said. "There were just too many young faces.

Konrad Ludwig grew up in La Cañada Flintridge and as a teenager, enlisted in the Army. Ludwig saw combat during the American troop surge in a hotly contested part of Baghdad known as Sadr City. In August, Ludwig expects to publish his combat memoir, “Stryker: The Siege of Sadr City,” and is using the online fundraising tool Kickstarter to help cover publishing costs. He answered questions from the La Cañada Valley Sun via email. Sun: What prompted you to enlist in the military?

Of all the words bandied about during the recent election season, very few were about American military service members now coming home from combat in the Middle East. So to mark today's Veterans Day observances this year, La Cañada Flintridge veterans are calling on their neighbors to bring their youngest brothers and sisters in arms back into the public conversation. "If you don't know anyone in the service, you tend to be oblivious to the wars," said George Kritzman, a veteran of World War II and the Korean War who has lived in La Cañada Flintridge for 38 years.

After watching ABC’s “World News” one night, La Cañadan Kris Heck took note of their “Person of the Week,” a woman named Robin Schmidt, a flight attendant who asked the passengers to sign a notebook with positive thoughts to send to troops abroad. “I was inspired by her story and actually reached out to Robin to ask her what I could do,” Heck said in an e-mail. Ever since, Heck has been actively collecting cards—holiday, get well, thinking of you—and is now asking any and all La Cañadans to submit cards for Christmas to send to troops.

Recently, students from La Cañada Elementary School?s sixth grade class wrote holiday messages to be sent to service men and woman in Iraq. The cards were designed, printed and donated by local merchant Prinefex. A few samples: ? Dear Army dudes, Thank you for fighting for our country. You?re good at your job. Despite hard conditions, keep going. Have a happy holiday season. ? Merry Christmas and a happy 2008. Thank your for fighting for U.S. Fight on, dudes!

Former Ambassador Joe Wilson, a career diplomat primarily known in connection with a probe into who in the White House exposed his wife as an agent for the Central Intelligence Agency, will be in La Cañada Flintridge next month. Wilson will serve as guest speaker at the Sept. 30 luncheon hosted by the La Cañada Flintridge Democratic Club. Wilson was a United States diplomat from 1976 to 1998 for both Democratic and Republican administrations. He served at posts throughout African and served as ambassador to Gabon in West Africa.

Once again at this year's Memorial Day Service, to be held at the Memorial Park bandstand at 9 a.m. Monday, May 28, citizens of La Cañada Flintridge will be called to honor another one of their own, fallen in time of war, as the name of Spc. Carla J. Stewart, US Army is dedicated and placed on a plaque that honors those who have lost their lives in Iraq. Her name will join those of 1st Lt. Todd J. Bryant, US Army and 2nd Lt. James P. Blecksmith, USMC. Participants will also honor those who have lost their lives in battle in service of their country during WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam, as well as those who have served and survived.

Letters to the Editor 'No' to Bump-outs Explain it to me, please. I enthusiastically invite the city council to explain the obstruction being built on the corner of Foothill and Rinetti. This "bump-out" forces all bicycles into the traffic lane and into great danger. Why would the city want to eliminate the areas where a bicycle commuter can ride? Will the city be liable if a cyclist is injured? Is the council aware that many people in La Cañada are avid cyclists, and a significant number actually commute by bicycle whenever weather permits?

LA CRESCENTA — This year's Annual Arbor Day event, held last Saturday at Two Strike Memorial Park, was a poignant celebration. Those in attendance were painfully reminded of the ultimate sacrifice a local family made, having lost their son who was serving in Iraq. Hosted by Crescenta Valley Town Council and the L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation, the day's focus was on Nick Steinbacher, a resident of La Crescenta who had been in Iraq only a short time when the vehicle he was traveling in was hit by a road side bomb on December 10, 2006, ending his life at the age of 22. Although somber in presentation, the day was a time not just to mourn the loss of a community hero but to celebrate this young man's love of life, dedication to his country and the honor that he has brought, not only to his family but to his hometown.

Army Specialist Carla J. Stewart, 37, died in Tallil, Iraq Sunday, Jan. 28, when the vehicle she was traveling in rolled over. Stewart was a former La Cañada High School student. Her family used to live in La Cañada where she also attended a private elementary school. . "She spent most of her high school years there, then we moved to Glendale," Stewart's mother, Emmy Aprahamian, said. Stewart took ballet in the area and was very passionate about everything she attempted, her mother recalled.