LETTERS: It's a small world
To the Editor:
A hello to the folks of Marion County from New York City. I regularly read and enjoy the Record on the web and appreciate the news from Tampa, Ramona, and environs where I was raised. Dr. Melton delivered me in Marion's second floor two-room hospital Sept. 15, 1937.
Living in and around New York City for nearly 30 years, I've experienced the "why in the world do you live THERE???" question from folks who don't. Perhaps a few have developed their own answer to that question since Sept. 11 as many have visited us back here as volunteers for a shift at Ground Zero. Some have discovered that there are good Americans back here, too. We don't all look alike or speak the same language or even worship God in the same way. But we sure do have an energetic city full of many vibrant communities. And we argue over where to put the garbage, too!
Two weeks ago today the workers found the body of Officer John Perry who was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of the City of New York where I also am a member. First Pres lost six friends that day, two women, both mothers, and four men. Officer Perry's memorial service had been held Nov. 10. His mother was from Salina but lived on Long Island after her marriage. Officer Perry's story would fill a book but that is for another time. He was a grandson of Kansas so to speak.
Today I found myself escorting a visitor from Louisville, Ky., (a graduate from Sterling College in Kansas!) around Ground Zero and passed the fence that surrounds St. Paul's Chapel on Broadway just east of the WTC site. The fence is completely draped with flags, signs, banners and the like; we slowly passed them and read their messages. I stopped for a time at a banner from KANSAS and noticed the signature of "Natalie, Lincolnville, KS - March 14, 2002".
I recalled that Lincolnville made the front page of the NY Times a few days ago
John M. Rhodes
Formerly from the College Hill community northwest of Tampa
