TO THE EDITOR: As Autumn approaches the question comes to mind “Is there going to be Section 7 girls’ swimming?”
In the ‘70s and ‘80s there were AuSable Valley Central, Plattsburgh, Moriah, Northern Adirondack, Northeastern Clinton, Lake Placid/Saranac Lake, Seton, and Peru that had girls swimming teams and Section 10 had Malone, Salmon River, and Massena participating.
The Press-Republican had weekly coverage of all the competitions and the U.S. Olympic Swim Team was hosted by Plattsburgh for team practices.
The competitive programs were also supplemented with First Aid, Life Saving, and Water Safety Instructor courses for the North Country to participate which made aquatic activities on our lakes, ponds, and rivers much more safe.
I pray we will see more aquatic competition and activity this school year.
DAVID COMEGYS SR.
AuSable Forks
TO THE EDITOR: After the Iran War began (Operation Epic Fury) in February, the Pentagon listed casualty figures as they occurred.
However, starting July 8 after a short-lived ceasefire ended, the Pentagon began reporting military deaths and injuries not as war casualties, but under a new category: “Overseas Operations.”
In March, Department of War Secretary Peter Hesgeth stated coverage of military casualties was only intended “to make the president look bad.”
Three soldiers in Jordan were killed by Iranian missiles on July 17 and a fourth via a drone strike in Iraq two days later. Their names were initially listed as Operation Epic Fury deaths only to be removed. Along with 217 military personnel wounded after July 8, they are now listed as Overseas Operation casualties.
Retired Navy Rear Admiral Michael Smith stated: “It’s such a huge disrespect for the families. To claim that they [their loved ones] weren’t killed as a result of the war, oh, it was just overseas operations, is just ludicrous.”
Speaking of 19 year-old Army Private Isabella Gonzales who was killed on July 17, Marine Corps Afghanistan veteran Tristeza Ordex said this fallen soldier “made the ultimate sacrifice for this country who isn’t even being recognized as a casualty of war. “
Retired Army Lieutenant General Ben Hodges stated the Trump administration “seems to have a real hard time being honest about what is going on – not just the casualties, but the war in general.”
After a brief ceremony at Dover Air Force Base for Gonzales and the other soldiers killed, Trump took one of the distraught families to a political rally in Georgia.
So much for grieving.
GEORGE BRYJAK
Saranac Lake