|
Published: February 07, 2010 11:51 pm
CITY BEAT: Putting things in focus
Niagara Gazette
In the course of any given week, you hear a lot of stuff.
There’s the usual sniping about who’s responsible for our problems.
“The city misspent the casino money.”
“No, the county did.”
“It was your mama’s uncle.”
“I’m taking my ball and going home.”
You know, that sort of thing.
There’s the press conferences and the meetings and the complaints about roads and decrepit houses and crooked politicians.
There’s the uneasy feeling that for all the blustering and yelling and screaming and pointing of fingers, so little seems to be getting done in terms of actually fixing the problems.
It’s enough to drive a man to drink, if he were into that sort of thing.
Occasionally, there’s a story like the one involving Mark Stets Jr.
These are the ones that give you perspective. They add a little more focus. They make you want to go home and hug everyone in your family.
Stets Jr., a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army, died last week when a roadside bomb detonated outside Islamabad, Pakistan, killing him and six others.
I drew the assignment of talking to his aunt, Lewiston resident Mary Ann May.
We talked for 15 or 20 minutes or so about Mark, his life and his death.
Mary Ann talked a good deal about what a proud soldier he was and how there are so many other ones out there just like him - working hard in far off places with funny sounding names, trudging through sand, trying to convince people they didn’t know to trust them and to believe in American ideals.
One day they are preparing to celebrate with their new-found friends in the foreign country where they are stationed.
And then, in an instant, they are gone.
This is reality for military families.
They start everyday knowing that they could lose a son or a daughter, a father or a mother, a niece or a nephew.
I imagine it being a feeling of mixed emotions, a cross between intense pride and concern.
I don’t imagine it being easy.
Mark Stets Jr. was a soldier, a husband and a father of three.
He lost his life serving his country.
His death reminds us to remember others like him who are willing to do the same each day.
His story is important — the most important of the week, by a wide margin.
|
|
|
|
 |
Sale People
REAL ESTATE
SALES
No one can lay you off!
Be your own Boss!. FlexibleSchedule!
You control your...>MORE
Cargo Handlers, Airline Fuelers
Full Time Positions
•Airline Fueler
•Line Service
Technician
Part Time Positions
•Carg...>MORE
Cook
COOK, Grill, exp, nights & wkends. Apply in person only Judi’s Lounge, 2057 Military Rd, NF...>MORE
Health Care Positions
Health Care Positions Available! The Residents an Staff at Absolut Care of Gasport invite you to visit us at our OPEN HO...>MORE
Servers and Dishwashers
Servers/Dishwashers FT or PT, Grapevine Rest., 2545 NF Blvd Great work environment No exp. nec. ...>MORE
Dental Assistant
DENTAL ASSISTANT, experienced, 30-35 hours, please fax resume 716-297-6487...>MORE
Census 2010
CENSUS 2010. United State Census 2010. Be a part of history! Apply Now!! Census Takers, Crew Leaders and More! Flexible ...>MORE
Salespeople
SALESPEOPLE
Great pay, huge bonuses, benefits & more. Apply in person only: Joe Cecconi’s Chrysler Complex, 2380 Mi...>MORE
Cashier
CASHIERS
Looking for dependable people for afternoon and overnight shifts at APlus in Lewiston. To apply, please...>MORE
ACS OPEN HOUSE
ACS
Affiliated Computer Services (A Xerox Company) Is Hiring Customer Service Representatives
Offering compet...>MORE
See all ads |
2001 Dodge Neon
DODGE 2001 Neon 4 dr, auto, a/c, new tires, c/d no rust, inspected, $3900. white, 860-2854...>MORE
WV Jetta 2005
VW Jetta 2005. Newer model, manual, blue, 85k mi, heated seats, sun roof, new tires. Exc. cond. $8300. 754-9193...>MORE
2007 Ford E350
FORD 2007 E350, super duty 16’ box truck, fully equipped, excellent cond. $11,500. 860-2854...>MORE
1999 Pontiac Sunfire
PONTIAC 1999 Sunfire, 4 cylinder, auto, 2 door, exc cond in & out, real clean, no rust, $2750. 523-7102....>MORE
2004 F150
2004 F150 bonus cab, loaded, tonneau & step rails, extra clean, $8900. Call 998-5777....>MORE
2000 Chevy Blazer LT
CHEVY 2000 Blazer LT, black, 141k miles, loaded, $2800 or best offer. 716-946-6985....>MORE
2005 Ford E350
FORD 2005 E350, super duty 16’ box truck, V8, auto, good cond., hwy miles. $6900. 860-2854...>MORE
Chevy 2001 Silverado
CHEVY 2001 Silverado pickup, ext cab, 2wd, 75k miles, exc. cond. $7000 or best offer. 799-7754...>MORE
Pontiac 1995 Grand Prix
Pontiac 1995 Grand Prix, clean in/out, runs exc. many new parts, must see, $1500. 990-9337...>MORE
Saturn 1995 wagon
SATURN 1995 wagon white 122k, auto trans. no rust, $1800. 4pm-9pm daily, 283-1218...>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|
Print this story
E-mail this story
