(> (3 LJ ~The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, February 7,1996 5 As I was | BEE HE General George S. Patton, Jr. “died 50 years ago and a new book, , “Patton: A Genius for War” at- tempts and succeeds redefining this complex man. And the au- “thor concludes that World War II ‘would have been both longer and costlier without a Patton. T've said how impressive this egotistical and flamboyant soldier “was in person. The swagger, the shiny starred helmet, the pearl- “handled revolvers...talk about larger than life! And yet no gen- eral, before or since, has ever even come close to matching his talent “at moving divisions in battle. Some things in the book were new...like an affair with Jean Gor- don, his wife's 21-year-old niece, who was cursed by his wife after Patton's death. Jean then put her head in a gas oven. *. But the man who wrote “War is ' the only place where a man really lives,” almost crashed his career ' in 1943 when he visited patients BLS RAA [OBE Few dates in history have cast so long a shadow as July 4, 1776...even though the actual signing of the Declaration of Inde- pendence took place July 3. It was more than two centuries ago that our founding fathers and mothers gathered in Philadelphia .to pledge their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to the fulfillment of a dream—a dream unrivaled in human history. When those people gathered in Philadelphia, the planet was gov- - erned to a greater or lesser degree bythe tyranny of man over man. Kings ruled with iron fists and hobnailed boots. Opportunity was the special province of the rich. Those born poor stayed that way, and none dared question the righ- teousness of the old order. Those gathered in Pennsylva- nia had a different vision. A land where the pursuit of happiness was guaranteed. A land where the governors worked for the gov- erned, rather than the other way around. A land where the people, through elected representation, would rule. ‘Today, that dream is in large patt a reality. We live in the greatest, most free and most pros- perous society on earth, or in the history of humankind. Doctor collecting used eyeglasses Dr. Curtis L. Goodwin, director of Back Mountain Eye Care Cen- ter, will be visiting various cities in the countries of Trinidad and Tobago during the week of Febru- ary 22, 1996-March 3, 1996. This trip is being made in conjunction with the Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity organiza- tion (V.0.S.H.) and the mission of the trip is to supply many of the underprivileged of that country with eyeglasses. Please help support the pro- gram by donating your used eye- glasses. Dr. Goodwin will be col- lecting old eyeglasses at his office, Back Mountain Eye Care, 170 N. Memorial Highway, Shavertown. Phone 675-3627, where a collec- tion bin is located. KT Xmas tree pickup is extended ~ Kingston Township announces the annual Christmas tree collec- tion is suspended because of the excessive snowfall. Road depart- ment crews will collect the trees once snow removal operations are completed. Residents who have already placed the trees at the curbside may leave them there. Residents should wait two or three weeks before putting trees out, if they have not yet done so. “For more information call the township office at 696-3809. New portrait of a complex, flamboyant, military genius of the 93rd Evac Hospital in Italy. In a tent with 15 casualties, he asked each one what the trouble was, commended them and wished a speedy recovery. The first six were battle casualties. Then, according to the official re- port of the affair, a patient said, “I's my nerves,” and started to cry. Patton then yelled, “Your nerves hell, you are just a g.d. coward, you yellow s.o.b.” He slapped the man and said, “Shut up that g.d. crying. I won't have these brave men who have been shot seeing a yellow bastard sitting here cry- ing.” He struck the man again, knocking his helmet liner off and yelled, “Don’t admit the yellow bastard, there's nothing wrong with him.” As he went out he yelled back to send that yellow s.0.b. back to the front lines. All this was so loud that nurses in adjoining wards had come out to see what the fuss was about. This report was buried in the files by military censors. Another face-slapping incident occurred which did not get buried. War correspondent Quentin Reynolds investigated the incident for CBS and said he believed there were at least 50,000 American soldiers who would shoot Patton if they had the slightest chance. He be- lieved Patton to be temporarily insane. Drew Pearson reported all this on his radio show, yet General Eisenhower's press aides denied it. Within hours other American correspondents broke their self- imposed silence (because they respected Patton's military accom- plishments) and the military had to retract their denial. If Patton had not had Eisenhower's friend- ship he would have been fired and not just issued a reprimand. A southern newspaper said, “Now Patton has received what probably to him was the worst punishment of all, a public airing of his behavior. His record on the whole is that of a soldier of ex- traordinary courage and compe- tence, in spite of all his theatricalism, and there can be no satisfaction in belaboring him further. It is possible to hope he has learned a lesson.” I like what one reviewer ended with...the rare flash of humor from King George II when the sanity of General Wolfe was questioned: “Mad is he? Then I hope he will bite some of my other generals!” When might becomes right, everything becomes wrong It was once the custom for Americans to spend much of the July 4 holiday listing to patriotic oratory. Today, not many of us do that, although it would bode well for our future if a child were to hear (at least once) Daniel Webster's soliloquy about this nation from the play The Devil and Daniel Webster. At the same time, and through the free flow of information and ideas, this nation must forever remain vigilant against the tyr- anny of ‘might is right’, or that the symbols of patriotism stand as means into themselves. As such, the First Amendment stands on its own merit as the single most important freedom we have. All other freedoms stem from the right of free expression. And contrary to the beliefs of those who want to, for example, have a constitutional amendment to prohibit burning the U.S. flag, the flag should not be the subject of worship as an idol, but rather should be approached as a sym- bol which represents our heri- tage. Respect for the flag cannot be legislated, but can only come about by citizens’ understanding and appreciating that heritage. That idea seems to be lost on the many veterans’ organizations who've come out against the re- cent U.S. Senate defeat of an amendment which could have given Congress the power to out- law desecration of the United States flag. The choice between the flag and the First Amendment is a clear one. The flag is a symbol of First Amendment principles. It would be a serious mistake to erode one of those principles in order to protect the symbol. To have a flag burning amendment would be sort of like the tail wav- ing the dog. Fortunately, our forbears were smart enough to make it difficult for us to mess with our basic charter. Any proposed amend- ment must first be approved by two-thirds of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Then it must be ratified by 38 state legislatures. The most re- cent Senate vote fell short by three votes. And it's not likely that, even if such an amendment were to pass the House and Senate, it would then pass citizen muster, par- ticularly when citizens would come to realize that it would open the door to a further erosion of the individual liberties found in the Bill of Rights. How difficult is it to under- stand that one of the freedoms— perhaps the most basic freedom fought for by the veterans arguing for a flag burning amendment—is the right of free expression....and one of those expressions is burn- ing the flag. If the day comes when citizens refrain from desecrating the flag only because of the law or some dimly remembered custom, it will have truly become an empty sym- bol. Executive Tax Service OFFERS YOU: Year-round availability (J Tax return preparation in your office or home (J An affordable alternative in income tax preparation (4 The H&R Block guarantee of satisfaction (J FREE electronic filing (does not apply to refund anticipation loans) 9 Narrows Shopping Center Edwardsville, PA 18704 283-5170 Wellesley Building Rts., 6 & 11 Clarks Summit, PA 18411 586-1303 SEE TAX SERVICE Women's testing available this month During January and February Planned Parenthood of North East Pennsylvania will offer appoint- ments for free pregnancy tests to women at its medical center, 63 N. Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre. A high level of unplanmned, unprotected sexual activity typi- cally takes place during the year- end holidays. Planned Parent- hood hoopes the free, confiden- tial tests will encourage women to be tested early. If the test result is positive, referral information will be given on all options. If the result is negative, the client will be en- couraged to schedule an appoint- ment for contraceptive services. For more information on this special service and pregnancy test appointments, call 1-800-230- PLAN. Sweetheart Dance Feb. 9 at Idetown A Sweetheart Dance with the Sundance Band will be held Feb- ruary 9, 9-1 p.m. $25 per couple. RSVP by Feb. 5. For reserva- tions call 639-2031. Dance ben- efits J.R. Davis Vol. Fire Co.- Idetown-Dallas. Catered buffet and refreshments included. Lake Twp. recycling center open Feb. 10 The Lake Township Recycling Center will be open Feb. 10, from 10-12 noon, accepting aluminum and bi-metal cans, clear, brown and green glass and plastic #1 and #2 only. No motor oil containers will be accepted. Register early for safe boating course > “ 4 So iL} at HE | » 4 4 wo Pa Hi A boating course will be held at the American Legion Post 967, Rt. 415, Harveys Lake, on February 23, 6-10 p.m. and February 24. 1-5 P..1m. This course will allow a person 12 to 15 years of age opevits a motorboat or personal watercraft without having an adult on board. The course is free but registration is required. Please call 717-477- 2996 for a reservation. Tax help available at KT offices March 7 Kingston Township announces that a tax personnel specialist of the Pennyslvania Department of Revenue will be at the Kingston Township Municipal Building, 11 Carverton Road, Trucksville, PA 18708 on March 7, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to answer questions on taxes. Residents with questions can call the Township Office between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at 696-3809. FEMA newspaper available here Copies of the FEMA newspaper, The Recovery Times, are availible free of charge at the office of The Dallas Post, 45 Main Road, Dallas. \ PROPERTY TRANSFERS The following property deeds were recorded at the Luzerne County Courthouse for the week of January 19-25: Douglas Barbacci, et ux, to Robert J. Pagnotti, property Unit 132 Orchd. E. Newbry, Dallas Borough, $55,000. Helen M. Oleski, per atty., to Andrew J. Kachmer, et ux, property Druid Dr., Dallas Twp., $67,000. Claire M. Chollak, to Christopher Michael, et ux, 170 Center Hill Rd., Dallas Twp., $100,000. Raymond A. Dipietro, et ux, to Beranrd A. King, et ux, property 132 Orchard View Terr., Dallas Twp., $207,000. Katherine L. Fahringer, to John Peter Farrell, et ux, Harveys Lake Bor., $205,000. Richard G. Burnett, et al to James L. Pugh, et al, Ash Ave., Harveys Lake, $2,000. Gr.WB Assoc. for the Blind to William L. Chollack, et ux, Harveys Lake Bor., $500. Tattersall Inc. to Robert W. Wolfe, 4.75 & 1.53 ac., Hunlock Twp., - : $150,000. Tattersall Inc. to Robert W. Wolfe, 27 & 3/8 ac., Hunlock Twp., $60,000. David F. Kenning, et al, to Dr. Lh Jason Smith, 51 Blueberry Hill Rd., Jackson Twp., $173,500. Frederick R. Buckman, et ux, to Nance Ann Lovelace, Bramblewood Drive, Kingston Twp., $210,000. Allied Contractors & Eng. Inc. to’ James M. Barto, et al, Lots 59, 60 Skyline Dr., Kingston Twp., $30,000. t Joel Zitofsky, et ux, to Lee J. Turner, et al, 275 Center St., Kingston Twp., $281,000. ; Lee J. Turner, to Ray W. Turner, Il, et ux, Center Ave., Lehman Tugs ri $130,000. Raymond C. Hall, to Richard . Maslow, Deer Field Dr., Lehman Twp., $475,000. James M. Patla, et ux, to Thomas I. Lanning, et ux, 25 ac., Ross Twp., $32,000. Building a strong foundation: Wyoming Seminary for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade AT WYOMING SEMINARY's LOWER SCHOOL, students in environment. pre-kindergarten through eighth grade prepare fora lifetime of learning. With an average class size of 12, individual attention is the key to academic success. Students learn at their own pace: extra challenges and extra help are provided for students of varying abilities. Nearly 400 students at our Forty Fort campus are ; building a strong foundation for the future through a traditional curriculum in a supportive and nurturing ~~ Screening for all Lower School grades willbe . held Saturday, February 17, beginning at9 a.m. - For more information, or to make an [#14 appointment, call us at 283-6180. D) foundati founded 1844 HooLr, WyYyoMING , PENNSYLVANI WYOMING SEMINARY A on for academic success. ; . a J f Wyoming Seminary does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin. I MUCH HOME Free, our Automated UVR SITTER See Franklin First! PPEFind out the Fast | Easy Way with ORTGAGE ONNECTION e Zip Code ¢ Year of Birth ¢ Annual Househo One 1-800-683-7925 toll-free anytime day or night. Please have the following information ready when you call; * Source Code:[ 161 | e Social Security Number FRANKLIN FIRST} Subsidiary of ONBANCorp. Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. =r Equal Housing Lender Simply dial: * Total Debt Payments (not including rent or mortgage) * Funds Available for Closing * Percent Downpayment a SE he Id Income Day We'll Be YOUR Bank
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers