By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A fairly small crowd of 20 to 25 people gathered at 11 a.m. today at the Veterans Memorial at the Forrest City Civic Center, for a brief ceremony commemorating Memorial Day.
The ceremony was led by Ed Chauvin, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars 2869, and John Logan Clark, commander of American Legion Post 4.
Chauvin said he wasn't disappointed by the small turnout.
"This is a holiday and we are a small town," he said. "And the VFW recommends that as long as there are two of us, that we do this service." Chauvin also noted that the Veteran's Day ceremony held at Mustang Arena has been well-attended.
Clark said Memorial Day is for all veterans, although it dates from the days immediately following the Civil War.
Chauvin took the opportunity to speak out about what he sees as inequitable treatment of veterans and their families.
"The people who died in the Twin Towers, their families are getting a million dollars," he said. "Now, I'm not against that, that's great. But then I get to thinking. If they can give those people a million dollars, how come they can't keep our veterans hospitals better than they do now? We've got too many old veterans. And we've got these baby boomers coming up and they are going to need this help."
He also said families of servicemen who are killed in action do not fare as well as the families of World Trade Center victims.
"I don't understand it," he said, and repeated, "I'm not knocking people getting a million-plus dollars," Then added. "But if a man gets killed in action in Afghanistan, his family gets $20,000 and a little pension, maybe.
"And the VA hospitals just don't get enough money. They keep downsizing. All we get are complaints about how they have to wait so long. It takes almost a year for a guy to get glasses. It's disturbing that they want to downsize."
He told those who attended, "If you get to talk to any of these politicians who are running for office, remind them of this."
Clark said that one problem is that there are not enough decision makers who are veterans, themselves.
"It's not right at all," Clark said. "The only thing we can do is to put Congressmen in office who are veterans. We don't have enough veterans in office."
The Literacy Council of St. Francis County will host its annual Tutor and Student Recognition Banquet Thursday, June 6, at 5:30 p.m. at the Forrest City Civic Center.
The annual event, which will be held in the Henley Room at the civic center, is sponsored by the Literacy Council board and recognizes students for their efforts during the past year.
Following reading and comprehension classes students branch out into math, computer skills, life skills and preparatory classes for the GED.
Volunteer tutors are also recognized during the annual banquet for the time and effort spent working in the program. The Literacy Council has worked with close to 120 adults and children in their basic reading and after school programs as well as English as a second language program this year.
The guest speaker for the evening will be Senator Alvin Simes, of Helena.
Simes is a graduate of Arkansas State University and received his Juris Doctorate in Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law. He was elected to the Arkansas Senate in 2000 and currently serves as Chairman of the Public Transportation Committee.
Police are investigating an armed robbery that took place outside Family Dollar Store at 225 W. Broadway Saturday night.
According to the police report, Nellie Ashburn, manager of the store, said she and one other person were locking up the store, when a man carrying a rifle with a scope on it came from the side of the building, pointed the gun at them and told her to give him the money. The suspect fled on foot.
Taken were a black money bag containing cash and checks valued at $5,567, a purse belonging to Ashburn and the contents of the purse.
The suspect was described a as black male, age 19-23, between five feet and five-feet-seven inches tall, weighing 120 to 150 pounds, with short hair and wearing a red, white and black striped shirt, black pants and a red mask.
The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information on the robbery should contact Forrest City Crime Stoppers at 261-1499 or the Forrest City Police Department at 633-3434. All information will remain confidential.
Baptist Memorial Hospital's Behavioral Health Unit will participate in the ninth annual National Senior Health and Fitness Day through an information session featuring experts in senior health on Wednesday, May 29.
The session which will focus on health, medicine and fitness, will be in conjunction with other celebrations of Older Americans Month.
Topics such as nutritional needs for seniors, the importance of medication compliance, over the count medications and the reaction to prescribed medications as well as ways to excercise at home and fall prevention.
The seminar will be held in the hospital's lower level lobby at 10 a.m.
For more information contact Tiffany Billingsley at 870-261-0408.