Firefighters' memorial was indeed emotional

(PNI) When I first heard that 19 firefighters had been killed in the Yarnell area, I was in shock. I wanted to help. I heard from a friend that the Westboro Baptist Church was coming to protest and that bikers were organizing to block them, so I volunteered.

On the ride up from Phoenix, my friend Chris and I ran in to the Gatekeepers MC, a firefighters' motorcycle club, and they invited us to join them and help block the protesters. In the end, we never ran into the protesters.

I walked around with Chris and my new biker friends to ensure that no protesters were around and then watched the rest of the service from Buffalo Wild Wings. On Facebook that night, I put up a couple of pictures and my story. The only comment I got was from my aunt, who said, "That must have been emotional."

We had watched speakers talk about dedicated fathers, sons and brothers, these men who lived and died side by side. We saw friends, family and loved ones who lost their own and 18 others support each other. We heard a short part of the story of these men's lives. We talked to other firefighters and heard their stories of triumph and tragedy on the job.

And we listened as pipers from many firehouses played "Amazing Grace." I can't think of a more sorrowful sound than that song well played on bagpipes.

Yes, it was emotional.

--Benjamin Packard,

San Tan Valley area

Bush served the people

Regarding "In role of pacifist, Bush bears little resemblance to old self" (Opinions, Thursday):

Dana Milbank, like his liberal cohorts, seems confused by George W. Bush. Could it be that the former president is actually a complex, intelligent man, instead of the cowboy rube that the left wanted to believe?

His involvement in helping Africa should not have been a surprise, but since celebrities, like Kanye West, are allowed to establish a narrative based on the required left-wing talking points, it is no surprise that he would have us believe that Bush "hates Black people." And if Bush was in fact the flawed human being they would have us believe, is he not allowed to "evolve," or does that just apply to liberals who make mistakes?

The reality might be that George W. Bush will eventually enjoy a positive legacy because he took his job seriously and showed up to the office every day instead of participating in endless campaigning and speeches. Right or wrong, Bush worked at serving the people instead of being served by the people.

--Charles Lopresto, Phoenix

How to improve schools

Regarding "Schools to charters is a scam by districts" (Opinions, Friday):

Instead of backhanding traditional public educators once again, why not extend that hand in a meaningful, and sincere, gesture of cooperation and collaboration?

Republic columnist Robert Robb accurately identified the essential impediment to high achievement as "compensating for dramatic differences between students in their preparedness to learn and support for learning at home." But then he dismisses the significant effect of such dramatic differences by insinuating that traditional public schools lack rigor.

Greater academic achievement is no simple task. Attaining it will require effort by all of us, in open communication regarding all the factors involved. A wonderful place to start such a discussion would be on how to maximize preparedness and home support.

I am tired of these red handprints on my cheek.

--Scott B. Nelson, Phoenix

Too many road closures

Can someone please tell me why the Department of Public Safety shuts down highways every time there is an accident? I've lived in several major cities and never have seen anything like this before.

You spill some vegetables or someone gets hit by a car, and we see the roads close for hours to investigate. It used to be: Move it to the side, clean it up, check it out and get the cars moving. But here it is an hours-long catastrophe. What gives?

--Ray Valle, Sun City West

CPS has history of failure

After listening to the TV news Thursday night, which included a report about the death of a 15-month-old child because of malnutrition, I told my wife that soon we'll read in the paper a column by Laurie Roberts reporting on this death and the role played, or not played, by CPS.

We'll read how somewhere in this child's short life Child Protective Services was involved and how workers "investigated" the situation, made a determination that all was A-OK and closed the case as being unsubstantiated.

If history repeats itself, as it usually does, we'll hear in the future from CPS that because of privacy laws, they are unable to discuss the facts of the case, which, to its way of thinking, seems to absolve the agency of any further involvement or responsibility.

Next will enter Department of Economic Security Director Clarence Carter, who will discuss what a tragedy this was and how a complete and thorough investigation will be conducted to determine what went wrong so CPS can take any and all steps necessary to keep this from ever happening again.

The only problem with this, based on past history over and over again, is it will happen again.

It appears to me that Director Carter and all who have gone before him having made this "never again" and/or "keep it from happening again" promise simply have made promises they can't keep.

I, for one, am sick and tired of empty promises that result in child deaths, which seem to always follow an unsubstantiated complaint or referral.

--Tommie N. Rasmussen, Globe

GOP must stand ground

I wonder how many American citizens like me are fed up with the Democrats and the liberal media's "talking point" that the Republican Party should abandon its goal of "border security first" in the immigration-reform issue so they can appeal to the Hispanic voters. What utter nonsense.

I am a registered independent who strongly urges the Republicans in Congress to stand by their morals and principles. Because if they were to appease Hispanics simply to get votes, they would be no better than the liberal Democrats who use this tactic all the time.

--Bob Ferrante, Phoenix

Working vets benefit all

I would like to suggest one solution for two problems:

Our infrastructure is falling apart, and our veterans are out of work. We should start a program similar to Works Progress Administration (maybe without the kickbacks). Call it the Service for Civil Improvement or whatever. Pay decent wages, so we don't irritate the unions.

First requirement on the applications is honorable- discharge papers. Maybe even continue military benefits, or something as good.

These veterans served us well. Now, let's serve them well and get an added benefit: infrastructure we can trust. They have already proven they are reliable. Are we?

--Don Gwynne, Mesa

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