During our research it was found that our county also had a member of the 9th U.S. Cavalry (African-American), who had been awarded the Medal of Honor. It is the highest award for valor in the military and was earned by him during the Indian Wars in 1890.
The Joint Veterans Council believed that special honors were due for those who earned the Medal of Honor. Unconfirmed are two additional Medal of Honor awardees of Washington County. Pending the search for the other two soldiers, a recommendation was made to former Mayor Steve Sager to create a special site for those three men. The ideal site for this Medal of Honor Triangle appeared to be at the intersection of Jonathan, Forest and Charles streets, next to the Coca-Cola plant. It also seemed an appropriate location because Cpl. William O. Wilson had served in this unique U.S. Cavalry unit during the Indian Wars and may have lived there during his lifetime.
The idea and a unique street sign specially designed by the project officer was approved, built and erected by the City of Hagerstown. Invited by the council were relatives of Wilson, who came from as far as New Jersey to attend the military ceremony and the placement of his memorial marker on top of the triangular street sign, leaving two other street signs on this same post blank for the remaining two still-unknown Medal of Honor awardees.
With the help of Rep. Roscoe Bartlett and his office, the missing two heroes, Cpl. John W. Wagner (1863) and Cpl. Seth L. Weld (1906), formerly from Washington County, were finally identified and the appropriate memorial markers were made.
The Joint Veterans Council had planned for the placement of the two markers on Memorial Day at the Medal of Honor Triangle, but the council was suddenly informed by the city that certain groups from the triangle neighborhood strongly objected to having the additional memorial markers placed at "their" site to honor those courageous soldiers.
In order to avoid any unpleasant confrontations, and as a member of the Veterans Council, I have developed a preliminary design for a new small memorial to be submitted to the Board of Washington County Commissioners hoping for their approval and its placement at a new and appropriate location. Funds for this endeavor would be raised by the veterans.
Dieter H. Protsch
Hagerstown
Take movie with grain of salt
To the editor:
"Fahrenheit 9/11" is as one-sided and predictable as a recent editon of TV's Jeopardy! Then again, Michael Moore is no Ken Jennings...
Appreciate the movie's style, but question its substance. Realize the intellectual dishonesty inherent in several segments, most notably the Bush family's oil motivations and relationships. Recognize the cheap shots including the president's Florida classroom reaction as scoped under Moore's analysis. Remember the side-show stunt nature used by Moore such as his pursuit of members of Congress to enlist their sons for the war in Iraq.
As for Leonard Pitts Jr.'s commentary published in The Herald-Mail July 12, it's a good thing he won his Pulitzer last year as his best work must be behind him. He states early on that the movie is "less documentary than propaganda, one-sided and proud of it" yet then bashes Bush "right to left." Comparing our president's brain to a hamster on a squeaky wheel is not Pulitzer Prize material in creativity, content or class.
Fahrenheit is just a movie, albeit about as long as Moore is wide. Thought-provoking, perhaps. A basis for judgment, no way.
Steve L. Klick
Hagerstown
Founders would be appalled
To the editor:
I am writing to talk about the horrible state of this country and to respond to a comment President Bush made in his speech in Charleston, W.Va., on July 4. He said, "I believe the Founding Fathers would be proud of our country today." I have to strongly disagree.
Let me first say that I am a Christian conservative Republican and I probably will vote for President Bush in November, so this is not some liberal Michael Moore-type Bush- or American-bashing. It is simply a concerned American who sees his country going down the tubes.
