European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 4, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Saturday August 4. 1990 the stars and stripes Page 11 dear Ann Landers i recently read the letter in your column from a Anonymous Granny in Chicago a who had raised her daughter s child. In your response you said you Hope the children who were raised by Loving grandparents realize How Lucky they Are. I am one and be lie veme i do. I was bom to 19-Ycar-Oid a Carol a who lived with her husband a Brian Quot in a trailer 1 was left with a year-old baby Sitter who forgot to feed and never changed diapers. After grandma fussed at Carol about he proper care of a child 1 was handed Over to grandma and grandpa to raise. I grew up calling them a mom Quot and when i was 4, Carol by then divorced from Brian and married to a creep who tried to kill her sued her Mother for a a kidnapping . I lived in a state that almost always Grants custody to the a a real Mother no matter How awful she is but grandma s attorney proved that Carol was an unfit Mother. When i was 14 and about to enter High school grandma told Carol that she and grandpa wanted to adopt and change last name to theirs since i had been using if for 14 years anyway. Carol agreed and since no one could locate Brian the adoption went smoothly. I have always considered Carol sister and refer to her As such. Grandma and grandpa have always been mom and dad. I adore these people and consider myself Lucky that they had the courage to fight for and raise As their own i know this letter is Long Ann but i wanted you to know that there Are plenty of people out there who were raised by grandparents and that they really do appreciate everything that was done for them. A Lucky and grateful in Louisiana dear Lucky what a Beautiful tribute to your grandparents these older folks who have raised their own children deserve special thanks for taking on a second generation after they have earned the Chance to rest. Bless them one and All. Dear Ann Landers i truly appreciated your Gem of the Day in Praise of the men and women in the army Navy air Force and marines. In a sure you did no to realize that you had omitted the dedicated men and women of the . Coast guard which is by Law one of the five armed forces serving our nation. In peacetime the coast guard s varied missions include search and Rescue Law enforcement Protection of the environment Aid to navigation maritime safety and military preparedness. In wartime or when a state of emergency is declared by the president the coast guard moves from the jurisdiction of the department of transportation to that of the Navy department. It has been called the a nucleus around which the Navy forms in time of perhaps you can make amends by reminding your readers that this year is the Bicentennial of the coast guard which was created by Congress on aug. 4, 1790, As the Revenue Cutter service under Alexander Hamilton then Secretary of the Treasury. Today is the 200th birthday of the coast guard. How about a line or two in your column Ann a Bob Willoughby Captain ret . Coast guard Novato Calif. Dear capt. Willoughby. Here a More than a line a Here a a 21-gun Salute and Many Happy returns of the Day. C creators Syndicate Here a what you be had on your mind by the stars and stripes. The political situation the Flag troop cuts. The stars and stripes and army policies in Europe dominated letters received Over the past three months. We received 1,321 letters for the period april 1 through june 30, just about equal to the total received in the year earlier Quarter. Of that total 49 were concerned with the a build Down Quot process and How it would affect their lives. Thirty four writers were concerned about their future with the military. They urged politicians and commanders to remember that it is not just numbers they arc talking about cutting but people. Several writers ranging from first Wermers to sergeants major and officers called the proposed cuts a breach of Trust with service members who gave up a Normal Quot lives to serve their country. Others suggested that the services Cut troops on a voluntary basis a letting troops who want to get out of their contracts Early do so without penalty instead of forcing out people who May want to stay. Some writers gave suggestions on How to be prepared for the cuts and have the Best Chance of getting a Job in the civilian world. When West German politicians talked about taking Over american facilities our readers reminded them of the possible Adverse Impact on their communities resulting from a massive removal of american troops. Many also said How they have grown to love Germany and How they will be sad to leave. Some writers took a cautious stance to All the peace talks reminding our readers that nothing stays the same a Gorbachev May be ousted from Power for example a and that we should not reduce our strength so much that we can t respond to future threats. The Flag burning Issue was on the minds of 23 readers. The letters were almost evenly divided Between those who support a constitutional amendment to ban Flag burning a 12 a and those who oppose it. Allowing the destruction of the Flag one Reader said Means allowing the destruction of american values and morals. Those who supported the amendment asked what the country is coming to if people Are allowed to trample and Burn this Symbol of a great nation. Others said the Flag is just that a Symbol. They said the Constitution is what makes this country one of Freedom not the Symbol. Many of these writers were also disgusted with the burning of the Flag but said that they would defend someone s right to do it. Our readers continued to keep us informed on what they expect to see in the stars and stripes and what they done to like. Three writers Felt we were irresponsible when we printed a Story about the Rcck Urbahn District in Hamburg. They said such stories had no place in a a a family newspaper and could corrupt the minds of Young soldiers overseas. Even though there is an authorized tour to the rce per Bahn they said we write about it. Fifty writers addressed the topic of living conditions in military communities expressing concerns about everything from Lack of parking to noise to mice. But the largest single group 23, Felt moved to voice their opinion on a dress code adopted by the Darmstadt West Germany military Community. Of these writers Only two agreed with the need Lor dress codes on their installations saying that americans Are known for Sloppy dress habits. The Over whelming majority21, rejected the need for such a code and urged military commanders to address themselves to other More important problems. Others wanted fewer stories about eople in Germany and More about those stationed in other countries. Several readers told us they liked the new sunday Magazine but a couple requested we return the weekly to arid movie schedule to the thursday and Friday editions. They said it was harder to get a newspaper on the weekends and that they liked to plan ahead. One Render complained that the Beetle Bailey strip is sexist and should be dropped eleven wrote to suggest that this Render just not read the strip. Other comic strips were also discussed. Promotions and the existence of army positions Drew a lot of letters during this period. While two soldiers asked about promotion policies 14 simply worried about whether they were going to be in the army this time next year. Most of these writers reiterated the feeling that the Hierarchy should give those soldiers wanting to get out a Chance to do so. Others questioned criteria being used to give notice to soldiers. They said Many High Quality soldiers were being let go. One writer wondered whether the commitment in Europe would remain the same even when the troops Are Cut. He said you can to play football with just 11 players on your roster pointing out that soldiers arc overworked already. One Reader disagreed with another that the a brightest and Best Quot were leaving the service for a a better jobs. He said those staying Are patriotic or want to finish their careers and have marketable Job skills they Are not a a unemployable As the other writer stated. Orders were anti her topic. Five people were having problems with orders while one received his 12 Days before he and his family were due to leave. One writer pointed out that Shorter Tours made it hard to pay olt loan obligations. The Exchange system was a big topic with movie Heaters receiving a share of the attention. Six viewers wrote about the Heaters and the reasons Why they might stay Home. They ranged from noisy patrons to cleanliness and Comfort to parents who take their Young children to a rated shows. Six people wrote in to thank cafes employees for their service. Three people were upset that a local Magazine overseas apologized for making fun of cafes. They said overseas is not printed for the enjoyment of cafes executives in Dallas but for those service members serving overseas. They noted that most Public officials Are joked about All the time and the Exchange should should also be Able to take a joke. Letters to the editor must be signed but the stars and stripes honors requests to withhold the names and locations of writers letters that Are forwarded to an Agency for reply do not include the writers name and As Many identifying details As possible arc deleted. About one in every six letters received is printed in the letters to the editor column. If a writer poses a question that recently was addressed a copy of that response will he sent letters not published in the stars and stripes usually Are acknowledged through a response from the managing editor. T european edition a col. Gene e. Townsend. Usan chief a it. Col. Suzanne l. Phillips Usan Deputy commander. Inch Al Marie Kominicki Mert Proctor Deane b. Mcdermott production manager managing editor manager. This newspaper is an authorized a Nohrn i pub Calion Lor members of the military services overseas contents of i tie Slars and stripes Are nut necessarily cell goal views of or endorsed by. 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