European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 3, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday March 3, 1991faces in places Welcome Home celebrations a wait desert storm veterans when they return from Gulf from wire reports _ America s troops Are in for the biggest party in years. A a a it a Gonna be a helluva welcoming Home Quot says Jim Schroder president of the chamber of com Meuce in Oceanside Calif. A they will not be forgotten i guarantee you  parades Are planned from Blount county Texas to Rockland county . Rallies Are in store from Boston to Hawaii. The nation is enjoying a Rush of Pride in the first tentative hours of peace in the persian Gulf. The outpouring promises a far brighter Homecoming than troops received when they returned. From Vietnam two decades ago. A i think what we did to the Vietnam veterans was a shame to America a said City commissioner Abner Orick who Hopes to stage the largest Parade Ever in Dayton Ohio. A i Don t want anything like that to Ever happen  Many said now is the Chance for some Healing. A no matter where they look they re going to see a Welcome Home a a said Kris Tourtellotte a Vietnam Veteran who remembers what it was like in 1969 Tourtellotte Hopes to decorate the Rochester . Airport bus station and train station and the Homes of soldiers from Rochester. It could take Many months to. Withdraw All 537,000 . Troops from the Middle East. But starting in Washington dc., where talk at the Pentagon was of a Parade Down Pennsylvania Avenue people on the Home front said they Are ready. �?o1 think the american Public is going to need very Little advice or prompting. They re going to give these troops a heroes Welcome a said sen. Bob Kerrey d-neb., who lost part of a leg in the Vietnam War and won the medal of Honor. A a we be had something in the works since Decem her a said mayor buddy Deloach of Hinesville ga., where an old fashioned March of the troops near i7ort Stewart was planned. In Dallas a weekend gathering initially planned As a military support rally did a Quick about face. A it will now have a slant As a Victory party a said Jan Sargent executive director of the Dallas rotary club. I a in new York City the Empire state buildings owners planned to replace the red White and Blue. Lights that have shone throughout the War with yellow lights As a Symbol of peace and Pride in the nations troops. At Jefferson City mo., a lunchtime party planned a. A a.  a a a a. A a.  for state workers with relatives in the Gulf How will turn into a Victory Celebration a said Bob Ferguson spokesman for gov. John Ashcroft. Students at the University of Delaware were planning a rally sunday in support of troops. It too will become a big Victory party. In Washington conn., Charlie Sleyman said the sign up Sheet at his general store was filling up fast. He predicted no problem assembling 360 residents to hold up red White and Blue cards for a 60-foot human Flag on the Green in front of town Hall. Wewoka a 5,400 residents planned a boisterous Welcome for the 180-member 2120th Oklahoma National guard Supply and service co. A a we re hoping to have a Parade and have our troops sit in the stands at the football stadium and have everyone in town March past them a a said Mary Gantt who has a daughter in the reserves and leads a local support group. Before the cease fire was official Honolulu mayor Frank Fasi had been planning a big Houv coming to which president Bush Gen Colin Powell chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and Gen. 11. Norman Schwarzkopf will be invited. A your victorious men and women in the Middle East deserve a Royal hawaiian Welcome when they finally come Home a Fasi said a it will be a red White and Blue Aloha that will come from every heart of every american on our  feeling More cautious anti War veterans planned a peace Vigil saturday at the naval air station in grand Prairie Texas. R a things Are still up in the air a said Joe Lowe a member of the Dallas coalition for Middle East peace. A people arc waiting to see what a going on in the  gov. Ray Mabus decided to celebrate with pizza at an enormous weekend party for relatives of 5,000 Mississippi servicemen. About 2,000 pizzas were ordered for delivery to the governors mansion in Jackson where about 3,000 guests were expected. Troops returning to the Lafayette la., area can count on festivities with a cajun French accent set to the music of fiddles and squeeze boxes. In Mccook neb., organizers Are decorating the Community colleges stadium in yellow ribbons and helium balloons for a weekend a operation desert  in Delano Calif., about 150 Miles from los Angeles residents began planning the return of 50 native sons and daughters the Day the War began. A i think people Learned a lesson from Vietnam a said Bob Jefferson a former Marine whose son daughter and son in Law Are Marine sergeants. A a lot of kids came Home needing help and they did no to get  stars and stripes a it Page 13 Ann Landers dear Ann Landers i was Lucky enough to have the son that every Mother dreams will be hers. A a John was the Light of my life a handsome Bright kind sensitive talented generous and funny. He died in an Accident that did t have to happen. His car was hit head on by a drunk Driver. I have read everything i could Lay my hands on searching for Solace and asking the same question a a Why Why Why Quot John w As Only 21 and had so much to give. Maybe there Are to answers but i would appreciate any word of Comfort that you might be Able to offer. Please try thank you. A heavy heart in California dear Friend i can find no words to ease your pain but a few Days ago a letter crossed my desk and i set it aside for just the right moment. That moment is now. It is the perfect response that 1 never could have provided. My readers bless them always come through when i need them. Here is the letter dear Ann Landers on oct. 15, 1983, my 21-year-old son Kevin was killed in an automobile Accident. At the time i thought nothing could be As painful and devastating As that loss i was wrong. On March 3, 1989, my son Leo 28 years old died suddenly. The death of this second son reopened the wounds of my previous loss it was a struggle to hang onto my sanity. I knew in my heart that my sons would not want me to give up on life. They were so full of fun and laughter. They would expect me to pull myself together and Cany on. I knew i had do to it for them. The night after Kevin died i wrote some words to be read at his funeral. When Leo died i reread them. I would like to share them with your readers. Here they Are a if god said to me a you can choose or not choose to have a son Kevin. If you choose to have a son Kevin he will have red hair and shiny eyes and a great sense of humor. He will be a Ray of Sunshine in your life and cheer you on when you Are Down. A a a but you can have him for Only 21 years. And when he leaves you must pay a great Price for those 21 years. That Price will be deep  a i would choose to have Kevin. A a a a and if god said to me a when he goes you can choose for him to have a lingering painful death one that would help you adjust to his leaving and give you a Chance to say goodbye. A a for you can choose for him to go quickly and pain. A. Lessly. A a a. A. A a a a a a a but if you choose for him to go quickly and painlessly you must pay a great Price and that Price is deep  a a a ���.�. A a a \., a a i would choose a Quick and painless death for kevin�?�. S these words were read at Kevin Browne a funeral on oct. 18, 1983. _ a Barbara Brown Millington nj. Dear Barbara Brown _ thank you for giving me permission to share your words with my readers. What you have written will lift the hearts and ease the pain of millions of parents who have suffered similar losses. The service you have performed this Day in incalculable. Leo and Kevin would be very proud of their Mother. A a c creators Syndicate. A Kerrey dear Abby / a seeing red in Texas a who drives a new red Mercedes wants to know Why anyone would deliberately key scratch her car while its parked at malls or other Public places. I think i can Tell her. Several years ago while walking into the main Entrance of one of the More expensive department stores in san Antonio i noticed a late Model red Jaguar Coupe pull up and Park sideways across two handicapped parking spots. There were no handicapped signs anywhere on the car to justify this outrageous act of selfishness. A Young healthy looking Well dressed woman emerged from the car and strode purposefully toward the store. A excuse me a i said a those parking spaces Are for the Handicapped�?� she turned smiled flipped me a one Finger Salute and proceeded into the store i smiled too. Then i dragged my key across the Side of the jags Bright red finish. A yes i know that was bad but it Felt Good and i Wasny to sorry. Having an expensive new car is no excuse for taking a handicapped parking space much less two. Obviously such inconsiderate fools have never dear Abby had a loved one confined to a wheelchair. Those who Park like pigs deserve a parking ticket viewed by the wealthy As merely the Cost of prime parking getting their cars towed or worse a have key will scratch dear have key sorry two wrongs done to make a right 1 prefer the manner in which this gentleman from san Mateo handled that problem dear Abby in response to a seeing red in Texas a How Many parking spaces were you taking when your car was key scratched when you see an expensive car parked diagonally across two parking Spates be assured the owner is More concerned with his or her car than the convenience of others who May also want to Park. Because i do not believe that i have the right to Dai Page property i always leave a note on the Windshield to express my displeasure. Dear Abby after Reading your column for almost 35 years it is past time to say thank you for it for your Booklet a favorite recipes a and now for a More favorite Recipes�?� i loved your first Cookbook let so much that it is worn out and threadbare. I am now working on making your second Cookbook let threadbare so far in be made everybody a favorite baked Beans candied Sweet potatoes creamy spinach Cissero Lettic. Rum balls the Lemon squares and the sumptuous Chicken Stroga Noff. I must compliment you on Low Quot beautifully Clear direct and Well written your recipes Are. They Are a pleasure to read. I have done technical editing All my life and cannot read a a a regular Book without automatically a a editing it so for relaxation read cookbooks the Way most people read Romance novels. Please Start writing a a still More favorite Recipes�?� in a almost 75 years old and Don t have a whole lot of time to wait for it. You do an outstanding Job Abby. No matter How bad off i am sometimes my Back gives me real trouble when i read some of those letters i sigh and say a there but for the Grace of god go i a if you want to use my name it is. Ruth l. Terry Rochester . Universal press Syndicate