European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 26, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Tuesday May 26, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 9statue sparking protest in London Wii British sculptor Faith Winter puts finishing touches on her statue of sir Arthur travers a a bomber Harris. London apr veterans wearing medals joined other survivors of world War 11 in singing peace songs and carrying protest signs through Central London sunday denouncing a Monument to the British air marshal who directed the destruction of German cities. Some of the 120 protesters carried pots of White chrysanthemums yellow daisies and wooden doves in memory of air raid victims. They marched from Trafalgar Square to the Royal air Force memorial Church of St. Clement Danes where next sunday a 9-foot Bronze statue of sir Arthur travers a a bomber Harris will be unveiled. A the statue will be another sign of British incomprehension of the world outside a said air Commodore sir Alastair Mackie a bomber Pilot in the Middle fast during world War ii. A a Harris policy of area bombing was a euphemism for killing civilians a he said. Area bombing is a term used for saturation raids on cities. Harris believed that saturation bombing raids if destructive enough could defeat Germany. Some protesters sat in the Road when police refused to let them near the site where the Harris statue will go up later this week. There were no arrests. The statue which Cost $181,000, is being paid for by members of the bomber command association who fought under Harris. They see it As a memorial to the 55,573 aircrew killed during the War As Well As to their commander. The Rev. Paul Oestreicher who came to Britain with his parents As a refugee from the nazis when he was 6, told the rally a we would not be Here if a Monument of an airman in his flying suit was being unveiled in tribute to those aircrew but a statue of Harris 50 years after the War is grossly insensitive and does not help to bind up the wounds of the the anglican Clergyman is a Canon of Coventry Cathedral built after the City a medieval Cathedral was destroyed in a German bombing raid in november 1940. The Harris statue has aroused protests in Germany where an estimated 593,000 civilians were killed by Allied bombing and 3.37 million Homes destroyed mostly in Royal air Force night raids. Oestreicher said he had received a message of sup port for the rally from mayor Norbert Burger of Cologne Germany whose City 50 years ago on May 30, 1942, was the target of Harris first raid by 1,000 bomb ers. The attack designed to boost British morale and demonstrate the effectiveness of area bombing killed nearly 500 people and left 100,000 homeless. Sundays protest was criticized by former air marshal sir Harry Burton. A i think its particularly insensitive and offensive even to link their protest with this memorial to sir Arthur and 55,000 men who gave their lives to obtain the Freedom to protest that they now enjoy a Burton told British broadcasting corp. Radio. Harris died in his sleep in 1984 just before his 92nd birthday the last of Britain Stop wartime commanders and the Only one not Given a seat in the House of lords because of the controversy Over his bombing policy. No medal for their specific operations was awarded to the bomber come airmen which was regarded by Harris and by them As a slight and which is still resented. Mackie 69, in Bowler hat Gray suit and wearing his distinguished flying Cross and other medals said the British bombing Survey found area bombing had Little effect on German production. A it Only increased the German Peoples resolve so that far from contributing to Victory it May have delayed it. In contrast the United states Daylight bombing on Industrial targets was very effective a Mackic said in an interview. Symposium cuts path through adoption Maze by Peggy Davidson Kaiserslautern Bureau Lan Stuhl Germany a Jean Woodcock was 13 years old in 1989 when she made the Choice to place her son up for adoption. That decision was both easy and difficult. A i did no to have anything to raise him on a the 16-year-old said saturday at an All Day adoption symposium at Lan Stuhl army regional medical Center. A it was Best for when she discovered she was pregnant again at the age of 15, Woodcock worked closely with the adoptive parents support group at Lan Stuhl and she chose her daughters adoptive parents. The first adoption was a closed a which Means she does not know her songs parents nor do they know her. There is also no provision for her son to find her in later years. With her daughter Woodcock selected the parents from an open letter they wrote for birth mothers. A i miss her but i never worry about her a Woodcock said. A i worry about my saturday was the first Chance Woodcock had to see her daughter since the birth. The two met at the symposium sponsored by the american red Cross. She was she admitted a a Little she spotted her daughter in the hallway outside the symposium where 13-month-old Kacie Kane toddled and charmed everyone she met. Her adopted Mother Veronica Kane said that walking was a fairly new experience for Kacie. Of Kacien a birth Mother Kane said that even if she and her husband were to lose Contact with Woodcock Kacie would always know that her birth Mother loved her enough to let someone else raise her. A it was an act of courage and an act of love a Kane said of Woodcock a decision. A amps Peggy debt Deon adoptive Mother Terry Osarczuk supports daughter Amanda while Veronica Kane crouches behind her adopted daughter Kacie at a Lan Stuhl symposium. Although Woodcock becomes emotional about letting others raise her children she admits that it was the Best solution in both cases. And she a Clear on the role she plays in her daughters life. A a in a the Mother and somewhere there a her father but they re the Kanes Are her Mommy and daddy a Woodcock said addressing saturdays group. The symposium played Host to adoptive parents couples who have adopted one or More children couples interested in adopting two birth mothers and a representative from the army Slegal services in Kaiserslautern. For american adoptive parents and birth mothers being in Europe offers unique problems in the adoption game. In Europe there Are a adoptions and private placements a said Jeanie Veith coordinator of the support group. In private placements the adoptive parents use their Home states adoption procedures in an american court. The Lon distance process often Means lawyers and courts never see their clients Veith said. Since the birth Mother and the adoptive parents Are americans the German courts a or those in other Host nations a done to get involved. Adoptions that take place outside the United states generally involve an Amer ican couple adopting a non american child Veith said. In this process the Host nations Laws can become More cumbersome because of the paperwork involved. People taking part in the symposium were discussing adopting children from one time East bloc countries including the former soviet Union As Well As american children born overseas. Children from Romania Are no longer eligible for adoption by americans because of an aids epidemic among the infants said Jerry Shiles a Legal adviser with the 21st theater army area come in Kaiserslautern. Shiles recommended that any couple thinking about adopting a child from another country first Check with the american consulate. Shiles added that his Legal office works closely with the support group providing information on changes in the Laws. The biggest delay in the adoption process is a failing to get All the documents that Are needed a Shiles said. These documents include birth certificates marriage licenses Home addresses and court consents from both the birth parents and the adoptive parents. A the birth fathers especially done to want to participate in the process a he said. Although it can be a paperwork Nightmare at the end is the answer to dreams for some couples. For example capt. Donna Horne and her husband Rich Are in the process of adopting their second child. Adopting their first child Johanna now 5, a took a couple of years a Rich Horne said. The couple expect their second child next month. A a a she a going to be born in june a he said. A we want to have a family and this is the Only Donna Horne said they Are not drawing the line at two children a a in a open to a
