But, I have to tell you that my mom certainly did not let this opportunity pass by (and if you know my mom, you know what I mean)! After I received my Resolution the Council went on to a few Committee Reports and they began to talk about how our playground is in such bad shape. The playground is together with the field the high school uses, a Little League field, basketball and tennis courts (the tennis courts are so bad they can't even be used at all). This area is called "Veterans Field". The Council was trying to decide if they could take money out of the budget to use for repairs. They do have a small amount that is going to be used to replace the bleachers on the field, but it would be a lot of money to do the whole thing and it is really bad. Well they voted and it ended up being a tie. Then mom got started! She spoke right out and asked how hard they have pushed to get State and Federal money to turn that into a Veterans Field that a Veteran could be proud of. She asked if they knew how many names from our Borough alone were on The Wall. She asked if there was a tribute to our Veterans at the field at all, because she has never seen one and my brothers play Little League there. They told her that yes, there was a WWII plaque there. Of course she asked them if they knew that this country has been in eleven wars and that you don't just honor one, you honor them ALL (she was on a roll). They told her that they have tried to go through our local Senator and Representative:
Senator Albert Belan, his email is senbelan@trfn.clph.org
His office did help our Council get $5000.00 towards Veterans Field, but compared to what is needed, that is a very small amount.
Represtative Frank Dermody, doesn't have email listed, his phone is (717)787-3566
From what they said he hasn't offered much help. But what my mom told me later is that no one mentioned our D.C. politicians or our Governor who is a Vietnam Veteran himself. They are as follows:
Congressman Mike Doyle, his email is rep.doyle@mail.house.gov
Senator Arlen Spector, his email is Senator_Specter@Specter.senate.gov
Senator Rick Santorum, his email page is http://www.senate.gov/~santorum/
Gov. Tom Ridge and his email page is:
http://www.state.pa.us/PA Exec/Governor/govmail.html
Mom also told me that our state has a lot of money left over that is just sitting somewhere. The Council members told her that they have tried and tried, but for four years in a row they have been turned down for a grant. Now my mom was REALLY on a roll and she said "Have you ever seen the response an eleven year old girl can get??? Maybe that is why you decided to pass a Resolution because you heard that coming to you about Veterans Field was going to be our next project and maybe you thought you would just keep me quiet now", and those were her words exactly!!!
They told us that they would welcome my help and that they also wished that I could do something, they even said that they would go with me to politicians offices if they had too! But mom made conditions first. She said the only way that we would do this, is if it is done right!! There is to be a huge dedication to ALL of the Veterans when the park is done and also a balloon launch to the POW/MIA's!!! They told us to run with it and guess what, we are going to RUN!! And hopefully we can count on everyone who reads this to run with us. Veterans Field is really, really bad and the Council said that a lot of it is unsafe too!!! Please email anyone or everyone above and tell them that this should be a park our Veterans are proud of as well as a tribute. I know that I am going to do everything I can to see this done!!!!! But with more help and maybe more complaints, maybe someone will listen. Thanks, I'll keep you updated! Sorry this is so long, but it was a long meeting! |
