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Viewpoints Thanks, vets This week, we take a few minutes from our busy schedules to simply say thanks to the millions of American veterans who served our country. Because of them, democracy is still a real, wonderful part of our lives. About this time last year, a delightful poem made its way across the email con nections of this country. A few days ago. It resurfaced. Here's the poem. Twas the night before Christmas. He lived all alone, In a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone. 1 had come down the chimney with presents to give. And to see Just who In this home did live. 1 looked all about, a strange sight I did see. No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree. No stocking by mantle, just boots filled with sand, On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands. With medals and badges, awards of all kinds, A sober thought came through my mind. For this house was different, it was dark and dreary, I found the home of a soldier, • once I could see clearly. the soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone, Curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home. The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder, Not how 1 pictured a United States soldier. Was this the hero of whom I'd Just read? Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed? I realized the families that 1 saw this night. Owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight. Soon round the world, the children would (day. And grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas Day. They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year. Because of the soldiers, like the one lying here. I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone. On a cold Christmas Eve In a land far from home. The very thought brought a tear to my eye, 1 dropped to my knees and started to cry. The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice, "Santa don’t cry, this life is my choice; 1 fight for freedom, 1 don't ask for more. My life is my god, my country, my corps." The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep, 1 couldn’t control it 1 continued to weep. 1 kept watch for hours, so silent and still And we both shivered from the cold night’s chill. I didn't want to leave on that cold, dark, night. This guardian of honor so willing to fight. Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure. Whispered. "Carry on Santa. It's Christmas Day. all Is secure.” One look at my watch, and 1 knew he was right. "Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night." This poem was written bu a Marine sta tioned in Okinawa Japan. Thanks, veterans, for all you did to pre serve our American life. P.O. Drawer M • 807 Carrol St. Peny, Ga. 31008 email hbmejrnOhom.net (913) 987-1823 (voice) (912) 988*1181 (Cue) Bob Tribble President J) Johnson... Editor and General Manager Ellen T. Green -Advertising Director Phil Clarit Sport* Joan Dor sett Torey Jolley New* AlUne Kent Sports Heath Williams—Another bright star passes our way One of the fringe benefits of being editor of a community newspaper is getting to work with some of the finest people in the world. Some of them I come in con tact with through working on either stories or business needs. Others come into our office and become part of our extended newspaper family. Among those have been some very outstanding young people. I’ve watched for the past 26 years as high school and college students have passed through the various newspaper offices where I have labored. They’ve all been great. Many have gone on to great achievements. One of those former workers is Cathy Cox, Georgia’s Secre- ~Tne PtM/ur Onieny K2/T hjiwiiMuu, :>9 Alzheimer’s - good news for caregivers Few diseases are more devas tating.,exhausting and isolating for families than Alzheimer's, so it's very good news that a fine evening seminar has been planned to offer hope, informa tion, and emotional support for both families and professionals. Dr. Allan Levey of Emory Uni versity, who is on the cutting edge of Alzheimer's research, will be the keynote speaker for a spe cial program co-sponsored by Hospice of Houston County, the Houston Healthcare Complex, the Houston Medical Center Aux iliary and Pfizer, Inc. A copy of the book, "The 36- Hour Day", considered the Bible of Alzheimer's caregivers, will be given to the first 148 caregivers who attend. This gift has been made possible by the Houston Medical Center Auxiliary. The program, "Alzheimer's Care: The Search for Hope”, which will be presented from 7 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 16. at the Middle Georgia Technical Institute. For more information on this pro gram, and to pre-register, call Health Source at 923-9771. HAPrT BntTHDAY, PSBJRY Perry's 175th birthday cele bration is coining up Nov. 19, with some great plans at City Hall. The festivities will begin at 2 p.m. Gov. Roy Barnes will be here and will cut the birthday cake. Now, for all you history buffs here’s a question. Do you know Pauline Lewis Lifestyles Rob Mead News and Circulation Charlotte Perkins.. News and Composition Antty Stuckey Classified Susan R Thomas Bookkeeping Paula Zimmerman Bookkeeping Our Policies Unsigned editorials appearing In larger type on this page under the label Our Views reflect the position of the Houston Home Journal. Signed columns and letters on this page (and elsewhere In this newspaper) reflect the opinions of the writers and not necessarily those of this newspaper. Page 4A JJ Johnson Home Journal Editor tary of State. Another is Linton Johnson, editor and publisher of the Elberton Star-Examiner. Among the recent teen-aged workers was Heath Williams, who completed his high school work at Westfield during the early 19905. From there. Heath attended first Georgia College and then the " We had this last millennium." who was president when Perry Charlotte Perkins Home Journal Staff was founded? The answer is below. In the pecan grove Members of Andrew United Methodist Church are hard at work, getting ready for their Pecan Festival, which will be held Nov. 20, starting at 8:30 a.m. In, addition to the pecans for sale, there’ll be puppets, ponies, clowns, games, prizes, and all sorts of neat things (old and new) to buy. And you can eat break fast or lunch or both while you’re there. Besides, if you haven’t been out there already, you’ll get a chance to see the the church, which has an unusual and very pretty interior. Proceeds will go to Houston County Habitat for Humanity and the church’s Kenya Mission. All tou can eat Last week, Joan Dorsett reported in “Just Visitin’" that tickets to the Mennonite benefit supper in Macon County were $7 Signed letters to the editor are wel comed. Please limit letters to 300 words and Include addresses and a telephone number for verification purposes. Letters are not published without verification. Let ters should be sent to P.O. Drawer M. Perry, Ga.. 31069 or brought to the news paper office at 807 Carroll St., Perry. Our liability for an error will not exceed the cost of space occupied by the error. We cannot be responsible for the return of pictures or submitted materials unless a stamped, return address envelope Is included. Our Goal A Jvs/ U? Wed., Ost. ao. 1990 | . J 1 11 ■ W j. I Houston Horn Journal University of Georgia. His par ents, Linda and Butch Williams, were sure to keep me up to date on Heath’s success story. From time to time I would see Heath, most often at a Westfield athletic event. Just a year ago, as I was watching the WestfieTd- Athens Christian game in Athens, Heath tapped me on the back and proudly announced he was almost through with his law degree. *1 was delighted with this news. Heath introduced me to the John Grisham books about the legal profession several years ago. He talked of nothing else than completing his educa tion and becoming an attorney. A few days ago, Linda called the office. Heath was to be and I reported that they were $6. Joan was right. I didn’t realize that the cost had gone up. It’s still a good deal. Children 2-10 get in for $3.50, and under five, they get in free. A bunch of us are going from the Home Jour nal. Hope we see some other Perry folks there. Christmas shopping for special kids Toys 'R Us has a neat little publication called “Toy Guide for Differently Abled Kids." This cat alog, was put together in collabo ration with the National Lekotek Center, a non-profit organization concerned with play opportuni ties for children with disabilities. The toys are not different from those other kids would like, but are selected for both play value and learning. There's lots of information about encouraging the development of specific men tal and physical skills through play. It also has nice photos of kids in wheel chairs and kids with Down Syndrome as models, which is good to see for a change. If you have a special needs kid to buy Christmas presents for , you might want to pick up a copy at the service desk at the Warner Robins Toys ’R Us. The answer Andrew Jackson (AKA "Old Hickory") was president when Perry was founded. The Houston Home Journal is pub lished proudly for the citizens of Houston and adjoining counties by Houston Publi cations Inc., Perry. Ga. Our goal Is to pro duce quality, profitable, community-orient ed newspapers that you. our readers, are proud of. we will reach this goal through hard work, teamwork, loyalty and a strong dedication toward printing the truth. Member of Georgia Press Association and National Newspaper Association. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or of the sworn in by Judge George Nunn in the Houston County Courtroom, could I come? I did, and with a big smile. Heath, accompanied by a host of friends and relatives, was sworn in Nov. 5. I was proud to be there and witness the occa sion. It’s always a happy moment when one of our for mer co-workers goes on to great things and wonderful accom plishments. Heath begins work Nov. 15 in the Coweta Judicial District as an assistant district attorney assigned to Meriwether County. He’s excited. His parents are excited. I know Heath will do well. He’s already proven he’s top quality. Torey Jolley Home Journal Staff If it weren’t for bad luck ... Ever watched “Hee Haw?” Remember the song, “If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all?" Last week, that was my theme song. I was gearing up to get away for the weekend when WHAM! Bad Luck struck. My kitchen, dining room, and living room was ankle deep in water. How? A small pipe thing under the kitchen sink worked its way loose. With the help of my friend, we got the water stopped. We swept, mopped, and towel dried the floor. Wiped up the cabinet under the sink. With out her help, I am not sure I could have done it alone. It was a real mess. The insurance company sent over a company to dry the car pets three days of loud fans blowing 24 hours a day. They did spray the carpet so the mold and mildew wouldn’t take hold, or the smell would have taken our breath away. The carpet cleaning company pulled up the carpet, ripped away the wet foam padding underneath, and set the fans up to blow under the carpet drying the carpet bottom to top. We are still waiting for the insurance company to look at the damage and decide if clean ing it or replacing it is called for. So nothing is in its place. Lamps are on tables in other rooms, sofas are moved to one side and chairs have been placed elsewhere. I am a creature of habit and love things in their proper places. This mess makes me nervous. Plus, I keep running into things. I have so many bruises on my legs from bump ing into chairs and tables. Now that should have been enough to drive a sane woman up the wall, but I had more things happen. My brother needed surgery for an abscess on his leg bone. The surgery was done in Dal las, Texas. Since it was sched uled for Nov. 8, I worried all week about the possibility of it being cancer. (No one knew whether or not it was cancer.) OK, my imagination runs wild with me, but since the doctors were unsure about just what the problem was, I could n’t help but worry. The worries over his health drained me See JOLLEY, Page 5A right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition tne Government for a redress of grievances." Your right to read this newspaper Is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitu tion. The Houston Home Journal (ÜBPB 000471) la published weekly for $21.40 per year (Including sales tax) by Houston Publications Inc.. 807 Carroll St., Perry. Ga.. 31069. Periodicals Class Postage paid at Perry. Ga. POSTMASTER : Send address changes to the Houston Home Journal, P.O. Drawer M. Perry, Ga. 31080. ISSN; 1070-1874.