Letters from Oct. 31, 2007

Thank you: MADD donation appreciated

On behalf of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) of Kitsap County, I would like to thank the person who made the anonymous donation to our chapter. It is greatly appreciated.

MADD is a non-profit organization that relies on donations such as these to continue the fight against impaired driving. Your donations are tax-deductible and when donated in Kitsap County, your dollars are used in Kitsap County. Our mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and to prevent underage drinking. These include awareness activities, education and support for the victims of this crime.

MADD is not against responsible drinking by those who are of age, but we are against driving a vehicle after drinking and putting our community at risk. So far in Kitsap County this year, there have been 17 fatalities on our roadways. We realize that not all of these are alcohol related, but we feel that one death is one too many. As the holiday seasons are approaching, please drive responsibly and carefully, and use this simple rule before you go out: If you’re going to drink, don’t drive; if you’re going to drive, don’t drink, and always wear your seatbelt. Again, thank you for your donation.

If you would like to donate to MADD Kitsap County, please send to P.O. Box 3936, Silverdale, WA 98383. For more information about MADD, go to www.madd.org, or call (360) 692-4623.

MARSHA MASTERS

Bremerton

Feedback: Re-elect Ken Erickson

Mr. Sheline says “I’m there for the taxpayers” (“CKFR commish race heats up as Erickson, Sheline square off,” CK Reporter, Oct. 27). He sure is, with his hand on your wallet — looking to pad the payroll with a lot of new employees.

What the article doesn’t mention is that Sheline is the firefighter union’s candidate and that they hope to see a lot more of your money flowing into the firefighter’s paychecks and the union coffers.

Ken Erickson won’t be owned by the union. He will continue to provide a responsible balance between firefighting needs and fiscal responsibility.

Re-elect Ken Erickson.

JOAN BENZE

Silverdale Salmon runs: Tribal fishermen showing no control

Which tribe will get the last silver salmon from the Big Beef Creek?

The creek is low and the salmon can not get up to spawn, but everyday there are Indian netters trying to get the last fish. The weir count is so low the run will never recover if the rape of this run continues. I was out fishing Saturday and watched an Indian beach seine take more than 200 fish. This is one boat with one net, on one day. This pillage has been going on for weeks. The tribes all converge on this creek because it is in the middle of four or five tribal fisheries. There is no management, controls, conservation, just pure greed.

PETE PARKER

Silverdale

Point of fact: Definition of 21-gun salute

The following is offered as information for future reference and is in no way meant to detract from the honors paid to the military or the intentions of the organizers (“Morning of Remembrance,” CK Reporter, Oct. 27).

The National Salute of 21 guns (cannons firing blank charges 21 times) is fired only in honor of a national flag, the sovereign or chief of state of a foreign nation, a member of a reigning royal family and the president, ex-president and president-elect of the United States. It is also fired at noon of the day of the funeral of a president, ex-president, or president-elect, on Washington’s Birthday, Presidents’ Day and the Fourth of July.

On the other hand, anyone who is entitled to a military funeral (generally anyone who dies on active duty, honorably discharged veterans and military retirees) are entitled to 3 Rifle Volleys, (rifles firing blanks into the air three times). This is not a 21-gun salute. They are properly referred to as Rifle Volleys.

This from the Arlington National Cemetery Web site: www.arlingtoncemetery.net/customs.htm. Practice of firing Three Rifle Volleys: “The fact that the firing party consists of seven riflemen, firing three volleys does not constitute a 21-gun salute.”

The three volleys comes from an old battlefield custom. The two warring sides would cease hostilities to clear their dead from the battlefield and the sound of three volleys firing would signal that the dead had been properly cared for and the side was ready to resume the battle.

PATRICK CABANILLA

Sergeant First Class-U.S. Army (Retired)

Santa Clara, Calif.

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