Letters to the Editor
A Blue Star mother shares her story, praises coverage

To the Editor:

I have to commend you for the great tribute to 1st Lt. Jones. It was an article that showed the human side of a great hero and his family. It really touched home to me because my son, Staff Sgt. Christopher Lawrence, is also serving in Iraq. He is stationed near a town in southern Iraq called Umm Qasr. He has been a gunner on a hummer doing the dangerous and unpredictable convoys. Recently his duty has changed to working on base and guarding the border. He, like Lt. Jones, has not told me all the things he has done for fear of worrying me. He, like Lt. Jones, has a big heart and asked me to send clothes to the Iraq kids. He said the poverty over there was really hard to take. Through friends, church and work, people have generously donated many things. Like Lt. Jones' mother I have tried to give him support to help him through the hard times of war. Like Lt. Jones' mother I have feared and prayed for his safety on a daily basis. I truly feel her pain and loss of a great son and hero. She is experiencing the thing I fear the most right now. My son never complains of the things he has to do ... after all it is his duty and loyalty to his country to help the people know what freedom really is. I pray for the Jones' to find comfort in knowing that their son is a hero. God bless all the military facing the horrors and hardships of war. May we all take time to pray for these families and heroes out there somewhere fighting for freedom. Thank you Caitlyn Kelleher for excellent reporting.

Janell Lawrence

Ashburnham

Resident complains about town meeting sound system

To the Editor:

Dear John Fairbanks:

Something must be done to improve the sound system used in town meetings.

When I attended the town meeting on May 1, I could hear the noise of people speaking, but I found it impossible to understand more than one word out often of what they said. My hearing is not as good as it once was, so I thought it was my problem, so after a frustrating two hours, I left after Article 6. However, in the last few days everyone I have talked to about the town meeting has agreed that it was extremely difficult to understand what was being said. I don't think I am the only one who is going to give up going to town meetings if most of what is being said in unintelligible.

Please do what is necessary to correct this problem before the next town meeting. The New England town meeting is supposed to be an outstanding example of democracy; it can hardly qualify for this distinction if those in attendance cannot understand what is being said.

George Lane

Westminster Editor's note:

We are looking for Ashburnham and Westminster residents who are participating in the Greater Gardner Relay for Life in June, that would like to share their stories with us. If you are interested in sharing your story please e-mail editor@thecommunityjournal.com or call (978) 827-3386.