Dear editor,
I want to give a huge “Hoorah” to all those in the medical field, law enforcement and transportation.
You’ve been there since the Civil War to the present. You’ve pulled us off the battlefields, taken us to makeshift medical facilities or MASH units to present day medical hospitals.
You’ve written letters for us, read letters we’ve received, and sent the letter no one wants to receive. You would play cards and checkers and even pray with us.
Again, U.S. citizens are being called to duty to fight the COVID-19 pandemic by either hunkering down, tending to those in need or becoming makeshift teachers.
You are our front line of defense.
When I worked for the State of Kansas from 1979 to 1999, every three months we discussed the needs for the next 10 years so we would be prepared for anything that happened. On this board were representatives from the medical field, law enforcement, education, transportation, and the National Guard.
Many times we addressed the medical needs in the case of natural disasters such as floods and tornadoes.
As veterans, we also discussed chemical warfare and the possibility of a pandemic. We were frequently laughed at.
To all the USA companies that have stepped up to make items in times of need, hoorah to you.
For those who have died from this coronavirus, I’m truly sorry for their loss. If they were a veteran, please know they had an extended family of those who have also served.
I’d also like to congratulate those in our community who work in healthcare, at G&W Foods, Pete’s, Casey’s, Dollar Tree and Orscheln, the banks and Walmart.
Your staff at each of these places have been in the trenches, putting their lives on the line.
I also appreciate the restaurants providing drive-up service. It’s fun to see carhops at King’s again.
To those who have completely closed their doors, I can say that when you reopen, we’ll be there to support you.
We will get over this. We will shake hands again and give hugs. Our churches will open again.
I also hope that at the end of this that if some have contracted cancer because of the pandemic that our country will take care of you faster than it did for those who fought in Vietnam. It has taken 75 years to approve Agent Orange as a chemical which has killed thousands of our veterans.
May God bless you all,
Teresa Yetzbacher,
Korea/Vietnam veteran
Iola, Kan.
