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Editor: RE: Rep. Dean's VA purchase venture a laudable move, Opinion Letters Oct. 9 Citrus Times: Regarding the letter from Ken Heisner lauding state Rep. Charles Dean for his efforts to bring a VA facility to the Brown School, apparently Mr. Heisner needs to get his facts straight.
While I am pleased to see that Dean is finally devoting his attention to veterans' needs, it should be pointed out that the Brown School is being offered as a potential site for a new VA facility because of a letter U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite wrote to county officials in this area asking them to consider locations in their counties to house a new clinic.
The VA is seriously considering the Brown School because Brown-Waite brought the location and the urgent need in this area to their attention.
Officials from the VA were given the opportunity to see the school thanks to a tour Brown-Waite arranged.
The VA is treating the Central Florida region with priority because Brown-Waite has been a squeaky wheel in Washington and here at home on the state level for veterans. Having contacted both the Florida VA and the Federal VA, she is working hard to bring an additional veterans' health care facility to this area.
Now with Dean as a new ally in the fight, hopefully our veterans will finally get the services and attention they deserve. I look forward to seeing what they can achieve by working together on this issue.
Editor: Perish the thought that it might be viewed as "preferential treatment" if the City Council of Crystal River should allow a group wanting to fly the flags of each branch of the U.S. military on a proposed war monument for Little Springs Park.
What this means is that the Fallen Heroes of Citrus County cannot erect the planned monument honoring those who gave their lives in the defense of their country.
I guess that giving one's life so that others may enjoy freedom should not be an excuse for what might be considered as preferential treatment.
This appears as another slap in the face for all of us that served our country, not like so many of the Clinton generation that avoided the draft and have since shown nothing but disdain for the military or anything remotely connected with it.
Not being a resident of Crystal River, I will not be able to directly affect the tenure of City Manager Susan Boyer, but I will do anything that I can to ensure that the various military organizations, VFW, American Legion and others are informed of how she apparently views the sacrifices of the Fallen Heroes of Citrus County.
Should we really support her and the members of the council and Mayor Ron Kitchen? I think not.
It is some comfort to know that council members Susan Kirk and Roger Proffer feel that the monument is a worthy project to show support for those of my comrades who gave all for our great country.
Editor: The following letter was sent to County Commission Chairman Jim Fowler and reprinted at the author's request:
Dear Mr. Fowler, You have once again slighted the citizens that you have sworn to represent, this time the citizens of Crystal River.
I sincerely hope that the need for sandbags anywhere in the county will not be necessary for some time to come. However, should that need arise, I would like to point out that those of us who live in the city of Crystal River also pay county taxes in addition to city taxes.
Therefore, I feel that it is incumbent upon the county to fill the needs of Crystal River citizens just as they would county citizens.
I DO NOT believe it is incumbent upon the city of Crystal River to fill the needs of county residents unless those residents choose to become part of the city.
The image of "stepchild" has never been more evident.
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