Tolls along the road to freedom

By MARY JANE PARK

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 29, 2001

The weekend before Memorial Day, a family celebration took me to Gettysburg, Pa. Early Saturday morning, I walked along Seminary Ridge, which overlooks part of the vast battlefield where thousands of American soldiers perished during the Civil War.

A thick mist hung low in the cool air; huge droplets of water slid off the leaves of ancient trees and into the fragrant earth, soaked the night before by a soft, steady rain.

As I walked by plaques and monuments erected in memory of warriors from Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Wisconsin and beyond, I felt a heavy sadness. I envisioned the troops, the flags, the horses, the dogs, the musicians, the medics, the rivers of blood.

On the way to Pennsylvania, through North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, and on the trip home, along interstate highways and less-traveled routes, stood markers that commemorated some of this nation's giants in history: Thomas Jefferson, Stonewall Jackson, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Robert E. Lee, the American Indians known as the Seminoles, George Washington, Martin Luther King Jr.

On Monday, Memorial Day, the United States honored those who lost their lives in military service. Today's cover story pays tribute to those who have become known as the Greatest Generation, whose crucibles were the Great Depression and World War II. We also take a look at local heroes whose ordinary, extraordinary lives personify the reasons younger people revere that generation.

We owe a great debt to those throughout our country's young history who have paid -- and do today pay -- the cost of freedom.

Why you can't always reach us

A woman who identified herself only as an old broad phoned the other day to complain about all the screaming on daytime TV. She loathes the din she hears on some talk shows. She wishes the crowds that show up outside the early-morning shows would lower the volume.

She's losing her hearing, she said, and all that commotion makes it difficult for her to ascertain what's going on behind the noise.

My suggestion: Complain to the television stations and the networks (look on page 2 each week in TV Times for information); complain to advertisers (ask for help in the reference department of the public library).

The old broad said she was glad, finally, to reach me. She may have been the diligent caller who sighed often into my voice mail, once lamenting: "Aren't you ever there?"

Yes, ma'am, but not always.

I shall never forget the afternoon when Jim Hurley, the editor who was my greatest journalism teacher, entered the newsroom at the Salisbury (N.C.) Post, where I began my professional career. Then, as now, the Post is predominantly an evening newspaper; the final edition had gone to press. It was past lunchtime, and our bellies -- and the newsroom -- were full.

No longer do I remember his exact quote, but Hurley's message was clear: That many fannies parked in the newsroom means that too few of us are writing stories about you.

- You can reach Mary Jane Park by telephone at (727)-893-8267 or, toll-free, at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 8267. Write her in care of the St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731; or send e-mail to park@sptimes.com.

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