David Miller War Memorial

[mbhenty]

Nope, sorry, can't let this one get away.

This is not a political issue.

This is a thread about right and wrong, ethics, war memorials, the lack of respectable behavior by a "City" that should know better.

It is about how a city has failed to recognize basic values through what can only be considered deliberate insolence and disrespect, which reflects reckless and foolish leadership, and which in turn speaks to the lack of leadership from those who should know better.

It is about those who find nothing sacred or hallowed in a memorial dedicated to a war hero or otherwise.

It is NOT about politics.

It is NOT about bloggers.

It's NOT about particular sections of a city and where one lives.


It is about DAVID MILLER a war hero who gave his life under despicable and horrific conditions and a memorial dedicated not only to his memory but to all who served in WWII and to the over 2000 Americans who died in the post Bataan march prison. Such "War Memorials" should be given the respect and attention of a gravesite.

When such a "Green" is dedicated to someone it is not only about the plaque or stone which honors the person but about the entire "Green", the entire plot of land, no matter how small or big.

Mr. Miller suffered and died during the infamous Bataan Death March in the Philippines during WWII.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bataan_Death_March




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In the early 70s I went out with a girl who's father was just out of his mind. One day I asked her why he was such a wreck and why his fingers looked all deformed.

Apparently he was held prisoner by the JAPANESE during the BATAAN DEATH MARCH and spent a couple of years in a japanese PRISON CAMP. His FINGERS were deformed because he was TORTURED by his captors who PULLED OUT ALL HIS FINGERNAILS WITH A PAIR OF PLIERS.

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Fall River has an awful track record when it comes to its history and it's past. As I have mentioned on here more than once, what historical buildings have not burnt down the city of fall river has issued permits to tear it down. Recently this year it demolished one of the old Iron Works Mills down by the water front. Now I hear that a permit has been issued to demolish one of the Sagamore Mills in the north end. Go ahead and wipe out your past fall river. It is really sad.

I have no agenda here except to expose delinquent and bizarre behavior.......to add my voice to my opposition to this outrageous display and deliberate injustice.

To push aside a war hero...........shame, shame, shame on you.

[mbhenty]

Yes................and re-reading my post above it sounds a little defiant.

Not meant to sound that way........at least not to anyone here.

This is a passionate issue.

And to read how some do not see a problem with this affair and still others find these actions a welcoming change, plays to my displeasure.

In a world where everyone worships big flat screen TVs, and in a society who kneel and pray to viagra, the least they can do is have a little respect for those who helped pave the road for these indulgences.

So, to any who may feel affronted or somewhat offended by the talk above, my sincere apology.

But dead men can't defend themselves and someone must.


Now, who wants some lemonade?

[mbhenty]

Yes, once you read the update of the news regarding the Miller Memorial you will note that fall river does not and will not ever learn.

The MAYOR is UNREPENTANT, since it was his idea and Mcgovern was his buddy, and the council lady who helped draft the Mcgovern stone CLAIMS she does not have the correct answer to rectify the problem. She knows what the right thing is. She just does not want to admit error.

These so called city leaders have failed us. And they continue to do so by further insulting the citizens of fall river and repeating that NO ONE KNEW IT WAS EVEN THERE or that WE MADE IT MORE BEAUTIFUL.

My question is: what sort of people are they to make the claim that if a certain number of people are not aware of sacred ground then it is no longer sacred. What sort of people, people who are resposible for such a memorial would allow it to fall upon hard times when it was their responsibility to keep it up, then blame the veteran for not keeping up his site and removing it from him.

Notice in the photo in the news clip below how now you must bend over to take a photo by Mr Miller's stone, where as for the large Mcgovern stone the same is not true.

What sort of people are these?

I call upon the McGovern Family to urge the mayor to move the stone.
This will only taint your good name. And if it is true what people have told me about Mr. McGovern, he would have been the first to say, MOVE THE STONE, IT DOES NOT BELONG THERE.

To the McGovern family I say: It this is allowed to stand Mr. Mcgovern will not be remembered for his good works but as the guy who took away the war hero's place.

And in time to the mayor and many others he spoke of............no one will know it's even there.

Shameful.


http://www.heraldnews.com/news/x7764916 ... al-removed

[Angel]

You're a good person, mbhenty.

[mbhenty]

Yes ANGEL: Thanks for the Kind words.

I know I complain quite a bit about goings-on in fall river.

But, all passion and emotion aside, this just not make any sense. I can see a private citizen making such a fallacious choice but not a city or state.

I have always believed that we learn from our past. It is dismal but, fall river continues to dismantle its history in the way of historical architecture. That is Ok, that is to say, for fall river. If that is what it wants to do then I will voice myself and THEN LET IT GO. But to say nothing would be wrong.

But the David Miller issue is different. Memorials such as these are really sacred once they are dedicated.............like a gravesite, especially since his body was never returned by the Japanese.

I can see if they moved David Miller to a bigger or better Green. There is no grave, so moving the memorial to a more desirable location would be fine. But, not just disregard it and say, "WELL, NO ONE KNOWS IT'S EVEN THERE", or "WE MADE IT LOOK BETTER THAN IT WAS" or "NO ONE WAS TAKING CARE OF IT, SO...ETC". Especially since it is the city's responsibility to take care of the site.

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Mr. McGovern was a popular guy, not only in the South End of the city but all over.

When I was a teenager every friday night I would pick-up my girlfriend and we would head out to McGoverns. At the time they were a very small restaurant on the corner of South Maine Street and Last Street, one block from the R.I. border. Not long after McGovern built a huge massive restaurant on par with Whites in Westport or the Venus in Swansea with function rooms, dinning rooms etc. Believe me, he was popular and he made millions. Giving back to the community, though a very upstanding gesture, is the very least a huge restaurant like his could do for its community.

Though I had seen him once or twice, and actually did some work in his restaurant, I did not know him, but from what people have told me, he was a real nice guy.

Of course, no reflection on Mr. McGovern or his family. They are not the issue here; though I wish they would RETRACT the location of the McGovern Stone and be more proactive and do the right thing.

Our mayor is a very unpopular guy. No one seems to have anything nice about him. He doesn't govern but instead "rules" with an iron fist. In all Fall River's history I have never seen a mayor so disdained. Very unpopular guy in such a short while.

The desecration of David Millers Memorial and that the mayor sees nothing wrong with that is really scary. The fact that the mayor just does not get it proves that nothing is sacred in fall river.

So, when it comes to Charlton Memorial knocking down Alice Russell's house, believe me, it will happen. The hospital has card-blanche to do anything they want. If they wanted Maplecorft and their desire was to demolish it there would be nothing to stop them. Believe me, nothing, nothing is sacred, worthy or dear to fall river. Sad, sad, sad............

[Nadzieja]

I totally agree with the fact that the memorial to Mr. Miller should stay as a memorial to him and what he did for this country. As far as I'm concerned it should be as you say, sacred ground. They should not touch it in any way except to beautify it especially with a flag and flowers. You're right about people being obssessed with flat screen tv's etc...... and not realizing why they are able to just do as they please. If it wasn't for people like Mr. Miller and the sacrifices of our military we would probably be speaking either German or Russian today. This is a sensitive issue for me also, just about my whole family was military. Even during Vietnam when most of the kids I knew were protesting I never ever would do anything to dishonor any soldier coming home, or deface any memorial. A few weeks ago I got the news that my great nephew got his deployment orders and will be shipping out to Iraq around next Sept. He spent almost a year in Kosovo, has been home for awhile & is now going overseas again. And again I will be behind him with support, packages and prayers until he comes home safe.

[mbhenty]

http://www.heraldnews.com/news/local_ne ... pular=true




Finally, Sobriety hits home for some and it looks like the McGovern stone will now be moved by the McGovern Family. The decision to move the stone should have been recognized much sooner by the McGovern family. Makes me wonder whether they are moving it because of all the bad publicity and all the complaints or because they are doing what is right.

They should have known better, earlier, and the stone should have never been placed there in the first place. Makes one wonder, again, if no one complained would they have recognized the error of their ways.

None-the-less. Bennies are forthcoming and the McGovern Family will get a street named in the family way.

Meanwhile the mayor and city planners sit below without comment.

Sad.