standing with the stars

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  • 7/28/2019 Standing With the Stars

    1/1

    4 Thursday, June 6, 2013 Springboro Sun

    OPINIONCongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of

    speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

    - The First Amendment to the United States Constitution

    1836 West Park Square, Xenia, OH 45385 - 937-294-7000

    www.SpringboroSun.com

    . .ong

    To contact the Springboro Suncall the extensions or

    numbers listed below.

    TREVOR COLLINS

    Group Publisher, Ext. 101

    [email protected]

    DOUG SKINNER

    Editor, Ext. 155

    [email protected]

    BILL DUFFIELD

    Managing Editor, Ext. 135

    [email protected]

    LINDA SKINNER

    Business Manager,Ext. 157

    [email protected]

    ADVERTISING POLICYNo responsibility is assumed by the publisher for

    omission or errors occurring in advertisements, but

    correction will be made in the next issue following

    when attention is directed to them. We reserve the right

    to edit, cancel or decline any advertisement without

    notice.JOYCE KIRBY

    Advertising, Ext. 173

    [email protected]

    TAMMY TOOTLE

    Classified Advertising Director

    866-212-7355 or 937-372-4444 press 2

    [email protected]

    CIRCULATION CUSTOMER SERVICECirculation department hours 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

    Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday.Call 937-294-7000.

    Home delivery

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    Community News Group of Dayton,a division of Civitas Media, LLC

    Copyright 2013, all rights reserved

    Published every Thursday 52 weeks a year.

    Periodicals postage paid at Dayton, Ohio. Postmaster:

    Send address changes to Xenia Gazette, 1836 W. Park

    Square, Xenia, Ohio 45385.

    The publisher shall not be liable for damages out of

    errors in advertisements beyond the amount paid for

    space actually occupied by that portion of the advertise-

    ment in which the error occurs, and there shall be no lia-

    bility for non-insertion of any advertisement beyond the

    amount paid in advance for such advertisement.

    This newspaper is environmentally

    friendly. It is printed in recycled fibers

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    tion of some supplements.

    The Springboro Sunencouragesreadersto write letters to theeditor: Letters shouldbe typed, or printed legibly, signedand include cur-

    rent address anddaytime phone number of the author. We will publish

    only thenameof theauthorand city, ororganization.Full addresseswill

    notbe published. Form letters will not be accepted. Anonymous letters

    will not be printed.

    Letters to theeditor must be 350words or less. Deadline forletters

    is9 a.m.The Friday beforepublication.Letterwriters havea limitofone

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    Letters will be verified by thenewspaper viatelephone.The news-

    paper reservesthe rightto edit forlength,style andgrammarand tolimit

    thenumber of letters ona specific topic.

    Ifcontentis libelousor misleading, letterswillnot beprinted.Forlet-

    ters that include claimsthatarenot a matterof publicrecord, theburden

    of proof of theclaim(s)fall upon theletter writer.

    Opinions of letterwritersor columnists arethoseof theauthor only.

    They do not represent the opinion of the staff and management of the

    Times CommunityNewspaper Group. Send letters to 1836 West Park

    Square,Xenia, OH 45385 or [email protected].

    Letters to the

    Editor Policy

    Standing with the starsI did not realize when I was a child eating

    the breakfast cereal of champions that it was

    going to take this long before I could get my

    picture taken with champions. Local champi-

    ons,grandchildrenofgoodfriendsof oursBob

    and Nan King and their children daughter,

    Debbie Welsh, husband Matt and daughter

    Teresa Brockman, husband Mike that all live

    herein our amazingcommunity.

    Pictured on myright is SeanWelsh a four-year letterman and captain of the 2013 unde-

    feated SpringboroPantherfootball team.Since

    the football season ended, he was a starting

    guard in the All-American O-D Bowl in

    Houston, Texas and captain of the All-Ohio

    SouthTeam.He departedPantherterritorylast

    week to play football for the Big 10 Iowa

    Hawkeyes, butwill always consider himself a

    very proud member of the Springboro com-

    munity.

    Onmyleft isSeans cousinJulieBrockman,

    who played four yearsof varsity tennis forthe

    Panthers, qualifying for state both her junior

    andsenior years. Shewas undefeated playing

    singles throughout her entire high school

    careerin theGWOCConference. Julie a two-

    year member of the National Honor Society

    with a 4.1gradepointaverage graduatedwith

    honors last week.Shell be playing Division I

    tennis forIUPUI inIndianapolis.In additionto

    her athletic scholarship, she won the Plater

    InternationalStudiesScholarshipand aPurdue

    School ofScienceDeans Scholarship.A huge

    graduation party was held at theSettlersWalk

    Clubhouse on May 25 honoring these young

    people.

    In a brief chat with ourchief ofpolice, Jeff

    Kruithoff, at a social event recently he

    remarked that theClassof 2013 was absolute-

    ly phenomenal. And I have heard that from

    many people, administrators, teachers, coach-

    es and family. A very unique and wonderful

    mixof graduates this year. Congratulations to

    all of the Class of 2013. Lucy, my better half

    received that nickname many yearsago, actu-

    ally four decades ago in the 80s. Well known

    for her I Love Lucy zaniness, I finallycrowned her one day Princess Lucy. Last

    week, shetossed another bitof funand frivol-

    ityat me whenshestartedscreamingfromthe

    kitchen. Seems she was on her I-Pad that I

    gaveher forher birthdaybackin March.Shes

    a newbie on thenet, educatingherself on how

    to go from here to there. We had talked last

    week about trekking up to GreenfieldVillage

    in Dearborn, Mich. Having not been there in

    over 40 years, we thought it might be time to

    see whats changed, plus visit family in the

    Detroit area. I was busy choreographing a

    wedding reception, editing music, when her

    screams rang out. I ran to the kitchen and she

    said, Oh no, the police will be here shortly,Ive really screwed up big this time.What

    happened, I asked.To get right to the point,

    instead of typing in Dearborn, I made a typo

    and typed in Dearporn and a porn site came

    up. I shut it off immediately. Will they know

    where Im at? How long before theycometo

    our house? she frantically commented.I gave

    her the proper directions to type in for

    GreenfieldVillageand told her that porn was

    not illegal and no one is going to come take

    you away. Just be careful with your typos in

    thefuture.Youmightendup onanFBIblotter

    sheet or getus banned from church, I added.

    Were just19 days fromSpringboros firstcon-

    cert at North Park. Ill have complete details

    and a photo in mycolumn onThursday, June

    20. Mark it on your calendar now. Tuesday

    June 25 from 7-9p.m.In themeantime,come

    join us on Wednesday evenings at

    Heatherwoodeforgreatburgers,dawgs,chick-

    en on thegrill on thedeck with entertainment

    from 6:30-9:30. Its great fun for all.

    [email protected]

    MERGE WRIGHT

    B

    y Don Wr

    ight

    Times

    Columnist

    His canvas has been on the hearts and

    minds of Springboro H.S. students for the last

    13 years. His message has been one of respect

    and integrity. His technique has featured quiet,

    individual strokes, all with bright colors.

    With the finalization of the school year

    now upon us, Dr. Ron Malone has sadly

    ended his effective career asSpringboros high school principal. His retire-

    ment had been announced several months

    ago.

    He was one of the good ones, for sure.

    Dr. Malones work was like a piece of art,

    featuring excellence and impact.

    It was something that can be appreciated

    now, in the moment.

    But it will carry a lingering influence in the

    many years to come.

    It will grow stronger with age.

    One day, a Springboro H.S. graduate will

    govern a state, raise a child, supervise a com-

    pany or coach a team, and she will do it with

    an air of dignity that will invite complete

    cooperation.

    One day, another Springboro graduate will

    serve on a school board, sit on a city council,

    work in a day care or manage an intensive care

    unit, and he will be universally respected.

    They will both credit Dr. Malone for show-

    ing them how to do it.

    Hes the educational version of the old

    Smith Barney commercials. Dr. Malone gar-

    nered his commanding, respectful presence

    the old fashioned way he EARNED it.

    Dont just take my word for it. Listen to the

    teachers, parents and students who have

    worked withhim over the past many years.

    I never hear anything negative about Dr.

    Malone. Of course, I admit my bias, too. I

    probably wouldnt believe it if I did.

    My experience with him has been totally

    positive, the way everyone who has celebrat-

    ed his career in the past few weeks seem to

    feel likewise.

    He was given a tribute on the last full day

    of school when, just after the morning

    announcements, the students and teachers at

    the high school lined the hallways creating a

    gauntlet for Dr. Malone to pass through, with

    everyone clapping and saying thanks.

    You dont see that every day.

    He says hello to us all the time, I hear stu-

    dents say continuously. We love him.

    Teachers and parents also notice his atten-dance at extra-curricular events, all held hours

    after the final school bell rings.

    Track meets, band performances, basket-

    ball games and school plays. Dr. Malone went

    to all them, and it was noticed.

    Just this past week, his service and devo-

    tion to Springboro students was recognized on

    two occasions in a grand way.

    On Monday, a farewell open house was

    held at Campionis Pizza. For three hours,

    well-wishers from Dr. Malones past and pres-

    ent stopped by to offer an encouraging word.

    And perhaps most dramatically, he was

    honored at last weekends commencement

    exercises.

    He had served as emcee of the event, which

    featured a large crowd at Wright States Nutter

    Center. Just as everything was winding down,Maria Kallas was brought onstage to say what

    so many others wanted to say.

    Thanks, Dr. Malone, for being such a good

    leader.

    And thanks, Dr. Malone, for being an

    example of velvet steel.

    But most importantly, Maria said,

    thanks for being my role model.

    Bingo.

    Dr. Malone then got more than just a nice

    round of applause, which is what a normal

    outgoing school principal would generally

    receive. He got a standing ovation.

    His final act as principal was a demonstra-

    tion of what had made him so popular through

    the years. As each graduate took a diploma

    and walked back to his or her seat, Dr. Malone

    positioned himself at the bottom of the steps.

    There, he greeted every single graduate.

    There was a handshake. And a smile. And

    a word of encouragement.

    Moreover, Ill bet he called most of the stu-

    dents by their first name.

    Theres a word for everything I have just

    described: Class.

    For the hearts and minds for all who were

    led by him, he has the kind of class than can

    never be dismissed.

    Class that can never be dismissedBy Jeff

    Kirby

    SpecialWriter

    A young

    Veteransstory

    Another Memorial Day has come and gone and with it the

    barbeques and family gatherings. But my wish is that you took

    some time out for the real meaning of the holiday, to remem-

    ber those who have died in our nat ions service.

    I think back at my dad, who at the age of 20 was drafted and

    served in WWII in the Army Air Corp. Its hard to believe, butI always thought my father was older when he entered.

    But that got me thinking of todays vets, the fresh faced kids

    who handle grown up tasks with

    major responsibility, some of

    whom are not yet old enough to

    make a trip to the carryout for a

    beer, but can carry weapons.

    One of those is a young man by

    the name of Anthony Roebuck.

    He is one of four kids raised

    by a single mom who Anthony

    says, is his rock.

    My father was never

    around, Anthony said. I dont

    hate him, but I respect him

    because he taught me the most

    valuable lesson Ive ever learned

    and that was to be never like him, to always take care of yourresponsibilities.

    From him Ive learned how to be a real man.

    And real men join the Army.

    Anthony says hes always had an interest in the mil itary, so

    much so that he joined the JROTC at Trotwood-Madison High

    School, staying with it through his senior year.

    Being in the JROTC opened up lots of opportunities for

    scholarships and the option to join the military, he said.

    After some what he calls a lot of talking, arguing and

    debating with his mom, they contacted a recruiter.

    I never joined for myself or the monetary benefits, I joined

    because I knew it was something bigger than myself, Anthony

    said. I felt a sense of pride and honor to serve my country.

    After training in the Ohio National Guard, Anthony was

    home for seven months, then deployed in 2011 at the ripe old

    age of 19. He was the youngest in his unit to Afghanistan.

    We spent a total of 13 months away from home, family and

    friends to defend this beautiful country, Anthony said. I

    worked with the best group of men and women anyone could

    ever ask.

    But his eyes opened quickly.

    Going to a different country, I saw a lot of things,

    Anthony said. Seeing people living without running water,

    reliable electricity and improper waste disposal was heart

    breaking. It made me value the small things we have in the

    U.S.

    Compared to their living conditions in Afghanistan,

    Americans are living lavish.

    His main job was that of a chef, but Anthony was trained

    and battle ready.

    After 13 months Anthony came home in September of 2012.

    I now am a combat veteran of the United States Army,

    home and back to National Guard Status, he stated proudly.

    But this young man is forever changed.

    I suffered a few injuries overseas and the Dayton VA is

    amazing, he said. The staff there has done everything possi-

    ble to make sure I get the proper treatment and care for myinjuries.

    But I feel alone, like my family and friends cant relate and

    dont understand what I went through.

    And its tough readjusting.

    My family and I have our ups and downs, Anthony said.

    They know Ive changed and am dealing with some other

    medical issues, but they are amazing, I love them to death.

    They are the best support group anyone could ask for.

    Currently Anthony is getting the help he needs.

    Yes, I have been getting counseling through the VA

    Medical Center, he said. They have professional and dedicat-

    ed personnel whose main goal is to help and support Veterans.

    But could more help be provided to Anthony and others that

    went through the same experiences?

    One thing that I would like to see happen is for more sup-

    port for single soldiers who have no children, he said.

    Theres a lot of organizations for married soldiers with chil-

    dren, but single soldiers have struggles as well.Anthony eventually wants to get married and settle down,

    but knows he has a while to heal from the experiences he wit-

    nessed as a 19 year old. He also hopes to attend college using

    the G.I. scholarships hes received and get that culinary arts

    degree.

    And to future soldiers he offers this, Keep your heads up

    and value your family, friends and love ones.

    We thank you Anthony and all the other veterans who

    served and the many that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our

    country.

    Remember them not only on Memorial Day, but every day,

    because they do and did their jobs, so we can do ours here at

    home.

    God Bless the veterans.

    Buch

    ADDITIONAL: If you have or know of a culinary/restaurant

    job for this f ine young vet, just contact me at

    [email protected] and Ill pass it along to Anthony.

    Anthony Roebuck during his time in Afghanistan.