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V-M ViewpointSpecial SignificanceThis community is planning to observeLoyalty Day on May 5. Each year this day is set aside as an occasion for our earnest reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States of America and for the recognition of the heritage of Americanfreedom.This year’s observance would seem to have a very special significance for it will mark the end of the longest ' cold war in our nation’s history; the return of our Prisoners of War—the many hundreds of men who had been imprisoned by the Communist regime in Hanoi for as long as seven years; and final withdrawal of our fighting men from the soil ofSoutheast Asia.Therefore the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hayes Post 988, and its auxiliary, are seeking support and participation of bands, floats, cars and trucks for a special Loyalty Day parade and patrioticprogram.Parade Day Chairman Walter Bednar said the parade is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. along a route to be announced. But, he said, to his amazement and to the surprise of the other members of his committee “our requests to the university and majority of county schools to enter their bands for this national and most patriotic observance, have been rejected. We sincerely arc hoping they will reconsider, and join us in making the 1973 parade the best we have ever held inValparaiso.”We hope they do too. We hope that not only bands, but all service, civic and American heritage organizations in the city and throughout the county, notify Bednar and confirm their willingness to participate on this important day.Loyalty Day was originated by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States some decades ago, to counteract the Communist May Day activities within our country.The long fight by the V.F.W. to obtain Federal government recognition of this special day was culminated in 1958 with the adoption by Congress of Public Law 529.Since then the public has taken Loyalty Day to its heart, and cities all over America make Loyalty Day a date to be long remembered.In recent years, the scope of Loyalty Day has been enlarged to also includeaction against those domestic enemies who are akin to the Communists and vocally seek the overthrow of our country.Loyalty Day is the time to publiclydenounce such tainted Americans for treacherously tampering with our priceless heritage.Many people may question anyCommunist threat by pointing out our new approach toward the Communist nations and their seeming friendship tow ard us, but one only has to understand the steadfast, all-out aim of domination in the Communist doctrine to realize that we can never lower our guard to either overt or covert attacks on our nation.Loyalty Day will always remind us that eternal vigilance is not a sometime thing.Loyalty is an intangible thing, but it causes people to form a government, to obey the laws and rules and to willingly defend our shores against any aggressors. It is the cohesive factor that welds our people together to act for the com mongood.Loyaltyourselves and others that nothing will take the place of loyalty to one’s country and we must pledge ourselves to maintain a free society in which loyalty isalways respected and fully encouraged.Without it we will become decadent and cease to exist as a beacon of liberty.So we would urge our schools and organizations to demonstrate their support by notifying Bednar and confirming participation in the May 5 Loyalty Day parade in Valparaiso.Letters of intent may be directed to P.O. Box 384, or a telephone confirmation can be made by dialing 462-7521.Guest EditorialSeek Legislation“Seat Belts Fastened0”That’s the question that is printed on the new license plates issued by the State of Ohio.Ohio highway safety officials would like to do more than ask the question They are seeking legislation to make the use of seat belts mandatory for all automobile drivers and passengers.A similar law has been in effect in Australia for more than a year. A 20 per cent reduction in highway fatalities has resulted Despite legislation requiring seat belts in all new cars that are manufactured, no way one has succeeded so tar in persuading everyone to use them. Perhaps a law is in order. — SOUTH BENDTRIBUNE
Newspaper Details
Valparaiso Vidette Messenger
Valparaiso, Indiana, US
Thu, Apr 05, 1973
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Porter C.
IN, USA 10 Aug 2022
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