Published: May 15, 2008 07:39 pm            

Letters to the Editor: Reflections on Relay For Life

There was a picture of Victoria Enmon on a large banner gracing the fence along the home field stands at Bridge City's Larry Ward stadium. I'd never had the good fortune to meet her, but her remarkable legacy is widespread. She was a beautiful young woman and from what I'd read and gathered, that beauty ran deep. At 15, after some 4 years of heroic defiance, she succumbed to cancer.

Her radiantly smiling eyes overlooked the grounds of this year's Orange County Relay for Life event. Inside the track, the field was lined with creative booths erected by innovative members of local church groups, companies, schools, financial institutions and scout troops. In the middle, constant traffic crisscrossed among the stations, at times detouring around energetic line-dancers performing to the tunes of talented musicians who were occasionally spelled by an endless supply of popular CDs. Athletic kids hurled balls of every size and shape to one another over the heads, around the bodies and sometimes through the limbs of the traffickers The track, too, was filled with clusters of enthusiastic walkers and spry runners wearing equally creative, multi-colored shirts identifying their group affiliations. Relaying among team members, the march continued throughout the night; cancer does not sleep, so neither did they. Games, auctions, drawings, desserts and prizes allured young and old to participate and to partake. Thanks to the generosity of local vendors and some unbelievably skillful cooks, no one would go hungry on this night.

Clouds covered the sky from dusk until dawn, so that not a celestial star could be seen through the gray blanket above. Yet, there were stars visible and glowing in the eyes of hundreds of devoted participants, for this is a cause that lights a fire within. Still, to a passerby, the gala atmosphere might nearly belie that cause, until you join the ranks. For the festive ground is, in fact, a battle ground. Lining the track were commemorative candles, lit in memory of those lost to the disease; casualties of the indiscriminate evil. The evening's initial lap was taken by those brave warriors who have seen the teeth of the beast and survived, their numbers are growing; more battles are being won.

Relay for Life is not armed with conventional weapons, yet no military force in the history of mankind has ever retaliated against an enemy with more fierce commitment and more hopeful resolution. Its armaments are the finest money cannot buy; determination; unity; camaraderie; laughter; an undefeatable, indomitable human spirit and undying faith. This is a war that will not be forsaken, no protests demonstrated against its waging, no disputes against its financing and no lack of fearless soldiers to do its bidding. Like it or not, aware of it or not, we are all in this conflict together.

“Superheroes Conquering Cancer” was the theme of this year's Relay. Victoria Enmon, the many before her and the many still, are the epitome of the theme. Their heroism will one day be rewarded, be vindicated, for these Superheroes won't rest until all eyes are alight with the joy of a cancer-free world.



Phil Mumbach







Disappointed with election coverage



On Saturday, May 10, 2008, I was as disappointed with the Orange Leader as I think I have ever been. No where in the paper was there any mention of the city of school elections that were occurring on that day. No story to rally everyone to get out and vote for the candidate or cause of their choice. No story with various voting locations throughout the area.

In my mind, a local newspaper should not only have stories of what has happened in the area, it should also be the mouthpiece for this type of event.

This year’s election seemed to be especially important and had the possibility of effecting this area for many years to come and for the Orange Leader to not even have a mention is a serious breach of serving the public.

I spent a short amount of time at three of the voting locations for the City of Orange elections. During that time, several people showed up at the wrong locations and had to go to another location. Volunteers that were working for the candidates of their choice told me stories of elderly voters unloading wheelchairs, and then having to re-load them and go to a different location.

Voters, and I am including myself, are busy and forget to get out on election day to go to the polls. A simple story in the paper, with a chart showing where to vote should be a standard item on election day.



Ken Thayer

        

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