To the editor: 1969 was best year ever
Readers also sound off about kindness of citizens, costliness of Toledo Air Show.
Wed, 17 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT
link -- with images
The year 1969 may have been the greatest time in American history.
I was 16 years old when NASA’s ground-shaking Saturn V rocket launched the Apollo 11 astronauts to the moon. All Americans were glued to a black-and-white television wherever they could find one.
All the talk in high school was about the three-day Woodstock Festival that went off the rails. The New York State thruway is closed, man! My first car was a 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner. A factory stock race car — beep, beep!
All this happened 50 years ago.
I do have something left to memorialize 1969. It is the American flag the Apollo astronauts planted on the moon, and on a clear night, I can see it.
FRANK ALBERTS III
West Toledo
Good Sam rescue
On the evening of July 6, I parked in a field off Starr Avenue in Oregon to watch the Oregon Boom Fest Fireworks. As I attempted to drive forward, I realized I was stuck in the saturated, muddy field.
Four young men pushed and shoved for 20 minutes to get my car out of the muddy mess. One of the young men said his friend from Bowling Green was there in a Jeep, and he would pull my car out after the fireworks.
The Bowling Green man was able to get me out of the mired ruts.
I cannot say enough kind words about these young men. They were so caring and considerate. I was privileged and so thankful to have them come to my rescue. The same goes for the man from Bowling Green.
It is reassuring to cross paths with such caring, kind people.
DIANE FRICK
Oregon
Costly air show
As an aviation nut, I always enjoy a good airshow, and this was a good one.
However...
Four-dollar hot dogs, $8 sausage, $3 for a 50-cent bottle of water is hardly family-friendly. Last show we were in the FlightLine tent for $135 a ticket.
For this show, five of us were in the $70 Bomber’s Tent, because $65 for the borderline refreshment served in FlightLine tent was unreasonable. So instead of $65 for food, we were privileged to walk at least a half-mile, one way, for an overpriced hot dog and chips.
Why no accommodation was made for a food vendor within reasonable walking distance for a $70 ticket sale, is completely baffling. It’s not as if there wasn’t space for it. Cigarette smoking allowed, but no e-cigs. Not too brilliant.
No food, drink, or coolers. I guess it’s much better to have a captive audience when selling overpriced food, but unfortunately, not very family-friendly.
Considering the accommodations and that $70 offers quite a few options for entertainment, we won’t be going to the next show.
STEVEN MILLER
Holland