So when the City decides to put up a Memorial to those lost souls and forever grieving loved ones with the words "look at the Tax Dollars it will bring to the City" as they pass the Resolution; I am past disgusted and into loathing for those who said and agreed with that thought on that day.
Mr. Rapp should have put up a $ sign in the middle of that Memorial instead of a Soldier. Seeing how little the Community actually contributed to the Memorial, a prudent person could question but what it was not a truly wanted exhibit?
If not for the PMC and the Herschel "Woody" Williams Medal of Honor Foundation donations, this would never have come to pass. I will admit that because of the above comment, I attempted to get it moved to the Welcoming Center as one comes into the State near Williamstown so even more could be noted for the bravery and the loss of so many by so many. Obviously, I was not successful and that was blamed on the West Virginia State Government red tape issues? I don't know; possibly I too was snookered?
I can say, I believe Mr. Williams was snookered by people within the Community; some who have never had the "green" on in the day, or the camouflage of today. While I have never to my knowledge had a family member pass in a wartime scenario, I did six months on the burial detail in Hawaii in 1971. Each time I stood there with my M-16 and listened to the cries, the screams and saw the tears of those who would never see their loved ones again; it ripped my heart out and still does in my mind today. I too lost as have so many; many a Brother and some Sisters. Not by blood but via the heart and soul.
Smooth talking and Politics won out over recognition, honor and respect as it does too often in these times. I am sick and tired of the Bible Thumpers, or in some cases a Pastor, Preacher or whatever one is called by their Denominations who will stand in front of a group on a Day of Prayer extolling God's Goodness and what His Son gave to save all of us. AND then to go out and screw their Community into the ground for their own self interest. I would suggest they are Hypocrites of the worst order? I was raised that one tried to do right by all as much as is possible EVERY day.
As much as I would be privileged and honored to meet Mr. Williams ( for damn sure, NO CAMERAS), I am going to pass that by as I will not go to that Memorial or the meeting to pay my due respects as long as Mr. Rapp is on the City Council. I am truly ashamed at what is going on in our City. It will cost me my visit to the Veterans Day celebration this year as I understand it will be yet another Camera/ Microphone Op for Mr. Rapp as he extolls an event I allege he does not believe in?
I stated at the end of last week, that I would talk some more about the City Council meeting of the 23rd. I will begin with the unbelievable unprofessional behavior of Ms. Smith, another Council Member and some Department heads who "snuck" in by a side door to the Council Chambers while not opening the front door to the General Public. I know for sure Ms. Smith has a key. She locked the door after the meeting when coming out and reopened it to allow Mr. Azinger the Elder to re-enter for what ever reason. I am not totally sure on the initial Council Member or the Department Heads on having a key but the doors do open from the inside without a key. But one requires Courtesy to do that or so I was taught? Fortunately, Mr. Rogers did his duty.
While Ms. Smith as a minimum was doing this to spite me and possibly one other person, she in the end left several of the City Council sycophants who showed up as the delay progressed out also.
Now, I am suspicious that this may have been done at the direction of Mr. Rapp? I am more and more familiar with how he truly is when crossed? His intense personal dislike for me has over ran any real possible professionalism he might have as a Politician. And some of the depths to which he can and has sunk to protect his undeserved hold on power in Vienna.
Watching some of the Council and Department Heads, I am watching alleged grown ups running around with their little sand buckets and shovels as they try to hide how for years past and present City Councils have been going potty in the sand box we call Vienna. Now as I kick the sand off the piles of who knows what, they are going crazy to keep hiding "stuff". We pay these fine folks $40-50-60K and more per year in salary and $20- 34K more in benefits so they can throw sand in our faces? Not good folks, not good.
But the control he has given to Ms. Smith has led me to ask "What does she have on him"? What is the driving force behind her unprecedented control over so much of City Business? Is there another skunk in the Vienna wood pile? Time will out the Truth as it has so many times.
This is EXACTLY the behavior I would never allow, accept or condone as Mayor. The so petty, revengeful, vindictive behavior of several of these people are why I among other reasons chose to run. EVERY person who comes to any Public Building for any reason is entitled to respect, dignity and courtesy by any and all Public Employees; no matter their personal feelings/ opinions.
That is why as I noted yesterday in my posting that I WILL NOT FIRE ANYONE. Some of the above will NOT be able to do what I just wrote above. Years and decades of arrogance that have led to abuses of position power and authority will end. Those people will retire or move on because they cannot treat each and every one of you as I described and you deserve.
If this is what you folks want, then Elect/ Re-elect Mr. Azinger the Elder or Mr. Rapp. The above will not only continue but probably get worse as they believe they have to answer to no one.
More on the actual meeting itself tomorrow. 'nuff said'.
(Posted by the Candidate- Lawrence J. Wilson for Mayor of Vienna).