Published May 3, 2011
To the Editor:
Almost ten years ago I worked for USDA-Wildlife Services. I volunteered to help with the recovery efforts after the September 11, 2001 attacks. I was assigned to the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island, New York. The debris from ground zero was barged over to the landfill and sifted and raked for remains and evidence. The birds and rats were impacting the remains of the victims; it was my job to protect the remains from these scavengers.
To the Editor:
Almost ten years ago I worked for USDA-Wildlife Services. I volunteered to help with the recovery efforts after the September 11, 2001 attacks. I was assigned to the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island, New York. The debris from ground zero was barged over to the landfill and sifted and raked for remains and evidence. The birds and rats were impacting the remains of the victims; it was my job to protect the remains from these scavengers.
After listening to the news of Osama Bin Laden’s death at the hands of U.S. Special Forces, I would like to thank our servicemen and women. It has been a long, hard-fought war and it was not easy. I have listened to many stories from troops who have served in Afghanistan or Iraq and I appreciate the sacrifices they have made.
I would like to ask each Oklahoman to stop and take a moment to thank our veterans for their service. No one who served comes home without scars. Some of these scars may not be visible, but they are there. The sights, the sounds, and the smells of the Fresh Kills landfill are vivid in my memory to this day. I can only imagine what memories our servicemen carry with them. General Norman Schwarzkopf once said war is insanity, I agree with him.
State Rep. James Lockhart
Editor’s Note: James Lockhart represents District 3 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He lives with his family in Heavener, Oklahoma.
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CapitolBeatOK welcomes letters to the editor. All submissions should be no more than 400 words and e-mailed to editor@capitolbeatok.com. Please include a contact phone number for verification purposes. All letters are subject to editing. Letters to the editor will remain posted for one week at the editor’s discretion.
CapitolBeatOK welcomes letters to the editor. All submissions should be no more than 400 words and e-mailed to editor@capitolbeatok.com. Please include a contact phone number for verification purposes. All letters are subject to editing. Letters to the editor will remain posted for one week at the editor’s discretion.