Thankful, Appreciative, Humbled
Dear Geauga County,
During the last few weeks, Karen and I have had an opportunity to decompress, rest and recharge with family out west. This has afforded me an opportunity to reflect on the primary election and appreciate the efforts and outcome of so many people.
Karen and I are overwhelmed by and grateful for the incredible help, support, confidence, comfort, investment and physical work by so many people during the past 90 days. Our campaign team’s restraint, diversity, commitment and passion was noticeably devoid of infighting, ego and divisiveness.
Previously, many you were strangers, but we are proud and grateful to now call you friends. Thank each and every one of you.
The voters of Geauga County did not just “sort of” weigh in, they emphatically made their feelings known. We have confirmed that political candidates and civility are not mutually exclusive. I am most proud to play a role in this messaging and appreciate that this accomplishment was not mine, but rather Geauga’s.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for allowing me to be part of this journey. I will continue to work every day to be deserving of your confidence and support. I am thankful and incredibly humbled by the May 3 results.
Chuck Walder
Geauga County Auditor
One Flag
In a couple of days we will be celebrating Memorial Day. It is a way of expressing our gratitude for the service of our citizen soldiers.
As we remember, my thoughts go to the iconic picture made Feb. 26, 1945. It’s the picture of six Marines erecting a flag on the hill on the island of Iwo Jima. Over 200 Marines died in that fight. Each branch of the service played an important role.
When the fight was over, one of the six Marines raising the American flag was a Pima Indian named Ira Hayes. Some soldiers die in battle and some after returning home. Hayes, like many soldiers, was unable to adjust to civilian life. He died a few years later of alcoholism.
On Memorial Day and every time I say the Pledge of Allegiance, I think of Ira Hayes and his Marine comrades. Those six Marines erected the American flag, not some other flag.
There have been a variety of banners erected and waved lately, but as for me, I look upon the one flag that represents the United States and the one that Ira Hayes helped raise.
Dave Partington
Munson Township
