Letters on Piatt crash, ‘our president,’ good Samaritans
Victims of Piatt crash won’t be forgotten
It has been 51 years since a KC-135 tanker crashed on Piatt Street on Jan. 16, 1965, killing 30 people. I helped organize a committee in 2004 to create a public memorial site to honor those who perished in the horrible tragedy.
Last year, it was an honor to bring family members of the victims and members of the community together. It helped bring them closure to meet other family members who lost loved ones in the 1965 plane crash.
The lives lost will never be forgotten.
Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, Wichita
It’s ‘our president’
“Your president.” Does that irritate anybody else? Instead of saying “our president,” they say “your president.”
Think about that for a second. Who voted for “your president”? Well, it was firefighters, police officers, teachers, military personnel, burger flippers, franchise owners, sports figures, religious leaders, Christians, Jews, Muslims – in fact, people from every walk of life voted for “your president.”
I feel insulted when someone calls a president of the United States “your president.” So should every individual who cast a vote for the president.
I didn’t care for President George W. Bush when he was in office, but he was always our president because he was elected by a majority of either the popular vote or the Electoral College. Same with the current president, and I respect that because that’s how our system of government works.
The divisiveness in politics today is disgusting, and the more I hear it, the more disgusted I get. We used to be a nation that worked together to solve our problems.
Now we seem to have turned into a nation of “your president,” whoever that president might be.
Common sense says to work it out. Use common sense.
John D. Ekstromer, Wichita
Good Samaritans
My wife had an auto accident just west of Greenwich on Central on Dec. 17. Almost immediately, three good Samaritans showed up to assist her.
Two men changed a tire that had blown. A lady stayed with my wife until I was able to get to the accident. Unfortunately, I was unable to get her name but want her to know how grateful we are.
After changing the tire, one of the men drove the car to a dealership to be checked for any unseen damage. The other man followed in his own vehicle to pick up his friend and to return him to his own vehicle.
These three people deserve my thanks and deep gratitude for their concern and assistance. We do have compassionate people who are willing to assist others.
Jim Sanborn, Wichita
Act of kindness
I recently lost my cellphone while eating at the LongHorn Steakhouse. One of the managers found my phone and sent it back to me at no cost. I believe that is going above the call. Not only are the service and food good, there are acts of kindness as well. Thank you, Tyler. You have shown me there are still good people in Kansas.
Doug Mackey, Abilene
Grateful to stranger
On Dec. 16, we lost the keys to our vehicle at the Homeland store in Haysville. We are grateful to the lady who found the keys and turned them in to the service desk.
Don and Terry Mason, Wichita
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This story was originally published January 15, 2016 at 6:05 PM with the headline "Letters on Piatt crash, ‘our president,’ good Samaritans."