Letter to the Editor

Why elevator?

Friday, January 16, 2004

Dear Editor,

In the Tuesday, Jan. 13, edition of this paper there was a letter to you, the editor.

I would like to take a few minutes to respond to the letter from Monte Phillips of San Leon, Texas.

On the front page of Tuesday's Gazette, the same edition in which Monte Phillips letter to the editor appeared, was an article covering the farewell ceremony of approximately 126 National Guard soldiers. During Adjutant General Walt Zink's presentation, he spoke of the sacrifices that these soldiers and their families are making to ensure our American way of life.

They are leaving a lifestyle that they are comfortable with for a lifestyle that will change their lives forever no matter where their deployment sends them. They do this to ensure our rights earned by sacrifices on earlier battlefields all over the world.

One of these rights, and maybe one of the most important rights as American citizens, is the freedom of speech.

It is true many of the people who visit our YMCA are in excellent health and do participate in activities on both levels of our facility without any difficulty.

The elevator was not installed for those members, however, it is available to them if they are ever in need. The elevator was installed for those members and guests who are not able to easily move from one level of our facility to the next.

At our Y, we have members of all ages, not just the young and healthy. For many, the years of hard work and disease have taken a toll on their bodies. It is amazing to me that, no matter what the weather condition, they find a way to get to the YMCA.

They don't come because they would like to look better in the latest clothing style, they come because it helps them move more freely and feel better throughout each day. When the board of directors showed compassion and voted to install the elevator they understood what they were voting on. Their vote will help our senior members live a higher "quality" of life.

Each winter we are proud to be a part of our local Special Olympics competitive swimming program.

Although many of these Special Olympians have been born with some type of physical handicap, our Board of Directors voted not to have this facility become one more obstacle for them to overcome.

These special citizens also like to experience team work, competition and sometimes victory, but for some reason it wasn't in God's plan for them to have legs that can climb stairs. I am sure, given the option, they would rather take the stairs over being bound to their wheel chairs.

I bet the elevator doesn't seem ludicrous to them.

As I was reading your letter to the editor we had a gentleman, not from McCook, come to the Y to watch his child participate in a basketball game. He would probably have made it downstairs even with that cast on his leg and with his crutches. I'm surprised he didn't think the elevator was ludicrous.

My father, who served and was wounded in battle during World War II, on more than one occasion he told me that "I may not like what you say but I will defend with my life your right to say it." I am very proud to say that my brother is one of those 126 National Guardsmen who has been called to duty. As part of that duty he will be protecting your freedom of speech. It's too bad that you didn't spend any time researching why an elevator was installed at our YMCA before exercising your right.

As I witness the daily benefits, I do not think the installation of an elevator in our YMCA was ludicrous. I would like to thank the YMCA board of directors for showing their compassion to all of our members and guests.

Sincerely,

Michael D. Gonzales,

Executive Director

McCook YMCA

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