sarahWe Need to Solve This!
To the Editor:
Your recent article “Only 94 Shelter Beds Available for 220 Homeless in Central Vermont This Winter” did not do justice to the severity of the crisis. Those 94 shelter beds are completely full, leaving over 220 without any shelter from the weather or with facilities to meet their basic human needs. In fact, as of mid-October, there were 452 people literally homeless, without permanent housing, in Washington County. Of those, 94 were in year-round shelter, 138 (of which 25 are children) in hotels with General Assistance Hotel Vouchers, leaving over 220 with no shelter at all other than vehicles, tents, or doorways. Winter weather has arrived and neither the state, municipalities, or community churches and nonprofits have devised a way to bring people in out of the cold. We need to solve this!
Beth Ann Maier, deacon, Christ Episcopal Church, Montpelier
Attend a Vets Town Hall
To the Editor:
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, the truce to end World War I was signed, and Armistice Day came into existence. In 1954, Armistice Day became Veterans Day to honor all veterans.
Having served multiple tours of duty in Afghanistan with the Vermont Army National Guard Mountain Units, I am thankful that there is a day that recognizes all veterans.
On Nov. 2, I attended and spoke at the Vets Town Hall at the Statehouse in Montpelier. Vets Town Hall is a 501(c)(3) organization that facilitates an atmosphere where vets can share their experiences from when they served in the military. Civilians are invited to come and listen. I highly recommend attending one or more of these events. They are held throughout the state throughout the year.
On March 28 and 29, 2006 at approximately 1300 hours, my team and I were ambushed on the way to Sangin, Afghanistan, by a “hornets” nest of anti-coalition militia (ACM). Later that night we arrived at a Combat Outpost (COP), where fellow Vermonters, Kentuckians, and Tennesseans were stationed. Around midnight, over 100 ACM launched a full scale attack on the COP. After we suppressed and repelled the ACM, we learned that the first Vermont Army National Guard soldier, Master Sgt. John Thomas Stone, had been killed, as was Pvt. Robert Costall of the Canadian Armed Forces. We also lost multiple Afghan National Army soldiers that night.
Earlier this year, Gov. Phil Scott signed into law a bill making November Veterans Month. I highly recommend attending a Vets Town hall or two. By hearing the experiences of military veterans we can all appreciate the sacrifices that are made daily by those who serve this state and country.
Master Sgt. Peter S Ladensack (ret), Malletts Bay, Vermont
Empowering Boycotts
To the Editor:
From Nov. 27 to Dec. 1 there is a nation-wide call to boycott three major corporations, demonstrating the power of everyday citizens to vote with their dollars to protest the Trump regime. They are Target, which caved to Trump over its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion principles; Home Depot, which has colluded with ICE agents to allow them to arrest, detain, and deport people with brown skin without due process; and Amazon, which funded Trump’s election campaign in exchange for massive tax breaks.
While more than 190 global nations meet this week in Belem, Brazil, for the COP 30 Climate Summit, the United States, the largest polluter, is conspicuously and outrageously absent.
For decades I have been boycotting one particular company. Beginning in the 1970s, ExxonMobil has fueled our present climate crisis through disinformation campaigns. It suppressed the results of its own internal and university studies that projected an increase of carbon dioxide greenhouse gas from the burning of fossil fuels. It poured billions of dollars into institutions and influential media outlets and wrote weekly op-eds, lying that the science of climate change was unsettled. And the company successfully lobbied Congress to prevent effective climate protection legislation, which would be detrimental to its profits.
If you have experienced climate-related catastrophes — 100-year floods, devastating droughts, record-breaking heatwaves, wildfires, etc. — think about how companies like ExxonMobil wasted decades in which we could’ve changed course for the health of our planet and its inhabitants.
We all need gas to drive our vehicles. It’s a small act, but when I am low on gas and have multiple stations to choose from, I always drive right by ExxonMobil. I encourage you to do the same. Together we can hold them accountable for all the damage they have done.
Fletcher Dean, East Calais
Have a Vegetarian Thanksgiving
To the Editor:
This year, more families are turning to veg Thanksgivings — and for good reason. A plant-based feast offers all the warmth and tradition of the holiday without all the cruelty or environmental costs. Tables across the country are filled with savory roasts, vibrant vegetable sides, and desserts so delicious no one misses the turkey.
Choosing a compassionate Thanksgiving honors the holiday’s spirit of gratitude. We can celebrate abundance while also celebrating life and reducing our impact on the planet. As plant-based foods become more accessible, it’s easier than ever to make this one small, meaningful change.
This Thanksgiving, let’s give thanks for the animals, for the Earth, and for the growing number of families embracing kindness at their tables.
Moses Belinie, Montpelier
Letters to the editor represent the opinions of the authors and do not reflect the opinions of The Bridge. Submit your letter by email to editor@montpelierbridge.com. Preference is given to submissions by those who live in central Vermont, should not exceed 300 words in length, and may be edited for brevity and accuracy.
