Letters for Friday, October 13, 2017

• Historical facts about the ‘Banner’ • Write to keep post office

Historical facts about the ‘Banner’

I respect her opinion on “The Star-Spangled Banner” issue, but Angie Smallidge (TGI, Oct. 5) had three historical facts wrong in her letter.

There are four verses, not two, in the Star-Spangled Banner. Francis Scott Key wrote the words during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814 during the War of 1812, not during the Revolutionary War.

No one was killed at Ft. McHenry during the British bombardment. No one was “defending the flag either.”

The American forces at Ft. McHenry were defending the fort and the city of Baltimore — and firing upon the British attackers.

Marc Leepson, Middleburg, Va.

Write to keep post office

Aloha wonderful neighbors of Kauai!

I was able to attend the community meeting initiated by this wonderful man, Greg Shelton, of the US Postal Services. Also attending, besides about 40 others, were the Honorable Council Member Joanne Yukimura and the Honorable Council Member Derek Kawakama, our next honorable mayor.

What I took away from what speaker Shelton was gently saying was that he wanted this community to save this post office but that further action was needed to do that. Letters that included more than just the convenience of this post office were needed, maybe as much as another 500 and that even though the coconuts were great for publicity and attention, possibly chocolate covered macadamia nuts that could actually be consumed by his boss and his boss’ boss might work better.

I got my Island Princess chocolate covered macadamia nuts, which I think are the best, on the way home and will write another letter indicating my personal attachment to this post office for the last 20 years and the memories it holds besides its great accesssibility for the disabled.

Please join me in writing to: US Postal Service, Attn. Greg Shelton, 200 E. Kentucky Ave., Denver, CO 80209-9950 by Nov. 10. Again, by Nov. 10.

Koko de Milo-Fytros, Kauai