To the Editor:
This is in regards to the letter from John Taylor published in the Nov. 3, Wrangell Sentinel. While John Taylor is the President of the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce, he does not speak for the Board as stated in his letter. While the board supports the new Wrangell Medical Center, the Board has not discussed or voted on the method of construction of the new Wrangell Medical Center.
Mr. Taylor owns a construction company in town and is merely trying to promote business for his own interests. We feel his letter does not represent the entire Boards’ wishes and is not appropriate. To date several board members have resigned due to Mr. Taylor’s belief that he has the authority to speak for the entire board without their consent.
Walter E. “Gene” White
To the Editor:
Laura and I want to publicly thank our friends for your support in helping us bring our new girls home. Alysse Maxand and Beth Kuehn – Beatie and Eva love what you did to their new bedroom. Kim and Roxanne Coblentz for house sitting and taking care of our dogs while we were away. To our church family at Bible Baptist Church for your prayers, gifts and words of encouragement during this long process. To everyone who helped set up and purchased items at the fund-raiser before we left for Uganda, and for the kind words and gifts for our children since we have been home.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not quick nor easy to adopt. Getting a young child from the United States is next to impossible for “older” parents, which is why overseas adoptions are so popular. For those of you who may be interested in pursuing adoption yourself, you should know that the process is a long, arduous one. And although it can be expensive, you may qualify for grants to help with the cost.
In our case, the process began over 18 months ago. After submitting an initial application with a Washington State adoption agency, a home study came next. This involves state background checks (in our case, checks in four states) as well as clearances with child welfare agencies, local and state police, the FBI and Homeland Security. A Social Worker will come to your home to interview both parents and will contact other family members, even those living in other states. All of this is done to show that you can provide a safe and nurturing home for your future child(ren). You are also required to complete over 20 hours of on-line education.
Our adoption agency gave us a referral fairly quickly compared to most families. There are a lot of variables involved, including the number of children you want, age, health issues, boy or girl, and whether you will accept siblings. Since we weren’t too picky we were matched quickly and agreed to accept Beatie and Eva. Every country is a little different, but for Uganda we had to wait five months to get our court date. This step can take up to two years in some countries. We were given only 14 days to travel to Uganda. Although we had been preparing for this for a year, the short notice caused some frantic activity around the Salard home.
We got our girls the day we arrived in Uganda. The next few weeks were filled with meetings, paperwork and court. Uganda requires one visit of 4-8 weeks duration; other countries’ requirements may include multiple trips. Before you are allowed to leave the country with your child(ren), one must complete more paperwork and obtain clearance from the U.S. Embassy located in that country.
With adoption, you must be motivated to parent; it is not enough just to have a desire to provide a needy child with a home. There are so many unknowns, so you must have your heart and mind made up that those issues do not matter, because these are YOUR children and you love them no matter what. The feelings and responsibilities are exactly the same as they are with your biological children. We are truly blessed to have had the opportunity to visit Uganda and to bring our girls home.
Greg & Laura Salard
To the Editor:
The words “thank you” seems inadequate to express what we want to say to everyone who sent sympathy cards, made donations in Leonard’s memory, helped with the church service and the reception at the Elks and brought food to our home. A special thank you the: Father Valentine talking with us in an effort to know ho much Leonard meant to his family and to Wrangell and then preparing a beautiful service; Barbara Angerman for making phone calls and doing whatever needed to be done; don McConachie and Peter Helgeson for setting up sound and video equipment so all could hear; Sonda Sexton-Jones for the lovely flower arrangements in the church; Alice Rooney for playing music Leonard himself would have chosen; Michael Kurth and his beautiful bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace” as we exited St. Philips, (I’m certain Leonard was listening); B.P.O.E. #1595 for planning the reception, Carrie Wallace, Maggie McLaughlin and their helpers for setting up, preparing food and serving; Mari and Noel Selle-Rea for the use of their care and to all who offered hugs and kind words.
Leonard is, and will be, greatly missed by his family and friends. But the blessing was in his passing peacefully after living 89 years 9 months. He didn’t make 90 as he had hoped but he came close.
The Campbell family
To the Editor:
A letter to the editor, Assembly and Wrangell Medical Center Board that I submitted for publication in last weeks paper was my opinion and a core group so of Wrangell Chamber Board members NOT the entire chamber. I apologize for any confusion. Again this is my opinion only.
John Taylor
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