Soldiers to be honored

April 14, 2007

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

It is not every day the public gets to see real-life heroes honored.
Today people across the Lakelands have that chance.
At 2 p.m. at the National Guard Armory in Hodges, the National Guard will host a Freedom Salute for the men and women of the 111th Signal Battalion Company D. The soldiers and their families will be honored for their contributions during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The 111th returned from Iraq in November after a 14-month deployment.
Sgt. 1st Class Buddy Shuman touched on a bit of what today’s Freedom Salute will entail.
“At this Freedom Salute, the soldiers that were deployed for the first time will receive a flag, a certificate and a lapel pin,” Shuman said. “Those that went for the second time will get a ring.”
Shuman is part of the battalion and said it was his first time being deployed overseas. Shuman also said today marks the first time company members will be reunited since returning home.
He also added that of the 118 soldiers in the group, three might not be present because they are training in Mississippi for a deployment to Afghanistan.
Mona Johnson, who heads up the local Blue Star Mothers, a readiness group composed of family members of soldiers, said her group helped organize portions of today’s event, including the food and refreshments that will be available afterward.
Johnson said the Family Readiness Group, the Red Cross and the NCO Club also helped with the preparations.
Johnson said she is proud today’s ceremony is occurring.
“I think it is a good tribute to our soldiers that have returned from Iraq,” Johnson said. “This ceremony will honor the soldiers and their families for the sacrifices that were made. I think its wonderful that they are getting recognized.”
Political and military dignitaries will attend, and the public is welcome and encouraged to attend. Johnson said Ware Shoals High School will be honored for its efforts in supporting the battalion’s return ceremony last November. Riegel Stadium was the site of that ceremony, and the field and school were decorated heavily to welcome the troops home.
Barbara Tunburke, operations manager for the local chapter of the Red Cross, said she and other Red Cross members will be in attendance today.
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Turnburke said. “I think it will be a great event.”
She said the Red Cross works to get messages to troops from their families when the troops are overseas. These consist of big announcements such as a birth, a death or other important family messages.

Free help available for closing health gap

April 14, 2007

By MIKE ROSIER
Index-Journal staff writer

For South Carolina minorities who are concerned with their health — even those with no health insurance — help is out there.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control is observing April as National Minority Health Month, and officials are raising awareness of a growing problem affecting minorities — health disparities.
Statistics show that minorities in South Carolina stand a substantially higher risk of contracting or developing many diseases and illnesses than whites, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, HIV/AIDS and stroke.
Briana Harper with DHEC’s Office of Minority Health, says many groups are fighting back in an effort to close the gap on those grim numbers.
“We’re trying to increase access to free health screenings,” Harper said. “A lot of people don’t have health insurance, and health screenings are a good way for them to get feedback on their condition and advice on further treatment if it’s needed.
“There are also health fairs that are sometimes hosted in churches, community centers and some colleges by community-based organizations. They will address a variety of topics.”
First and foremost on the health agenda for minorities is going through a medical checkup or health screening.
“The first thing we talk about with people is to get a checkup whether they are feeling bad or not,” Harper said. “Also, we tell them to make sure they eat healthier foods and are getting more exercise, and if they’re smoking, getting them help to quit.
“Lifestyle habits contribute to diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and strokes. We talk about portion size a lot, too. The palm of your hand is a basic serving size. Just the palm, not the whole hand.”
For Harper, information is an absolute key to success.
Without the proper information in hand or readily available (such as the lasting effects of diet dependent upon fast food), minorities are not able to make wise choices concerning their health. “It’s about letting people know what different choices they have, as far as the types of food they eat and the activities they participate in that are not necessarily healthy,” Harper said. “It’s part education, but with that we hope that people act on that information. We want them to realize that what they eat is not just a cost decision, but a health decision as well.”
Locally, there are several organizations that can (and do) provide crucial health information and services each day to minorities in need.
Those organizations include the Upper Savannah Minority Health Coalition, the Self Regional Community Health Information Center and Greater Greenwood United Ministry.
Following are brief descriptions of the services available:
* Upper Savannah Minority Health Coalition — Aims to reduce health disparities in a six-county rural area of South Carolina. The organization’s goal is to strengthen the capacity of the Coalition by increasing involvement in diabetes awareness and prevention. The objective is to partners with 12 churches to host a “Diabetes Day” once a month at their church, and to promote four community events in minority communities regarding diabetes education and prevention.
* Self Regional Community Health Information Center — Easy-to-understand information on any particular medical condition or specific drug. It is a complete resource center stocked with information on any health matter, along with CDs, computers with Internet access, books, brochures and videos. The center is located on the sixth floor of Self Regional Medical Center, and all resources are free to use.
* Greater Greenwood United Ministry — Offers a free medical clinic for those without access to basic medical services, free doctor visits and examination care, free lab work, free drug prescriptions for patients and free medical counseling and referral services.
South Carolina DHEC’s Office of Minority Health has developed a calendar of health disparity events and initiatives that can be viewed online at www.scdhec.gov/omh.
Many South Carolinians are developing creative ways to address health disparity problems at the community level.
Scheduled events include:
* Whole Person Health Day in Abbeville on May 5, at Long Cane AME Church, will focus on healthy living and eating. Contact Misty Lee at 882-2245 or 260-5581.
* Minority Health Summit in Simpsonville today. Contact Olivia DeCastro at 455-1488.
* Community Fellowship Day in Blythewood today. Contact Tina McCorkle at (803) 712-1015.
* Health Revival in Gadsden on April 21. Contact Cheryl Armstead at (803) 777-4137.
* Men’s health fair in Lancaster on April 21. Contact Carla Reed at (704) 400-6496.
* HIV/AIDS workshop in Columbia on April 28. Contact David Lucas at (803) 531-0135.

Obituaries

Minerva Williams Carroll

Minerva Williams Carroll, widow of Floyd Carroll, 624 Taggart Ave., died Monday, April 9, 2007, at HospiceCare of the Piedmont. Born in Greenwood Co., she was the daughter of the late Elijah and Sallie Dean Williams. She was a retiree of Greenwood Methodist Home (Wesley Commons).
Surviving is a daughter, Hazella Davis of Irvington, NJ; 2 sons, Marvin (Linda Faye) Carroll of Greenwood, Floyd (Louise) Carroll Jr. of Broken Arrow, OK; grandchildren, Tracey McGrier, Patrick Carroll, Corey T. Carroll, Angela Hinton and Keesa Carroll; 1 brother, Henry (Fannie Mae) Williams of Ninety Six; 1 sister, Alice Anderson of Washington, DC.
Funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, April 14, 2007, at Old Mt. Zion Baptist Church, with burial to follow in Oakbrook Memorial Park. Rev. Clyde Cannon will officiate, assisted by Revs.
Carolyn Clark, Thessa Smith and Andy Robinson. The family is at the home.
Parks Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Frances Killian Spratt Glover

Frances Killian Spratt Glover, age 91, of 1110 Marshall Road, and widow of John Sobey Glover, died Sunday, March 18, in Self Regional Medical Center in Greenwood.
A memorial service will be held at the All Saints Episcopal Church in Clinton Monday, April 16, at 2:30 p.m., following a family graveside service at Rosemont Cemetery.
Gray Funeral Home of Clinton is serving the family.

Louise Hill

Louise McNich Hill, 90, of 424 Stanley Avenue, widow of John Frank Hill, Jr., died April 11, 2007 at her home.
Born in Greenwood County, Sept. 5, 1916, she was a daughter of the late Samuel R. and Macy Cochran McNich. She was a graduate of Greenwood High School and was a member of Hodges United Methodist Church.
Surviving are a daughter, Joni H. Resce and son-in-law James Resce of the home; a nephew, Harold R. Kay of Ware Shoals; a step-granddaughter, Ruth De­Vroomen of Greenwood; a step-great-grandson; and three great-nieces. She was predeceased by two sisters, Maggie Mae Davis and Janelle M. Bragg. Graveside services will be conducted 11 a.m. Monday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, with Rev. Christopher Arries officiating.
The family is at the home.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.blythfuneralhome.com or to joni@nctv.com.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the Hill family.

Linnie Bell Minick

SALUDA — Linnie Bell Mobley Minick, 78, of 361 Logan St., widow of Barrett Minick Sr., died Thursday, April 12, 2007, at her home.
The family is at the home.
Services will be announced by Butler & Sons Funeral Home.

Newtie W. Shaw

WARE SHOALS — Newtie Williams Shaw, 96, of 10 E. Fleming St., widow of Edwin Lamar Shaw, died April 13 at Grand Strand Health Care in Myrtle Beach. She was born in Lowndesville, a daughter of the late Robert and Annie Chambers Williams, a retired House Mother of Connie Maxwell Children’s Home and a member of Jordan Memorial Baptist Church in Greenwood.
She is survived by a son, Edwin Lamar Shaw Jr. of Wilmington, NC; a daughter, Velma Shaw Schumpert of Ware Shoals; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.
Graveside services are 2 p.m. Sunday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be immediately following the service at the cemetery.
Parker-White Funeral Home.

Opinion

Tuskegee Airmen provide lesson for every American

April 14, 2007

The Tuskegee Airmen need no introduction. Their legendary efforts in World War II put them on the all-time list of American patriots second to none. The history they made and lived through provide a lesson that all Americans could benefit from today.
The Tuskegee Airmen were, of course, African-American fighter pilots. They faced the harsh segregation attitudes of the times, even while preparing to go to war. The irony of it all was they helped protect those who engaged in discriminatory practices that denigrated the dignity and respect that every American deserves, regardless of race, religion, age, gender or anything else.
Much of their training was in South Carolina ..... at the airfield at Walterboro in the Lowcountry.
In combat against Nazi pilots, they distinguished themselves and their unit ..... even though they had to overcome some pitiful practices of many people in their own country.

IN MORE RECENT TIMES, THOUGH, they have received the honors they earned. At one occasion, President Bush noted, “Even the Nazis asked why African-American men would fight for a country that treated them so unfairly. These men in our presence felt a special sense of urgency.
They were fighting two wars. One was in Europe and the other took place in the hearts and minds of our citizens.”
The president saluted the Tuskegee Airmen, saying he wanted to offer the gesture to “help atone for all the unreturned salutes and unforgiveable indignities” they endured.
The character of the Tuskegee Airman was such that they did not let the battle back home deter them from being true patriots. They excelled in their World War II efforts because they viewed the fascist menace as a threat to Americans of every color and creed.

THEY WERE, IN SHORT, MEN OF honor who showed the world that ability, bravery and love of country did not belong exclusively to anyone.
They faced their own kind of demons, at home and in war, yet they persevered and won the respect of a thankful nation, even if it was late coming.
Times are different now, to be sure. Nevertheless, is there a parallel between threats to the world then and now, not to mention the reactions to and attitudes about those threats?
The Tusgegee Airmen did indeed face two wars. Still, they did not let one overwhelm or negatively affect their efforts in the other. That leads to the present ..... and another question. Will today’s “anti-everything” crowd see the parallel, and will we learn anything?