by Chuck Burgmeier, Commander, Fort Owen Post 94, Stevensville
Mask disposal event, celebration, whatever you call it, let’s dispose of those masks and move on!
As was announced in the February 23rd issue of the Star, the American Legion Fort Owen Post 94 is hosting a “mask disposal ceremony” on March 19, 2022, at the Post Home on Middle Burnt Fork Road.
In the referenced article, I listed a number of reasons we felt that now was the time for our community to MOVE ON from letting the Covid Pandemic have control over our lives. We purposely were careful in not referring to any political party or party positions in this discussion. We did not violate the American Legion non-partisan requirement, as stated in a letter to the editor March 2, 2022.
We are not subscribing to nor supporting any political party position, but just think that most folks are ready to MOVE ON toward a more accustomed lifestyle. At the very least, we would hope that folks will use this event as an opportunity for disposing of their old masks which may or may not be contaminated, rather than littering parking lots, shopping carts, etc. Let’s burn them!
You will find an advertisement in next week’s issue that provides an update on the event we have planned. You will find that we have had to modify our original concept by dropping the driving over a portal due to limited parking space at the Post, and have expanded the celebration to include free hot dogs to those who choose to join us in disposing of old, used masks in this celebratory way.
Gary Milner says
When I first read about this event several weeks ago, it seemed misguided. A burning?? This type of ceremony has a lot of negative associations with it such as the burning of books some want banned and 1930’s book burnings by the Nazis. I hope the Post can come up with a more skillful manner to celebrate “moving on” and maybe also honor the over 900,000 Americans to date who have died from the virus.
Larry Campbell says
I was hoping you would drop the idea of burning masks and just find enough satisfaction with “disposing” of them in a trash barrel, but apparently you are sticking with the idea of burning. Maybe it would help you understand the harm by thinking of the burn pits in Iraq that have caused so much damage to the health of veterans. Granted, it is on a much different scale, but the reality of health impacts is inherent in both bad ideas. You could do a public education service by acknowledging these facts and changing your disposal method.
The air we breathe is shared by all. People need to know that whether it is pathogens or toxins, if it is in the air then we all are potentially exposed and at risk. The atmosphere is pretty equal handed that way.
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