Women veterans deserve recognition

On Aug. 8, 1991, the portion of Interstate 91 from White River Junction to the Massachusetts border was designated as the Women Veterans Memorial Highway. Then-Gov. Richard Snelling made the dedication, and the event, which took place at the Hartford rest area, was covered by local media and was well-attended by women veterans representing all services from World War II until that time.

I wonder how many people are aware of this designation, because the identifying marker, which originally was placed close to the highway and was clearly visible to passing motorists, now is situated beside the off-ramp to the rest area and therefore is less noticeable.

A fellow woman veteran contacted Gov. Phil Scott’s office to ask why the marker no longer appears beside the highway. She received a reply noting that Vermont has adopted the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which states that “Such memorial or dedication names should not appear on or along a highway, or be placed on bridges or other highway components.” This seems to me to be an unfortunate stipulation that denies recognition where recognition is due.

I feel strongly about women veterans receiving due recognition because I know from personal experience that many people still do not know that we can be veterans. Although I served in the Army for 11 years, I have been told many times, “You aren’t a veteran. Only men can be veterans.” I’ve talked with other women veterans who likewise have been told that their gender precludes them from being a “real veteran.”

Women have served officially in America’s armed forces since the Army Nurse Corps was established in 1901, and historical records note that women served unofficially in various capacities — including combat — in our Revolutionary and Civil wars. Military women have served proudly and well, and have been injured and killed in our country’s service. We are real veterans. Please remember us when you drive on the Women Veterans Memorial Highway.

Gioia Grasso Cattabriga

West Lebanon

Leave nice
rich people alone

It must be a slow news cycle if Jim Kenyon is picking on Norwich again. His article from Nov. 5 (“Razed Right in Norwich”) is a “non-article”; what is his point? My family took up the Sommerses’ gracious offer to pick apples on their property in a season in which apples are scarce; we had a wonderful time. Why does Kenyon praise the Sommerses for allowing people onto their land while criticizing them for moving here from “away” and building a new house? The article feels like a handshake to the Sommerses while kicking them in the backside at the same time for moving to the Upper Valley.

Norwich is far from perfect, but it is a real community to which Kenyon seems to not want to be associated despite being a resident. Does he have ideas for addressing our demographic, housing and child care crises while making the Upper Valley an attractive place to live to people from diverse backgrounds? Should the Sommerses not have moved here from Massachusetts? I sure am glad Kenyon wasn’t on our welcome wagon!

On the topic of houses, I’d suggest that Kenyon be careful about throwing stones in a glass one. We’ve all come from somewhere.

David Watts

Norwich

Voices carry at the Nugget

Firstly, to be sure, I am a fan of the Nugget Theater. They are a great community resource and always feature the best movies. Having said that, however, I think they should definitely look into sound-proofing their theaters better. Last weekend I was at the 5:30 p.m. showing of the much-acclaimed “Killers of the Flower Moon” and often had to put up with Taylor’s Swift’s live music soundtrack from the next theater bleeding into mine. Ordinarily I wouldn’t fret if this were for a short time, but it was a bit disconcerting and comical to hear loud bass thumps and crowd roar filling in poignant silent moments in almost the entire duration of Scorsese’s 3½-hour epic. I hope something could be done to acoustically shield theaters from each other in the future.

Jay Sanyal

Hanover