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TODAY'S ISSUE
St. Andrews' Cross no symbol for this Southerner
By Vally Sharp
Lilburn
Special to GwinnettForum.com

(Editor's note: Lilburn Author Vally Sharp, who's recent books include "Simon Says: Views from a Higher Perspective" and "What Simon Said: The Characteristics of Common Sense", reacted to a newspaper story about the Georgia flag recently. Here are her views. -eeb)

MARCH 28, 2003 - - I read an article in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer today. In it, Rusty Henderson, national political adviser for the Heritage Preservation Association, was quoted as saying, "The St. Andrews' Cross is a symbol of the South. It's our icon." Although I've been relatively quiet while the flag controversy has continued to rage, I can't keep quiet any longer.

Born in Georgia, reared in Georgia, and schooled in Georgia, I live and work in Georgia still. I am a Southerner through and through, with accent largely intact, and my roots are deep, reaching back almost 200 years. An entire branch of my family tree lies buried in a churchyard in Forsyth County, not too long ago the site of a civil rights march that brought national coverage.

My people were hardscrabble farmers, Baptist preachers, and tavern keepers, all who worked hard and fought hard for what they had and what they believed. They dreamed, they wandered around in search of a better life, and they made mistakes. But no matter the obstacles they faced, the mistakes they made, or the wars they lost, they survived. I'm quite proud to have come from such stock.

Some of my family obviously fought and died in what some call the Civil War, but I've never quite come to terms with the use of the word "civil" here. It's clear that for some, the war has never ended, and it's clear that nothing about it is civil. But I need to make something else perfectly clear.

I am a Southerner and I am a Georgian, but the St. Andrews' Cross has nothing to do with my heritage. It is not my icon - so, please, Mr. Henderson, make sure that when you talk that you speak for yourself and not for me.

I don't need a piece of cloth to preserve the legacy of my ancestors. I don't need a piece of cloth to feel proud of who I am or those from which I came.

You see, I am the legacy of my ancestors. I am the icon of my South. And so, Mr. Henderson, are you. And so are Mr. Brooks and Mr. Perdue, and everyone else who would support the continuance of this uncivil war over nothing of substance. Everything we say and everything we do brings either honor or shame to those who came before us and those who will follow. I see no honor in this fight.

As I type, there are sons and daughters of slaves and sons and daughters of slaveowners, standing and fighting side by side halfway around the world. They, together, are the preservers of my heritage.

It's time to move forward in unity, and I have a solution. I vote that we fly no flag at all, save one. Georgia is one of the original stars on that flag.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Penske manager makes unhappy customer pleased
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com

Let me commend your company because of one of your employees. He recently turned what would have been a most unhappy customer into one singing the praises of Penske Truck Leasing. I thought you ought to know about how he is benefiting your company.

My story begins with us having an older piano that needed to be moved from our home in Norcross, Ga., to Washington, D.C., after my daughter purchased a home there. I might add that I didn't look upon having to move such a piano as something I particularly wanted to do, but for your kids….well, you know what family means.

So about three weeks ago I started looking for a good price, and your firm came out with the lowest price….$252 for a one way trip. We reserved a 10-foot long covered truck.

Last week as I went to pick up the truck at 2 p.m, I was on a schedule, since I had piano movers coming at 3 p.m. As your staff was filling out my paperwork, I was told: "We are giving you a 15 foot truck at the same price, since we have no 10 foot available."

That concerned me greatly, for I didn't want to drive a truck to Washington anyway, much less a 15 foot truck. I am not a regular truck driver, and at my age, didn't want the hassle of a larger truck.

Your staff called around Atlanta, and at one time thought they found a 10 foot truck. Yet it was an hour away and the movers were coming in about 30 minutes. Soon even that truck was not available.

Here is where your branch rental manager came through. He sensed my consternation of not having the 10 foot truck available. As he completed the paperwork, he said that because the 10 foot truck was not available, he would reduce the total rental to $79.95.

Though I was not pleased to tackle driving a 15 foot truck, that was admirable move on his part, for at least the price was right. And he provided virtually a new truck, with only 1,300 miles on it.

Soon I drove the truck home, and in 15 minutes, had the piano loaded. The next morning we began our journey, and had absolutely no difficulty with driving the 15 foot truck the entire distance. I even got tangled up in the crazy Washington, D.C. street maze, maneuvering the truck around that sprawling and angled-street town.

All went well because of Chip Couch, your Norcross branch manager. The lower rental rate got my attention. But it was also Mr. Couch realizing my disappointment, my frustration, and my concern of driving a larger truck, then taking action to mitigate the situation. In effect, he took what was going to be a seriously disgruntled customer….and made that person an advocate for Penske.

You should be pleased at having people in your company that can, on their own, make such decisions when need be.

So thanks, Mr. Hard, for the good training in customer service you give your employees, and thanks for giving them the long leash to do their job in such a stellar fashion.

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FEEDBACK
3/28: Concerned about high school soccer games on Sunday

Editor, the Forum:

I appreciated your words about college games on Sunday. It worries me that so many soccer programs in the high schools schedule games on Sunday. That's not the message I'd like to send to our youth.

-- Bill Crosland, Sugar Hill

3/28: Suggests Burma Shave signs for Norcross promotion

Editor, the Forum:

I think the City of Norcross should consider Burma Shave-type signs to
attract visitors to the merchants! Use Peachtree Parkway and Peachtree
Industrial as the "road sign way".

UPCOMING EVENT
Haytossing marks opening of McDaniel Farm Park

Rather than shovels and hardhats, Gwinnett County officials will don straw hats and toss hay with pitchforks to mark the beginning of construction of what can be considered the most unique park to open in a series of new facilities for Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation. The "hay-tossing" ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1 at the future site of McDaniel Farm Park, 3251 McDaniel Road, off Old Norcross Road in Duluth.

Located just northeast from Gwinnett Place Mall, the 128-acre park will be a "green" respite for area residents from surrounding commercial and residential development. The parcel of land has remained relatively unchanged since its drawing in the 1820 land lottery. The property is a former cotton farm, and will be restored to depict typical 1930s subsistence farm life in Gwinnett County.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
About not realizing how some get to where they are

"Some people are born on third base and go through life thinking they hit a triple."

-- Barry Switzer, former Oklahoma U. football coach.

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