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Publisher's View
By John Ennis (Published 6/04)
Sixty years ago this month United States and Allied troops stormed the beaches of -- and dropped from the sky above --Normandy, France in what became the turning point of the last World War. D-Day, June 6, 1944, is still considered one of our nation's greatest historic moments.
Many great Americans, including Bay Runner founder and former B-17 Bombardier Harvey Tidwell, fought to free Europe from Nazi tyranny and the Pacific from Japanese aggression. After years of controversy and bureaucracy, a memorial was recently opened on the Mall in Washington D.C. to honor those who served our country in what is considered the most momentous event of the 20th century, World War II.
Today our servicemen and women are engaged in a bloody occupation of Iraq. No matter one's politics or thoughts regarding the justification for last year's invasion, all Americans support our troops and are crushed every time we hear of another round of casualties.
Late last month, a smaller and less controversial memorial than that built in Washington D.C. was dedicated on the campus of Clear Creek High School for a former student who paid the ultimate price while serving his country.
U.S. Army Spec. Ray Joseph Hutchinson, 20, was a 2001 Clear Creek graduate who was killed in Iraq in December while participating in Operation Iraq Freedom with the 101st Airborne Division.
Those of us who never met Hutchinson have learned a lot about him from former classmates, teachers, friends and family that have made it a point to share stories about Hutchinson's personality and charisma.
Just prior to the end of the school year, a large group of students and adults planted a red oak tree to insure that the memory of Hutchinson lives on. This group also established a scholarship in Hutchinson's honor.
Wynette Jameson, a journalism teacher who taught both Ray and his brother Lee at Clear Creek put it best, "We are trying hard to have a young man who is an American hero remembered forever. We want him to be remembered for the kind of young man he was-a loving, caring, funny guy who would always help anyone anytime. We want that spirit to be carried on with a scholarship in his name. His family and our school want him remembered forever."
So far more than $6000 has been raised. But the goal is to raise more than $10,000. To make a contribution, make a check payable to Ray Hutchinson Scholarship Fund and send it to:
Attn: CCHS Ray Hutchinson Scholarship
Clear Creek Independent School District
2305 E. Main St.
League City, TX 77573
I can't think of a better way to honor our servicemen and women.
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Bay Runner publisher John Ennis is a CCISD product and former Cox News Service journalist who returned to the Clear Lake area in 1997 and eventually launched Bay Area Media Services (BAMS.us) with his wife Betsey. He is also co-founder and publisher of The SCENE magazine.
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