Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: How soon some forget

Saturday, Nov. 4, 2000 | 3:29 a.m.

Mike O'Callaghan is the Las Vegas Sun executive editor.

THIS IS AN important American week with the election, Marine Corps birthday and Veterans Day all taking place.

We have had about all of the information available for making voting decisions. The biggest decision thousands haven't made must be made Tuesday. Voting is a most important American right and responsibility that a good citizen can't ignore. Too many people have fought, sacrificed and even died for this right to have it ignored.

You can bet the Marines, local and national, will be celebrating with birthday parties and traditional cake-cutting. These celebrations will take place from Nevada to Korea and at every embassy and outpost where Marines are serving. Even in combat, if at all possible, Marines receive special rations and some birthday cake. This is the spirit of the Corps.

Before I discuss Veterans Day let me comment about a closely related matter. Remember the front page headlines and stories the Las Vegas Sun, Las Vegas Review-Journal and Reno Gazette-Journal gave the Tailhook meeting held last summer? The Reno newspaper's headline read, "Tailhook charge reported in Sparks." The Las Vegas Sun headline was "Navy may again drop Tailhook" and the Review-Journal's read "Navy looks into Tailhook claims."

It took but a few phone calls to Nevadans who attended the Tailhook convention to determine the charges were bogus. The information was strong enough for this column to challenge the charges made against the association members. If the same incredible sources made charges against a convention of professional, civic or social groups, the media wouldn't have paid any attention. Certainly it wouldn't be on the front page.

Last week the Navy announced that there was no proof that there was any harassment of a married couple attending a motorcycle gathering at the same hotel. The Los Angeles Times reported that "A spokesman for the police department in Sparks said the couple declined to sign a formal complaint or be interviewed after being told that the alleged incident was captured on a hotel security camera. Davis said the film does not corroborate the harassment charge."

Did you see this story on the front page of any of Nevada's three largest daily newspapers? No, they all ran stories buried inside their pages. It wasn't half as exciting as their prior headline and front-page stories also mentioning what happened back in 1991 at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel-casino.

Those front-page stories last summer made the 2,200 -- many from Nevada -- Tailhook members meeting at Sparks shake their heads. It might even have been embarrassing for others, but most of these exceptional combat heroes from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf War and other conflicts have learned to expect this kind of treatment between wars.

Large numbers of Nevadans refuse to be lumped in with those who forget. Despite the efforts to just forget about a parade, the veterans of Southern Nevada overcame several roadblocks to make sure that next Saturday there will be a Veterans Day parade in downtown Las Vegas. Men such as Harold Sherrod, who commands VFW Post 1753, wouldn't let others forget.

Then there is Professor Leslie Shipps of Community College of Southern Nevada and JoAnne Spaire, president of local Sigma Kappa Delta Chapter Pi Alpha, who are promoting a special Veterans Day ceremony at CCSN, Building B at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Kenneth Baker, president of the Vietnam Veterans Association, will be the keynoter.

At 7:30 Monday night Art Linkletter and Adrian Cronauer will host a patriotic musical celebration at the Las Vegas Hilton Theater. Call Deb Crowley at 636-3000, Ext. 4013, for free tickets.

And don't forget to tune in on Cable Channel 50 on Veterans Day to watch Nevadan Nedra Joyce of "Eye On Washington" host Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga., and John Sommer of the American Legion in a salute to veterans.

Mayor Jim Gibson of Henderson, of course, will honor local veterans at the Civic Center Plaza and Veterans Wall at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Yes, this is a big week for all Americans and we should all participate. You can bet Nevadans will be doing their share.