Memorial Day isn’t what it used to be | Letters to the editor

The trend is getting worse when it comes to South Florida lacking old-fashioned Memorial Day observances — the kind that I grew up with.

We lined the streets, bands played, and us kids ran to the military, police and fire personnel to thank them for their service. It was a united sense of community pride. Now, we usually get a one-hour event, if we’re lucky. Sightings of the younger generation, even with a day off from school, are pathetically low.

Prove me wrong, South Florida. Go to a (very short) Memorial Day event with your children, walk up to an elderly person who sacrificed more than we can imagine, and simply say, “Thank you for your service.”

Teachers can mention this to students as civic awareness, not as a requirement. We live in a great country. All you need to do is open your eyes and be grateful to the many who paved the way.

There’s always time to complain, but there are days to take pause and be grateful. So, to everyone who has served and helps me live in a wonderful country, I say “Thank you!”

Brian Javeline, Coral Springs 

Israel has no choice

The U.S. move to “pause” weapons to Israel due to a possible large-scale incursion into Rafah is wrong.

There are reports that up to 8,000 Hamas terrorists are in southern Gaza and that leaders of Hamas may be there. Israel has no choice but to go to this area to get rid of the pestilence and hopefully rescue the innocent hostages.

Imagine if Texas were invaded by Mexico and 50,000 Americans were killed (the equivalent number of Israelis killed on Oct. 7) and 10,000 hostages taken. Of course, we would go in and root them out. “Pausing” weapons to Israel emboldens Hamas and their puppet master, Iran.

Mark R. Keller, Miami

Tired of the excuses

I’m tired of hearing excuses why Joe Biden is a failure and Donald Trump is a success.

This avoids the central issue — hatred of others. Trump supporters have one overwhelming quality. They hate migrants, minorities and liberals. Sprinkle in the wealthy, who care only about money, and that’s the coalition.

Do we want leaders filled with animosity? The answer is an emphatic no. We want leaders who show they care about citizens’ problems, and want to solve them. A vote for Trump on Nov. 5 is a vote for hatred, plain and simple.

Charles Terban, Hollywood

Mental health awareness

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Depression, anxiety, suicide and substance abuse are at never-before-seen levels in our nation, especially among teens and young adults. In Florida, we are taking bold steps in response.

This past legislative session, I sponsored HB 1617/SB 330 with Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, which establishes behavioral health teaching hospitals in Florida. The bill was recently signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The law establishes new designations for four hospital and university partnerships (Tampa General in affiliation with the University of South Florida; UF Health Shands in affiliation with the University of Florida; UF Health Jacksonville in affiliation with UF; and Jackson Memorial Hospital with the University of Miami) to train incoming medical students in behavioral health treatment and to create a highly skilled mental health care workforce, with professionals in psychiatry, psychology and counseling services.

The law will allow our state to recruit, train and retain the next generation of providers while simultaneously increasing our ability to treat the acute mental health care needs of children, teens and adults across the state.

Rep. Sam Garrison, Fleming Island

The writer is chair of the Florida House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee.