August 16, 2016
1187
To the Editor:
RE: "Reader also upset with the renaming of Kincardine medical clinic" and "Taxpayers have grown accustomed to mediocre expectations, says reader"
Having read the letters from Marta McBride and Jewel Butters, I have to agree with their opposition of the Kincardine Community Medical Clinic being renamed the Hawthorne Community Clinic.
Duncan Hawthorne has been a resident of Kincardine for only about 15 years, and while he has been seen promoting bringing doctors here and promoting a lot of other community events, you have to keep in mind that he was being paid around $1.5-million to perform these “duties.”
The man has left Kincardine for greener grasses over in the United Kingdom, probably making more than the $1.5-million he was paid here, so we probably won’t see him again (unless we provide him an all-expense-paid trip back).
I have no qualms about the man receiving some sort of going-away gift from the municipality, something like “Duncan Hawthorne Day,” and perhaps we could throw in a hockey jersey.
I think that the municipality really screwed up an opportunity to name an important building, such as our medical clinic, by not naming it after the most respected and loyal resident this town has seen – CHARLES MANN.
Mr. Mann has been a resident of Kincardine for at least 45 years, maybe longer, and he has unselfishly devoted his time to Kincardine and to his country. He was mayor of Kincardine twice, and sat on council for many years. He has been a staunch supporter of the Legion, and so many other local events.
Mr. Mann is a well-decorated soldier who fought bravely for his country, and has been a highly-respected spokesman for our uniformed troops, here and abroad. His service during the Second World War was so important that he received a very rare award from the United States for his bravery. I could write a long story describing the good that Mr. Mann has done over his 92 years.
I feel that at a time when Mr. Mann’s health is deteriorating, the municipality could have stepped up and named this medical clinic after him. He deserves every accolade that can be given to him, and it should be while he is alive, not when he has passed on.
As far as I am concerned, the municipality really screwed up on this renaming.
Ken Texmo
Kincardine
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