A milestone meal served up in Salem
An idea born four years ago continues to serve the needs of good will, companionship and healing. Not to mention serving up a delicious weekly meal.
The Banquet in Salem will reach its fourth anniversary in September. A milestone was quietly passed recently when a 200th meal was served. The Banquet in Salem is a weekly Monday gathering at the Memorial Building in Salem. Volunteers under the direction of co-founder Rev. Lou Raymond provide a full meal - actually the term banquet wouldn't be a stretch - to any community member wanting a full belly not to mention some good company.
The purpose of The Banquet in Salem remains two-fold: to provide a warm, full free meal; and to, most importantly, provide good company for any interested community member.
This isn't about socio-economics. The Banquet in Salem isn't a soup kitchen. It's not just there for those down on their luck. It has been there for everyone and will continue to be regardless of social strata. "Hunger has many faces," Rev. Raymond said, stressing the fellowship provided.
He cited examples of people coming hours early before the food is served just to have some companionship. It's therapeutic for many lonely people who just don't have a lot of people in their everyday lives. The majority of volunteers are from Salem area churches. Other volunteers have been involved such as those from the Salem Rotary Club and Salem Community Hospital. All food is donated as is the time to prepare and serve it.
The Banquet in Salem is very popular. For example, last week 240 people were served including 27 children. That is the norm and that is very impressive. Sponsors are continually needed and those interested may contact Rev. Raymond at330-337-3125.
And oh, this Monday's sponsor is the Centers for Hearing Care. Volunteers will be serving ham loaf, parsley potatoes, green beans, apple sauce, fruit and sherbet with cookies. There will be face-painting for the children.
It's all about good will and a good meal. The Banquet in Salem has succeeded in providing both to so many community members without missing a beat, in this instance, week, for some 200 weeks. All involved should be congratulated and, of course, thanked.
---
We hope Ohioans serving in the military in Iraq and Afghanistan haven't heard about the problem regarding a proposal for the state to pay them bonuses for their service. An Army private dodging bullets in a firefight or a Marine sergeant wondering whether he's about to drive over an IED shouldn't be pondering the fact that the politicians back home just can't get it right.
Buckeye State residents have a long tradition of approving small monetary payments to those who have served in the military during times of conflict. Such bonuses were provided to veterans of both world wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
Payment of bonuses to those who have served in Iraq, Afghanistan or the Persian Gulf War has been proposed. Veterans of those conflicts would receive $100 for each month they served, up to a maximum of $1,000. Smaller payments would be made to veterans of service elsewhere during the times of the conflicts. Families of those killed in action would receive $5,000 each.
None of the amounts represent a windfall, or even a serious attempt to compensate veterans or their families. That never has been the intent with state bonuses for veterans. It is, instead, simply to demonstrate to those who served that Ohioans care about them and want to recognize their service.
The proposal has been approved by the Ohio Senate - but has bogged down in the House of Representatives, over disagreements on how the bonuses would be funded.
It probably is too late for state representatives to grant approval necessary for the measure to be on the ballot, as required, in November. Still, the effort should be made. Our men and women in uniform have never disappointed us. Politicians should not be allowed to let them down.
The King of Beers will be the King of Belgium soon.
Anheuser-Busch Cos. has agreed to a $52 billion takeover by InBev, creating the world's largest brewer.
Budweiser is an American icon, whose name conjures up visions of its label, or the taste of its beer on the tongue. So, it is no surprise that the sale of Anheuser-Busch to a foreign company is being met with a tinge of nostalgia by Americans, a longing for the days when American companies were the ones doing the buying, not the merging and selling.
But the merger of the parent of Bud should come as no surprise. Chrysler went multinational in ownership about a decade ago with its merger with Daimler of Germany, replaced now by the European capital company Cerebrus.
Major domestic steelmakers have gone foreign in ownershp.
A Japanese company owned New York city icon Rockefeller Center for a time.
Many formerly American electronic brands are made offshore, American in label only.
Consolidation of industries is a basic fact of economic life, and the major brewers are no stranger to the concept. Miller and Molson and Coors have been one company since last fall.
InBev is promising to keep Anheuser-Busch's American breweries open, cold comfort to the Latrobe, Pa., employees who already saw the American brewing giant close the historic Rolling Rock brewery.
So, with consolidation virtually everywhere in big business, why is the Busch buyout a little disconcerting?
Because it's a pervasive American symbol, from the iconic horse hitch to the red-white-and-blue label. Because it's part of American culture, even for those who don't drink beer. Say "Whazzuuup!" or think of Louie the Lizard or even the old Bud beer song and Ed McMahon's deep voice, and you're thinking of Budweiser, of Anheuser-Busch. Because it's been around since the 1860s.
InBev is already talking about corporate synergies, which usually is a euphemism for job cuts, attrition, buyouts or layoffs.
A simple fact of economic life? Yes.
But when icons fall, it's always a reminder of how the once mightiest economic power the world has ever seen is playing in a changed environment.
