Letters to the Editor

Save the Clamagore
It is all over The Post and Courier that Patriots Point cannot afford to keep the Clamagore and that it will be sold or sunk.

When I read that, I was heartbroken, for I love that sub. Then I thought, this is a symbol of Charleston, so we should do something about it.

I looked at the Directory of American Naval Fighting Ships and saw that June 28 will be the sub’s 68th anniversary.

Patriots Point should find some way to celebrate this event: free parking, boat rides, discounts in the gift shop and free hotdogs. It doesn’t matter how, as long as it works.

Andrew Lee Shook
Age 11
Regatta Road

Charleston
Hypothyroidism
The June 19 article about hypothyroidism failed to mention the recently discovered correlation between hypothyroidism and heart disease.

Those with any history of family heart disease or other symptoms should ask their health care provider to include thyroid-stimulating hormone tests (TSH) as a part of wellness blood testing at routine physicals.

In addition, male candidates for heart disease who are over 35, and women who are over 40, should consult with their health care providers about having an arterial heart disease CT scan.

Richard Dowell
Chairman
Rotary Club of Charleston

Wellness Committee
Olde Central Way

Mount Pleasant
Charleston Nine

On behalf of my family, I once again thank my community for being with us each year. It means a lot to the families of the Charleston Nine.

Thank you for your love and support. Let us keep the memory alive.

Vernon Drayton
Amherst Street

Charleston
Church sale
A historic church, St. Andrew’s Lutheran at 43 Wentworth Street, is being sold to become a residence.

The sanctuary, with its beautiful stained glass windows given as memorials and the ascension painting over the altar, will no longer serve as a witness to Christ for the Charleston community.

The parish building next to the sanctuary will become two apartments and office spaces.

I attended the zoning committee meeting on June 5 and was greatly disappointed in its decision to allow this to happen.

The property is currently being used by Redeemer Presbyterian Church, a vibrant group of Christians doing a good job in Ansonborough. The congregation would like to buy the property but they were not informed of the reduced price. Why?

Could it be because the City of Charleston wants this property on the tax books? Are the property owners desperate for cash?

I am not a member of Redeemer Presbyterian. I am a former member of St. Andrew’s Lutheran.

Barbara Keil
Bishop Gadsden Way

Charleston
Help S.C. State
The last meeting of South Carolina State University’s Board of Trustees proves that members should bring wisdom and wealth to the board.

A majority of members voted to use tuition and other state funds to complete the Clyburn Transportation Center.

If the board members cannot secure private funds or contribute themselves, then they need to take a look in the mirror and ask themselves this question: What am I contributing to this institution?

This so-called jewel of the state needs all of the outside assistance it can muster. Universities are enhanced by private, individual and federal funds, and trustees should be the leaders in this effort. This requires time, hard work and building a network of supporters, and the trustees should be the leaders in this task. People responsible for selecting trustees should take this into consideration when they vote.

Perry R. Leazer
Certificate Court

Charleston
Local talent
Charleston should be proud that “local boy” Peter Frank Edwards was the photographer for the feature cover story in Sunday’s “Parade Magazine.”

It sure is nice to see local talent recognized nationally and internationally.

Nancyjean D. Nettles
Hagerty Drive

Charleston
Special plates
A June 14 article, “Tea Party, political license plates proposed,” reported the organizations petitioning for special plates.

One is for “Disabled Vets” at 3,745. In order to qualify for that special plate, a veteran must be declared totally and permanently disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Just .06 percent of the population of South Carolina is eligible.

I approached the Charleston County Legislative Delegation in October of 2011 about reducing the necessary disability rating to 70 percent.

I also suggested eliminating the Department of Motor Vehicles’ redundancy of requiring 100 percent-rated veterans also to have a doctor certify their disabled status.

And I requested parking benefits be expanded from just free metered parking to include any government-owned and operated parking garage.

The only member of the delegation to act on my request was Rep. Wendell Gilliard who pre-filed the bill as H.4450. That bill received a first reading. The new Gadsden Flag disabled vet plate will be up for a vote later this month.

And while they’re at it, how about adding disabled-veteran-owned small businesses to the Disadvantaged Business Office, which gives preferred status on state contracts?

Start proving to our veterans that this state actually does care.

Sean Pike
Hunt Club
Charleston

Camp Happy Days
Camp Happy Days summer camp program will be held from July 1 through 6 in Summerton at Camp Bob Cooper, a facility owned and operated by Clemson University and the Youth Learning Institute.

This and each of the other 12 programs managed by Camp Happy Days is provided free of charge to all children diagnosed with cancer and their families.

For more than 30 years, Camp Happy Days’ mission has been to offer hope and encouragement to children diagnosed with cancer and their families by providing year-round programs, special events and access to crisis resources.

Our goal is to give hope, self-esteem and the will to fight one more round. Camp Happy Days is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Eleanor Smythe
Executive Director

Camp Happy Days
Ashley Hall Road

Charleston
The perils of aging

R.L. Schreadley’s recent column began with a quote attributed to Winston Churchill: “If you are not a liberal at 20, you have no heart. If you are not a conservative at 40, you have no brain.”

Actually, I find my students at the College of Charleston about equally divided between being liberal and conservative, and most of them are neither.

I always advise them they should be careful not to be too liberal when they are young, because it will make them too conservative when they are old, and there is nothing as mind-numbingly boring as an old conservative, ranting about the government and saying how great everything used to be in America.

At the same time, I advise them not to be too conservative when they are young, because it will make them too liberal when they are old, and there is nothing as laughable as an aging hippie with a gray ponytail and an earring.

As to the purported Churchill quote, a better version would be:

“If you are not a liberal at 20, you have no heart. If you are not a conservative at 40, you have no money.”

Alex Sanders
Water Street
Charleston