Press and Sun-Bulletin from Binghamton, New York • 15

November 5, 2007 VIEWPOINTS OBITUARIES Press Sun-Bulletin 5B Obituaries are posted daily at pressconnects.com and archived into a searchable database. Obits Funeral Notices 001 Obituaries Crabb. George as well spent 20 years teaching rifle safety and marksmanship with the Police Athletic League an served on its Board of Directors. George volunteered his time for many years to the AARP, preparing income tax forms for seniors. He was an election inspector and worked on local and national political campaigns.

In recognition of his service to the community, Mayor Crabb proclaimed July 23, 1993, George's 75th birthday, to be George Weslar Day in the City of Binghamton. With a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye, George enjoyed meeting people for a laugh, spirited conversation or an argument, for George was never wrong until you proved him otherwise. He would offer his opinion with as much conviction as he offered his friendship. George was also a man of deep faith. He prayed his rosary everyday and trusted in God's judgment and glory.

Hope for the next life, not in this, was ever present in his words and actions. His secret to longevity was, as he often quipped, "The Lord don't want me and the Devil won't take me!" The last argument has finally been settled. Heaven has another resident now who will be watching over us all, sometimes with a wince, or a roll of his eyes, but always with a smile for the hope of tomorrow. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at St.

Mary's of the Assumption, 37 Fayette Binghamton, N.Y. 13901. The Rev. Daniel M. Caruso will officiate.

Burial will be Friday at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Spirit Cemetery, Kattelville. The family will receive friends at the Ernest H. Parsons Funeral Home, 71 Main Binghamton, Tuesday, from 4-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in George's memory may be made to the Lourdes Foundation, 161 Riverside Drive, Binghamton, N.Y.

13905; or to the Binghamton Police Athletic League, 38 Hawley Street, Binghamton, N.Y. 13901. Please sign the guest book at pressconnects.com/obituaries In Memoriams 002 In Loving Memory of Charles and Julia Mercincavage on their 69th Wedding Anniversary Those we love never die, for as long as we live and remember, they are with us. Your Family Please sign the guest book at pressconnects.com/obituaries In Loving Memory Of Ernest "Spud" Dickson III Your phone calls, sense of humor, and laughter gave me 'so many happy memories, but I still shed tears over the loss of you. Rest in Love your sister, Debbie, and family Please sign the guest book at pressconnects.com/obituaries Obits Funeral Notices 001 George P.

Weslar of Binghamton, N.Y. George P. Weslar, adored husband of the late Thelma I. (Abdallah) Weslar, died Friday, November 2, 2007. Surviving him are their children, Gary, Valerie (Shaun Harty) Jerry, Joe and Bob; as well as their grandchildren, Colin and Caitlin Harty; his sister, Geraldine Hohman; many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

George was the son of Binghamton Patrolman, George J. Weslar and Minnie C. (Geiger) Weslar. George worked for 35 years for the Railway Express Agency, starting on the freight yards and advancing himself as Clerk, Manager, Traveling Auditor and Divisional Operations Representative, overseeing operations from New England to Chicago. During World War II, George served his country with the 636th Tank Destroyer Battalion and the 1st Armored Division in Africa, Sicily and Italy.

In 1952, George married the love of his life, "My little brown and together they raised their family, active in scouting as their children were growing. Family camping trips were an important part of life. George always found time to help out a friend in need. If it was plumbing or electrical work, home or car repair, George was there with his tool box ready to lend a hand. In retirement, George turned his attention to community service.

A regular and well respected attendee of Binghamton City Council meetings, George earned the reputation of being a tough, yet thoughtful, concerned citizen. George served on the Community Development Advisory Committee and was appointed to the Westside Neighborhood Development Committee by Mayor Juanita In Memoriams 002 In Loving Memory of Betty Montone Mom, grandma and greatgrandma, we miss you and will love you forever. Happy 1st Birthday in Heaven. Love, Maria, David and Meredith, Gina, Mark, and Hunter Please sign the guest book at pressconnects.com/obituaries In Loving Memory of Thomas J. Morrissey to It is hard to believe you left us 20 years We miss your jokes and laughter.

Your enthusiam for life continues to touch all of us. We think about you every day. Love, Mary and family Please sign the guest book at pressconnects.com/obituaries United Way United of Broome County Way Press Sun-Bulletin pressconnects.com All the news FEMA thinks it's OK for you to have In Memoriams In Loving Memory Luba Solecky One Year Anniversary To me you still appear as you looked in this picture when you were 20 years old. At 57 when you left us you were even more beautiful. Your smile and your robust personality charmed all of us.

We cherish every moment we had with you. Memories of you come very often and furious at times like a hurricane. This invokes a great pleasant immediate feeling of euphoria followed immediately by extreme sadness. You can rest assured that your precious house (palace) remains as you always kept it; immaculate at all times. Your signature is evident in every comer of the house.

Unfortunately the frequent redecorating, remodeling and constant moving of all items in the house; which I frequently complained of, has stopped. Funny how I miss that constant change and the mystery of how the house was going to appear everytime I came home from my frequent trips. You were always energetic, robust, delightful and generous. A vibrant personality that touched everyone around you. You lit up every occasion with your presence; just like sunshine.

We hope; in heaven, you have boundless access to a super T. J. Maxx, a super Marshall' sand all your favorite shoe stores to delight your passion for shopping. You were full of life but now you are gone. To me and us who loved you so much, you will always remain in a special place in our hearts and as in Rod Stewart's song; "Forever Love You and Miss You So Much Your Loving Husband Precious Children Grand Children, Peter, Eric, Aretka Darien, Kalyna Please sign the guest book at pressconnects.com/obituaries In Loving Memory of Ada E.

Williams HAPPY BIRTHDAY It has been two long years since you left. We miss you very much and think of you daily. Children, Lyndell, Jerald, Michele, Phil, Grandchildren, Carl Lynn, Kory, Kyle, Great Grandchildren, Jessica, Finley, CASH Please sign the guest book at pressconnects.com/obituaries In Loving Memory of Betty Montone My Badooch, as you celebrate your birthday in Heaven, please know how much I miss you and love you. Love, Joe Please sign the guest book at pressconnects.com/obituaries 0 MORE OBITUARIES ON PAGE 4B Maybe if I had been drinking heavily. Maybe if I was suffering amnesia.

Maybe if I'd had a lobotomy. Maybe, in other words, if my memory was impaired, I could accept the apologies for the recent FEMA-brand bovine excreta at face value. Problem is, my memory is more or less intact, the routine ravages of age notwithstanding. So you'll forgive me if my response to FEMA's lat- LEONARD est oops for its latest PITTS blunder is lessthan charitable. Commentary For those who missed it, the Federal Emergency Management Agency called a news conference on 15 minutes' notice to discuss its response to the wildfires in California.

The short notice guaranteed that no reporters could get there in time, though they were given a phone number that allowed them to listen not pose questions, mind you, but "listen" to a briefing from Vice Adm. Harvey Johnson, FEMA's deputy chief, after which he took questions. But wait a minute, you say: If no reporters were there, who asked the questions? It turns out that FEMA staffers, posing as reporters, did the honors. That's right, FEMA questioned FEMA. Or, to put it another way, a group of worker bees interviewed their boss.

It will not surprise you to hear that this format failed to produce tough questions. Instead, Johnson fielded slow rollers like, "Are youhappy with FEMA'sresponse so far?" Thankfully, the session ended before anyone could ask him what sort of tree he would like to be in the next life. When news broke of what FEMA had done, confessions and condemnations fell like rain. The agency apologized. A spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security called the episode "offensive." DHS chief Michael Chertoff called it one of the "dumbest" stunts he has seen in government.

The White House called it an "errorinjudgment." I'dbe happy to take the apologies and the you-a-culpas at face value and move on. Maybe I could do that ifI were suffering some mental lapse that erased the accumulated experience of the last six years. Maybe I could do it if this was just an isolated instance of bad judgment. Maybe Icould do it if this were not but the latest of many examples of the Bush administration manipulating news and information. Maybe if a GOP shill and sometime porn entrepreneur had never been allowed to play reporter in the White House press room.

Maybe if the administration had never paid journalist public for funds him to a supposed 'say good things about its No Child Left Behind law. Maybe if the government had never put out promotional videos disguised as news, complete with Bush underlings pretending to be reporters. Maybe if they were not in the habit of censoring science. Maybe if Donald Rumsfeld had never proposed an office of disinformation. Maybe if all 300 million of us were drinking heavily.

But there is not enough alcohol in existence, and the administration's aversion to the whole truth and nothing but, is all too well documented. There is more at stake here than the credibility of a president or a presidency. What is at stake is the ability of people to trust that those in positions of trust are worthy oftrust. Toplay fast and loose with fact as the Bush administration has habitually done, is to put truth itself into play and risk rendering government's word worthless. Not this government, but "government," period.

And for what? For short-term political gain? The prize seems hardly worth the price. Yet they keep on doing it just the same. They refuse to learn from their mistakes. Which only makes this show of contrition feel all the more cynical and disingenuous. They should save the apologies for people with short memories.

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