An advocate of Earth
To the editor:
I am writing this letter to express my befuddlement and disbelief that agencies and groups still choose to release balloons into the air as an expression of remembrance and memorial.
There is no good reason for releasing balloons into our world.
They pollute our world and kill our wildlife. I for one think we have enough trash in our oceans and wilderness. Who likes to go into the wilderness – a place untouched by humans – and see a balloon of any color caught in the top of a great tree. Or find a great sea turtle dead on the beach from swallowing a balloon. We all know that balloons released into the air kill and contaminate our world.
I would like to offer some other choices as expressions of remembrance. They may require a bit more work, so much better for the memorial.
• Do an act of kindness in the person’s name. Help a senior citizen, make a meal for someone, visit a person in a nursing home who has no visitors.
• Do a food drive to help out our food pantry.
• Make a donation to local animal shelters by collecting needed food and supplies.
• Put ribbons up in town (with permission, of course) with names of victims on them.
• Collect teddy bears to give to hospitals or homeless shelters, as well as domestic violence shelters in the name of those being remembered.
• Plant a tree in their name.
There are so many things that can be a positive expression of remembrance and memorial. They might take a bit more time and commitment, but isn’t that what it’s all about.
Nancy Smith
Presque Isle
