Trout’s comments do not represent those of village
I am writing to respond to the May 27 article in the Westmont Progress titled “Fire chief under fire for speech.”

On behalf of the village organization, I want to make clear that the statements made by Frank Trout at the Memorial Day ceremony were personal beliefs and positions held by him and do not in any way reflect the policies or practices of the village organization.

It is unfortunate that Mr. Trout decided to use the opportunity afforded him, as a result of his fire chief position, to express his personal beliefs about issues that were unrelated to this important community event.

The tone and comments were not in concert with the purpose of the ceremony.

Mayor William H. Rahn, Westmont

Pantry appreciates support of food drive
On behalf of the FISH organization, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the community of Downers Grove for the generosity in sharing with others during the annual Mail Carrier’s Food Drive held May 9 this year.

Nearly 10 tons of food was collected with the help of our local letter carriers. We also appreciate those who helped collect and sort food including Campus Life and the Downers Grove high school football teams. This support will help us stock the shelves of those families in need in the coming months.

FISH maintains a free food and clothing closet in the lower level of the Downers Grove Township building located at 4340 Prince St. Generous contributions from our communities allow FISH to serve many individuals and families on an emergency basis each month. We welcome individuals willing to help as a phone volunteer at home or as a driver to a local medical facility during the week.

Requests for assistance are received through the telephone voice mail service at (630) 964-7776. FISH attempts to supplement the work of church, philanthropic or government agencies that administer long-range programs.

Laurel Q. Bowen, board member, Downers Grove FISH Pantry

Transparency needed for public support of education
I write about your editorial, “Details of superintendent’s contract must be public” (May 13).
Sen. Dan Cronin, Rep. Sandra Pihos and I recently passed legislation to require school districts to post on the Internet every detail of school administrators’ contracts, including perks like cars, annuities, life insurance and expense accounts.

Transparency is key for the public to have confidence in our schools or government. SB 2270 is awaiting the governor’s signature and it will force Community Unit District 201 and all schools to disclose how tax dollars are spent on administrators.

State Sen. Kirk W. Dillard, R-24th District, of Hinsdale

Annual Cabaret big success for Community Pantry
The final numbers are in, and the Woodridge Community Pantry is pleased to announce it earned an impressive $70,255 from its annual Cabaret in April.

This is a record for the pantry and even more notable during this challenging economic time. By comparison, the pantry’s first Cabaret raised $7,500 only a few years ago.

The Woodridge Community Pantry wishes to extend its deepest gratitude to everyone who made this year’s event a tremendous success. We especially thank our presenting sponsor Cargill; media sponsors Comcast and DuPage Woman; premium sponsors Collision Centers of America, Park Financial Services, Robert and Patricia Wheeler; and the numerous other sponsors, honorees and attendees.

This year the pantry unveiled the Golden Heart Awards to be given periodically to those who have given outstanding service on behalf of those in need. This year the pantry honored Joe Perrino, president of Home Run Inn, as Outstanding Benefactor, the Woodridge Jewel-Osco as Outstanding Food Rescue Partner, and Fran and Chuck Strohm as Outstanding Volunteers.

With rising food prices and an expanding client list in the thousands, money raised from the Cabaret fundraiser will be used for the pantry’s numerous food and social services programs including providing school breakfasts for District 68, and offering job search assistance and ESL classes.

For more information about the Woodridge Community Pantry, visit online at wcpinc.org or call (630) 512-9921.

Valerie Goodman, Woodridge Community Pantry

Radical views more suited for right-wing militia crowd
I attended the Memorial Day parade and service in Westmont May 25 and was appalled by Westmont Fire Chief Frank Trout's weird partisan political speech.

Memorial Day is when we, as Americans, honor our war dead, all those who gave their life in service to our nation. It is not a time to make bizarre attacks on the president as some kind of communist (the USSA), gay bash or make allusions to the UN that would make Timothy McVeigh the Oklahoma City bomber and the Michigan militia proud.

My late Uncle Harry, a lifelong Democrat and US Army officer, served in World War 11, Korea and Vietnam. He almost died in both the Battle of the Bulge and the Tet Offensive. He did not serve as a Republican or Democrat; he served as an American.

The next time Mr. Trout wants to make such a speech, I suggest he vent his radical views where they'd be more welcome, a right-wing extremist militia camp out in the forests of Idaho somewhere. His comments wouldn't even have been appropriate for a Republican political rally let alone a public Memorial Day service in Westmont.

Mark Garrity, Downers Grove

Fire Chief Trout owes Westmont an apology
Westmont Fire Chief Frank Trout apparently forgot that he speaks for Westmont, and Westmont now needs to decide what to do about his rant. Even Boy Scouts are taught early that they need to recognize the burden of representing the BSA. Surely Chief Trout knows his responsibility to the village.

Whether conservative or liberal, Memorial Day is not the day to rant. We gather together to thank those that have served. While Chief Frank has the right to his personal views, and even to express them, as the emcee for the Memorial Day observance, he must recognize his obligation to speak for the village.

If the views expressed represent those of the village, we can start a different discussion.  If they do not, Chief Trout owes the people of his community, surrounding communities and those intended to be honored by that day's events an apology.

Scott Pfeiffer, Downers Grove

Village shouldn’t be proud of Memorial Day comments
In response to the article about the Memorial Day service in Westmont, we would like to say how surprised we were by Frank Trout’s comments. We are a typical family with representatives from the ages of 24 to 87, we also have political affiliations that include Republicans, Democrats and independents. We are a family that has a long history of military service.

Our family has been in every war from the American Revolution to the Iraq War. My father served in World War II and was present at this Memorial Day service. We attend Memorial Day services every year — not always in Westmont, sometimes in Downers Grove or Naperville — but we always came back to Westmont because the people of the town reflect the kind of patriotism that makes you feel connected to each other. That was until this year when Frank Trout made remarks that should have stayed at the Veterans of Foreign Wars bar.

As for the comments made by Sue Senicka defending freedom of speech, I agree with that but not at a Memorial Day service. Freedom of speech should be saved for a place and time when people have a choice to listen or not. I did not feel that I had that choice given the comments were made between the priest’s prayer and the playing of taps. Hopefully the future will hold a traditional Memorial Day service that Westmont can once again be proud of.

Renee Harris, Westmont