My brother, Kurt, died on Sept. 1, and his memorial was held recently at an art gallery in Cumberland. Kurt lived in Frostburg for the last seven years.
I had never been to the area until I found myself sitting with him at the hospital. We grew up in New Jersey, and I could not understand why he chose a place so far from the ocean. Then one by one each of his friends came in the room to sit with him, and I realized Kurt had found his home.
My brother and I share a painful childhood history that has always made finding a home a difficult prospect. But Kurt lived in a world where people are generous of heart.
While I have found good people most places, I have never found so many in one region.
Part of me felt like an outsider, as these folks knew my brother much more deeply as an adult than I ever would and yet they taught me about him through their love.
There I sat as Kurt’s little sister, experiencing what he must have felt seven years ago when he moved to Frostburg. A sense of awe and fear. A world completely different from the one we knew as children.
There were probably many mornings when Kurt woke up thinking it was all a dream.
Each person who entered that hospital room embraced me. Each person we visited or who came to the memorial embraced me and my son, Sam.
Kurt lived in a world of artists and cyclists. People who challenge themselves and the world to be better with a gentle peace and not angry tones. So many unique voices who inspired me to want more in this life.
I have always been the fighter with the loud voice trying to get others to change. Acceptance has never been my strong suit.
Yet I now feel like I have a chance to live a more meaningful and peaceful life because of being touched by those who call the Frostburg area their home.
As we were driving back home to Philadelphia, Sam turned to me and asked when we would be moving to Frostburg.
Lee Detwiler
Jenkintown, Pa.
Letters
Her brother found a home here, and now she understands why
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Maryland has stopped being “The Free State”
I am a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and, last but not least, the National Rifle Association. I am a yearly member of the American Legion.
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Save the Bridge Program
Please do not close the Frostburg United Methodist Church Bridge Program. The community and many families need this program. Let me enlighten you about a few things.
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Town of Westernport needs a police force and a curfew
Since the consolidation of Bruce and Valley high schools the town of Westernport rapidly deteriorated from what was once a quite respectable community to a community in a decline in residents, and along with that came a collapse in local government due to lack of knowledge and bad decisions that set the town of Westernport back 60 years.
One bad decision was to give up their police force, and with no constant visual law enforcement it has created an open range for drug dealerss, addicts, thieves, drunks and speeding vehicles that choose to ignore our city laws and speed limits and have totally disregard for the safety of the citizens who are on the streets, especially the children who are like deer, you don’t see them until their in front of you. -
Financial gutting will damage school system
I am writing in response to the Allegany County Commissioners’ efforts to cut local education spending to the lowest possible level allowed under state law.
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Cemetery organization plans events to mark Memorial Day
This upcoming Memorial Day marks the 30th anniversary of the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization (CHCO).
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Outside water customers pay for town’s mistakes
The following is the opinion of the individual and in no manner reflects the opinion of any other person or organization.
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We’re twisting the meaning of the Founding Fathers’ words
I really had to chuckle when I read a recent comment someone made in a northeastern publication: “I’d like to suggest that Congress make a tiny change in our Second Amendment that would more accurately reflect the Founding Father’s intent (to wit): “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear muskets, shall not be infringed.”
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Their health benefits proved to be better than they expected
ObamaCare! Of all the terms the GOP uses as scare tactics, that one is my favorite.
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It’s time to ratify Equal Rights Amendment
I have three words I want to say: “It is time.”
By those three words, I am referring to passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). -
Preserve these things for future generations
This is an open letter to the mayor of Cumberland and Allegany County commissioners:
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Maryland has stopped being “The Free State”
