Editorial: Roses & thorns

Rose

A sure sign of spring — there aren’t any eggs left in the dairy case at the local supermarket.

Fear not, there’s probably more in the back room, but eggs and Easter go together like, uh, Easter and eggs.

Here’s a rose to all the community groups that are getting into the spirit with Easter egg hunts planned across the county all weekend long. They’re in Roseburg and Camas Valley, Reedsport and Riddle, Sutherlin and Winston. Like the spring, they’re just busting out all over.

For a complete list, see page 4 of Thursday’s News-Review or go to www.nrtoday.com. Suffice to say, if you have a kid who wants to hunt for Easter eggs, you won’t have to hunt very far.

So hoppy hunting. And Happy Easter, everyone.

Thorn

Thinking of things that go well together made us think of a couple things that do not — like cigarettes and oxygen tanks.

A Green woman emerged a bit the worse for wear after lighting a cigarette near her oxygen mask earlier this week, sparking a small fire. She was treated for burns at the scene that she received trying to put out the flames with a small extinguisher, with her mattress suffering most of the damage.

Although pure oxygen itself is not a flammable gas, when it gets near a flame it accelerates the combustion process, firefighters said.

So let’s put all that God-given common sense to good use, folks. Be careful out there. And while you’re at it, stay away from matches and gasoline.

Rose

Talk out putting out fires.

Five years ago this week a Humvee convoy in Iraq was ambushed near Baghdad.

A rocket-propelled grenade struck the vehicle containing a Roseburg member of the Oregon Army National Guard, Cpl. Andres Molero.

The guardsman sustained a concussion and shrapnel injuries to his neck. Despite his own wounds, Molero helped save the life of a fellow soldier in the Humvee whose leg was destroyed.

Molero was honored Wednesday with the Purple Heart during a ceremony at the Oregon Army National Guard Armory in Roseburg.

Those in the crowd included soldiers with whom he served in Iraq, family and friends, and members of Roseburg’s Charlie Company, who stood in formation as the combat decoration was awarded.

Charlie Company is leaving for California for training Saturday, then will head to Georgia before being deployed to Iraq this summer. The casualties of war and the courage they will be called upon to exhibit under fire had to be on their minds. We know it is on ours.

A rose to Molero for his valor, and one to the members of Charlie Company as they head down the road to war.

You are all in our thoughts, and you have our thanks for your dedication, courage and service.