25 years ago

Editor: Jim Larsen

Neo-Nazi vigil visited by protestors

“About 70 protestors from Seattle organized by the United Front Against Fascism hurled insults and slogans into an encampment of neo-Nazis spending last weekend at South Whidbey State Park.

The confrontation was a distant one with the protestors shouting from a parking lot at the entrance to the park and the neo-Nazis camped deep within the otherwise deserted park. Whenever an unmarked vehicle would leave or enter the park the protestors would shout into their microphones and shake their signs.

When Aryan Nation leader Rev. Richard Butler was whisked into the park at about Saturday, protestors shouted at the vehicle, as they had all the others, but gave it no special treatment.

About 12 law-enforcement personnel were at the park entrance to protect the campers from the protestors who spent from noon to 2 p.m. chanting slogans and marching in a circle.”

15 years ago

Editor: Matt Johnson

Sept. 11 was worse, veterans say

“For 60 years it has been “a day that will live in infamy.”

And for survivors of the Japanese air attack on Pearl Harbor, they’ve lived long enough to see another such day cast its dark shadow on American history.

Just as on Dec. 7, 1941, it is difficult for Whidbey Island’s Pearl Harbor survivors to grasp the magnitude of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington D.C., on Sept. 11.

The survivors lived through one horror long ago and they now watch as younger generations grapple with the aftermath of this year’s attacks – which the survivors say is worse than Dec. 7, 1941. They also offer their words of wisdom and a thoughtful comparison and contrast between the two days.

“From what I see I think it was a lot worse than it was at Pearl Harbor,” said Jack Rosebrook, 81, who was aboard the USS Pennsylvania 60 years ago.”