LETTERS: THANKS FOR MEMORIAL DAY PROGRAM

To the editor:

I would like to thank the variety of individuals and organizations who cooperated to plan and carry out Monday's Memorial Day program in the Osage Centre.

I would especially like to thank those speakers who refrained from transforming this celebration of American heroes and ideals into a partisan political soapbox. The people we came to honor died neither as Republicans nor Democrats, a liberals nor conservatives, but simply as Americans.

Those of us who survive them have many forums through the year in which we can express our differing political beliefs, but there are precious few in which we celebrate our unity of purpose. Those at the Memorial Day program who spoke of American dedication to liberty and freedom brought just praise to the dead, comfort to their families and inspiration to all of us.

I hope that on future patriotic occasions all who deliver messages from the podium will focus on that high purpose.

IDA DOMAZLICKY

Cape Girardeau