Remember on Vets Day
TO THE EDITOR: Veterans Day is a day to remember those who served this great nation during her time of need.

Veterans Day, originally known as Armistice Day, for the ending of WWI, has always been held in high regard by the veterans themselves. This is a special day for us to remember those who served beside us, who lived, laughed, and cried with us; and in may cases are no longer with us.

Veterans Day is a day for the citizens of this nation to understand that we the veterans served so they could enjoy the freedoms ensured by our Constitution. However, many no longer understand why Veterans Day is a National Holiday.

I urge all citizens to seek out the local ceremonies hosted by the Veterans Organizations and attend them. This is a time to learn, and see this nation through the veteran's eyes.

We are proud that we served and proud of our country. We have given time to serve this nation and in many cases given our all. We still serve in many ways.

The week of Nov. 8 to 14 is Veterans Awareness Week.

Steve Bowman

Clinton County

Veteran's Service Agency

Plattsburgh

Helping fight cancer
TO THE EDITOR: I would like to thank the many local businesses and community members who joined me this summer in my quest to raise money to support the good work of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). With their encouragement and the help of the Team-In-Training program, I exceeded my $5,700 fundraising goal and trained to compete in my first marathon distance race.

On Oct. 18, I joined 20,000 other women (and a few good men) at the start line of the 6th Annual Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco, Calif. During this amazing event, I was one of over 4,000 fundraiser athletes who collectively raised $14 million to help the LLS provide patient support and fund research to find a cure for blood cancers.

I would especially like to thank my featured corporate sponsor, Casella Waste Management. Corporate supporters were: Messenger Associates, Inc., Stafford, Owens, Piller, Murnane & Trombley, PLLC, and the MOMS Club of Peru/Northern Adirondack.

I reflect back on this incredible experience with gratitude for the support I have received and with thanks for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the many patients and families battling blood cancers every day.

Michelle St. Onge

Peru

Attack on education
TO THE EDITOR: You are kidding. Schools are allowed a 4-percent reserve for unforeseen contingencies? The governor's proposal would reduce that by 35 percent. A single special-needs student can cost a district as much as $30,000.

In Westport, our transportation aid was cut by $20,000. Even with ARRA, we received 9 percent less in aid this year. Local taxpayers are pounding on us to cut. Cut where? The ARRA saved two key jobs in Westport. We can't cut them because of federal mandates for RTI and "No Child." See the article in last Sunday's Press-Republican.

This is nonsense. What is the governor thinking? Rural schools, small cities and the like are the backbone of our communities. Westport and Plattsburgh, the districts that I am involved with, make every effort to keep local property taxes down.

I am counting on all of you on either side of the aisle to tell our legislators to stop this attack on public education.

John Gallagher

Plattsburgh

Not lost, after all
TO THE EDITOR: I wanted to say a "big" thanks to the person who turned in my daughter's Nintendo DS at Gander Mountain last week. I was sure we had lost it forever. There is great joy to know there are still honest people out there. Thank you so much.

Jenny Breyette

West Chazy

Editorial naive
TO THE EDITOR: Regarding the Oct. 20 editorial: the editorial was okay, as most are from the Press-Republican, but the part about "gun ownership translated to personal protection ... does not exist today..." is silly and really naive. Your editorial folks should do better than that.

If you are right, then tell me why law enforcement is armed?

John Mesunas

Mooers