As a veteran I can only ask "what are you thinking". Shame on You! Do you dare to try to take away the pride of a family of this Marine by demonizing him AND his brothers in arms?

Is this an attempt at left wing censorship?

Are the pictures of our armed forces so disgusting to you that you feel the need to try to make them into evildoers?

Maybe you would be happier with pictures of the "peaceful" Muslims beheading people here in this country?

That is why we (US) are fighting the terrorists in Iraq, as opposes to Albuquerque.

This decision reflects either "Anti- American" or "Anti War"sentiment, is this your own agenda you are forcing on the students.

OR, ... does freedom of speech only apply to the "appropriate" sentiment?

What message are you REALLY trying to send your students?

As long as I am alive I will do whatever I can to prevent what was done to us in Viet Nam by the liberal "enlightened", so called educators and press.
Stop making the US the bad guys.

As far as your zero tolerance policy. You had better get that sword painted over on you school symbol. That, or, you could use a little common sense or maybe even some good old fashioned pride in what those boys in the picture stand for,.. You're right to sit safe in Salem and be idiots

Patrick Schaar US Navy (Seabees) Veteran

Dear Ms Richardson and Ms Baker, As I'm sure you are aware, the issue of posting a photo of a young Marine in a McKay HS classroom has become well known. As a veteran of 26 years of US Air Force service, including combat flying in Vietnam, I must respectfully disagree with the decision that was taken. Even with the knowledge of what hapened recently in Red Lake, MN, in mind, I can't agree with the decision that only a sanitized photo (e.g. without a gun) of a combat veteran is permissible in the school. That young man and his companions and all who serve over there are continuing a proud tradition of service to the United States of America. It is because of their service, and that of my generation in Vietnam and my parents generation and beyond that the United States remains a free and open society. Th denigrate Marine Riecke's servie by aribrushing away that which is fundamental to his profession is not acceptable. As I understand it, because of a newspaper reporter's question, you are now even considering modifying the depiction of the school mascot, to remove the sword he carries. If the district policy is carried to its logical fulfilment, you have a huge task ahead of you. Every textbook, magazine, library book and sheet of printed material must be reviewed so that any picture that features a weapon of any sort can be removed. That includes any picture of Revolutionary War or Civil War troops, George Washington if he is carrying a sword and all airplanes, tanks, and warships from every war that has been fought by the US. Miss Shea Riecke is justifiably proud of her brother, and, I'm sure, very concerned for his continued well-being, as is her family. To allow only a formal photo of him in uniform is to deny the reality of his profession. Do you similarly prohibit display of photos of police officers or sheriff's deputies who are wearing their service weapons? HOw about pictures of people engaged in the sport of fencing? The possibilities extend much farther than this short message can include.

Most disappointedly,

Cal Taylor
LtCol, USAF (Ret)

Dear Mr. Costa, Saw on 11 o'clock news tonight the flash on your attempt to allow Shea to have a picture of her brother posted in your classroom. And the result of your asking for permission to have it placed in the classroom, the denial, the airbrushing (or other alteration) to take the rifle out of the picture. Not your fault, sir, just another case of political correctness gone amok. Please pass this on to your administration, in case I have not guessed correctly at Ms. Richardson's address: Ms. Richardson, please feel free to share this with the school board - how awful it must be to take one of your students' honorable hero's and dismiss them out of hand. Lets see, a young man, graduate of your high school, who thinks enough of his future and his country to volunteer for service in the U.S. Military... sends a picture of himself in military garb and outfitted appropriately for the conditions in Iraq to his sister... who brings it to school to have it proudly displayed... only to have it rejected by the school administration... unless of course reality can be altered and the rifle in the picture can be photo-shop'd out...(?!). Tell me, does the school have any pictures of Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze's fine oil-on-canvas 'George Washington Crossing the Delaware' hanging anywhere in the school? OR perhaps in the library? OR maybe just in a book within the library? Let's hope that book is never opened within your overly PC school; would not want to see the results of your airbrushing out the rifles in that scene. And even poor Mr. Washington with sheathed sword in hand... tsk, tsk. Way to go, you fine supporters of our men and women in service. I'm sure Bill is certainly proud to be a graduate of Douglas McKay High School. Shame on you. I'm sure you all didn't intend for this to become a matter of public record, but it has. Seems only fitting a rethinking of your decision and a public apology would be in order. Now please go do the right thing.

Sincerely,
Stick

Principal Richardson,

I wish to add my voice to the others that should be contacting you.

Efforts to keep our schools children, faculty, and staff safe are very appreciated. What has happened recently in some schools is absolutely tragic.

Please choose policies that really help with promoting safety. Neither the picture of the brave brother posted by his proud sister, nor the picture of the schools mascot is likely to incite any violence.

Perhaps focusing on EDUCATION rather than political correctness and political agenda would help our students at least stay even with students from third world countries.

Ed O'Neil
Salem, Oregon