How sad it is that our society has forgotten the hard work and dangerous living that our young men must endure to preserve freedom.

During World War Two photos like this bolstered the moral of the folks at home and helped us to remember that even though our boys were fighting in some strange place, they were still our boys.

And isn't that really the bottom line for us Marine Corp Parents? There in that hovel are our boys. Look at them in this photo, living thousands of miles away in conditions that the ACLU would find unacceptable in an American prison, yet they smile and joke. These are tough young men taking and passing the ultimate test.

I wrote to the school board and I understand their reasoning. I don't agree with it, but I understand it. To me it's simple: our children should understand the American warrior ethic. They should see our brave young men and women holding the tools of the trade. Only in this way will they come to understand the sacrifices that some make to protect the many.

So please, take this school board to task, remind them of their duty to educate. Point out the history of Americans at war and the fact that our society owes it existence to people like our Boys.

Dear Ms. Richardson and Ms. Baker: May I respectfully suggest that the United States Marine Corps is a military organization whose function is to carry weapons on behalf of all of us and to use those weapons skillfully so that our country can remain free. When you show a likeness of a United States Marine graduate of your school without his weapon in a battle zone like Iraq, you are showing him effectively out of uniform. You might as well show a battleship without its guns or Paul Revere without his horse. Your decision to modify a picture of Bill Riecke to remove his weapon is wrongheaded. It betrays an irrational fear of firearms properly used. You do not need to be afraid of firearms, nor of photographs of Marines handling them. On the contrary, you should be proud that your graduates find the military an honorable and patriotic way to serve their country. I am a former resident of Oregon and my son still lives there. Don't fall prey to politically correct policies. Let Mr. Costa put an unadulterated picture of Bill Riecke up in his classroom. You will not be sorry that you did. Sincerely, James D. Ellen Washington State

Ms. Baker & Ms. Richardson:

I served to my country proudly during the Vietnam Era. When I came home I
was greeted with distrust and questions. What you've decided to censor in a
photograph of a Marine while on duty is another insult to all servicemen
past and present. Did the photograph show anything remotely described as
morbid? Body counts were common during my time yet the media managed to
display morbid photographs with the evening news. Instant worldwide media
today could do such things and common sense forbids a repeat of their past
stupid actions. Pride as a Nation could be undermined with your brand of
censorship. Reconsider your actions and replace the photograph as presented
proudly by the 15 year old sister of a Marine. ( Shea Riecke )

USMC - 1970-74
(name withheld)

I'll give you my name if that is important to you - When you respond with
justification to uncontrolled censorship and disrespect to our Military
Servicemen.