Letters to the Editor - July 15, 2016

Dear Smoke Signals:

I am writing to you today with a heavy heart. My heart is heavy as well as sad because of all the recent killings/murders of police officers.

Many who know me know I care deeply about police officers and K-9s. It disturbs me that some people think it is “open season” on shooting at police officers.

Police officers place their lives on the line 24/7, as was recently proven in Dallas, Texas, where a citizen was shot in the leg and a police officer shielded her with his body, losing his life.

I care about our own Grand Ronde police officers: Chief Jake McKnight, Sgt. Tim Hernandez and Grand Ronde Police Officers Rod McAlister, Rob Wellborn, Tokata Tehama, Tyler Brown and James Wolfser, who is currently on deployment with the U.S. Coast Guard.

These guys are family to me and if their lives were in danger and I could help I’d gladly risk my life for them, even if it meant costing me my life. As the Bible says, “No greater love than this: To lay down one’s life for a friend’s” (John 15:13).

I’ve decided to wear a thin blue line bracelet to show my support for all police officers and will wear it until the violence against them stops. Please join me in wearing blue to show support for our police officers.

Smile, wave, shake their hand, give a hug; it goes far but a thank you goes even further.

Veronica E. Laughing Deer Gaston

Roll #2332

Dear Smoke Signals:

Such a beautiful and inspirational article “Against All Odds.” A person asks themselves, “Why does it take grief to bring people together?” Why can’t this world be a place where people work together and help each other instead of being engulfed in anger?

To take a tragedy and turn it around to help others shows true love and caring for one another.

They say, “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.” Beauty survives because of people like Marilyn Palomar and for Brad Leno choosing a path to help others.

Please keep up the good work.

Irane Jones

Portland