Despite our loss, we have much to be thankful for

This year it is especially difficult to find things to be thankful for. As many people know, my brother, Staff Sgt. David Wieger, a special agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, was killed earlier this month in Iraq ("Services Held for Westmoreland Staff Sergeant Killed in Iraq," Nov. 11). However, one of the things that keeps going through our minds is all the support we have received from everyone.

On behalf of our entire family, I'd like to mention some of the things that we are thankful for this year, and in no particular order: our church family -- for the visits, food and prayers; the U.S. Air Force and AFOSI -- for their guidance, thoughtfulness and dedication during this tough time; close friends -- for their kind words, shoulders to lean on and "Dave" stories to keep us smiling; local law enforcement officers -- who were always respectful and guided the procession for David, from entering the township the whole way to his final resting place; bosses and co-workers -- for allowing us (the family) the extended time off and covering our work responsibilities; the local media -- for their reporting of the event, yet being respectful to the family; and the community at large -- for their respect and support of our fallen hero and those who are still serving our great nation by showing up at the funeral home or lining parts of the funeral procession route.

The groups of people who are mentioned above are not separated from each other, but overlap in many places. We hope that each and every person who lent a helping hand, a shoulder to cry on, a plate of food, words of support, a hug or a prayer understand that we as a family are grateful for what you have done.

MICHAEL WIEGER
Port Vue

---

Saluting service

On Nov. 12, the Men's Fellowship Club of the Weirton Salvation Army enjoyed dinner at the Golden Corral. The restaurant offers free dinners to Armed Forces veterans as part of a Veterans Day salute. The majority of our men are veterans, so we decided to take advantage of this annual offer.

The restaurant in Robinson was crowded with veterans and their families, and you would think that it would be a mob scene. Far from it. There was a wait, but within 30 minutes we were seated and on our way to the food bar. The staff really ran themselves ragged making sure the food was available. If a tray was empty, it was refilled within a few minutes, and the lines moved smoothly.

Shortly after we were seated, a color guard entered bearing the American flag. Someone offered up a prayer of thanks for the veterans for their service. We recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the national anthem.

One of the things that caught my eye was the sight of young people from Boy Scout Troop 301 handing out stickers to veterans, thanking them for their service. They were everywhere, picking up trays, filling drink orders, handing out silverware and offering assistance to some of our veterans who needed it.

These young men were unfailingly polite and embodied the true spirit of the Scout Law. They thanked us for our service, but I would like to say, "Thanks for your service." Seeing them in action gives me hope for our future.

WILLIAM TRAVERS
Weirton, W.Va.

---

Holiday in peril?

The definition of Thanksgiving is "a day appointed for giving thanks for divine goodness." The definition of Thanksgiving is also a day that exposes the American Civil Liberties Union and the judicial system as hypocrites.

In a month, the Christians of our country will celebrate Christmas and the birth of Christ. The ACLU and the judicial system will have ACLU lawyers scrutinize every piece of government property for the slightest hint of a Christian display.

Do they not spend every May listening to commencement speeches, always at the ready to haul some high school senior into court if he or she mentions God?

Yet on Thanksgiving Day, when the court systems are closed and tens of thousands of government employees take the day off to give thanks for divine goodness, where are the ACLU and the justice system? Where are these hypocrites?

Our country must admit that we have surrendered our justice system to the ACLU and that Lady Justice is now merely a prostitute offered by pimps dressed as lawyers who offer her favors to the highest bidder with no concern for justice.

After Christmas is erased from the dictionary and renamed Sparkle Season, Thanksgiving may be next.

But be assured the ACLU and the judicial system will still take the day off to celebrate that they are the living God that controls our daily lives.

I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving before this holiday becomes the next holiday that the ACLU has for lunch. Enough said.

DAN REEPING
Sewickley

---

Don't give up, GOP

I read Dan Majors' Nov. 12 article "City GOP Looks in the Mirror After Another Dismal Election."

I for one would love to see more Republicans running for city offices. I'm a Democrat, but I do not vote a straight party ticket unless the Democrats on the ballot are (in my opinion) better candidates than any other party participants. After all, the only thing that I should rely on is my informed opinion.

When the Republicans offer viable candidates, it means to me that they are committed to this city both ideally and economically. William Green, a Republican political consultant, suggests the GOP cede the city to the Democrats as the smart thing to do. Smart, maybe, but not very wise. If the more affluent (read Republicans) stop caring about the identity of Pittsburgh, we all lose. Many charitable, artistic, social and economic venues become lost to we the citizens of Pittsburgh. Move back, become a part of it, get involved and quit griping.

There are some great homes and properties in all the neighborhoods of our city (especially Brighton Heights, my neighborhood). City services offset somewhat the higher taxes compared to the burbs. Police and fire protection, garbage collection with upfront fees, and response times to emergencies (paramedics) and neighborhood problems are major incentives.

We do need to work on our school system, but throwing money at programs will not do it. Only involvement of good people can remedy this problem. Come on in and help solve it. Give me a good reason to vote Republican because sometimes the Democratic Party does not give me a good choice of candidates.

RICK SUCHMA
Brighton Heights

---

Our capable mayor

As a 70-year-old voter who voted for Mayor Luke Ravenstahl because I think he is a capable person who can bring some fresh ideas and vitality to the city of Pittsburgh, I am weary of the ageist bias expressed in the Post-Gazette during pre- and postelection coverage.

Examples abound: the headline "Mayor Wins 2 Years to Prove Himself" and the "Brewed on Grant" cartoon reading "juice boxes all around" (Nov. 14), among others.

These are cheap shots toward Mr. Ravenstahl and an insult to the electorate. Let's recognize that Mayor Ravenstahl is a competent adult and measure his leadership down the road as we would that of any mayor, by his effectiveness in governing this city.

SISTER PATRICIA McCANN
Oakland

---

This decision is wrong for dairy farmers and consumers

It's hard to think of a more wrongheaded approach to food labeling or one that is worse for Pennsylvania farmers and for concerned consumers than the standards for labeling of milk recently advanced by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture ("State Clamps Down on Dairy Labeling," Nov. 14). They would ban milk labeled as produced by cows without the use of rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone) unless the bottler can prove it through laboratory analysis. Though the claim be true, it is not possible to prove via an analysis of the milk.

Sold by Monsanto Co., rBGH greatly enhances the milk production of an animal and is the country's largest-selling dairy pharmaceutical. Cows given rBGH have higher rates of mastitis and much shorter lives. Thus, it's banned in Canada, the European Union, Australia and Japan. Consumers in the United States who are aware of this fact seek sources of milk that don't involve its use.

Farmers who don't use the drug are stuck in the middle. They cannot compete with the flood of milk produced by those who do. Consumers are left wondering why it's wrong to use performance-enhancing drugs in sports and wrong to drug racehorses and greyhounds, yet OK to drug Bessie.

Today's consumers are eager to know what they are eating and drinking. And the quality of both is enhanced by the distinctions. A generation ago wine was just wine, and bread was just bread, but today we are long past that. We're in the era of varietal wines, handcrafted breads and artisanal cheeses. So what's with the archaic notion that milk is just milk? Why hamper us with a regulation that can only devalue our product?

It's the consumer's right to know if milk is produced with hormones or not. What harm is done? Isn't it a fundamental American right to have the freedom to make truthful claims on labels?

Allow the dairy farmers of Pennsylvania to distinguish themselves and make the livings they deserve!

DON KRETSCHMANN
Rochester

The writer is a full-time organic farmer.

---

We welcome your letters. Please include your name, address and phone number, and send to Letters to the Editor, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh 15222. E-mail letters to letters@post-gazette.com or fax to 412-263-2014. Letters should be 250 words or less, original and exclusive to the Post-Gazette. All letters are subject to editing for length, clarity and accuracy and will be verified before being published.