Shirley and I would like to acknowledge and thank the Dispatch and in particular staff writer Jeremy Millsop and photographer Steve Kohls for the very complimentary article about our family and in particular, our grandkids and their participation in high school sports. We also would like to thank Glenn Gustafson, who we think was the instigator behind the article. Shirley and myself have been blessed with the same strong interest in watching youth sports and have been double blessed to have been able to watch our own children and grandchildren participate at the high school level and beyond for 45 years. This does not include numerous recitals, school plays and summer competitions of various natures. And while we have had many joyous celebrations in victory and as many heart breaks in defeat, we have the pleasure of sharing those experiences with many wonderful people we have met along the way. And while the memories of victories and defeats fade, the impression and memory that will never fade is that chill invoking scene of the competitors lining up before each contest, facing the flag, hands on their hearts and joining in the singing of our National Anthem. And while they may not be thinking of the sacrifices made by others before them, we are sure that the knowledge that they live in the greatest country in the world and the best part of that country is under their feet. And after the competition is over the combatants line up and shake hands and oftentimes give the opponent a heartfelt hug, and on some occasion the teams have joined together, as guaranteed by our constitution, to say a prayer of thanks. So again, thank you Brainerd Dispatch and thank you Brainerd, Minnesota.
Shirley and Pat Smith
Nisswa
