Letter to the Editor

"Thanks for taking me back to time when we celebrated holidays instead of just buying stuff. I remember some of those conversations late at night and even got to hear some of them during a trip to the Vietnam Memorial a few years ago when a friend needed to share what he experienced. Never forget the ones who sacrifice for us."

"Refreshing to return to the good ole days!"

"Andy,
I appreciate your comments. As a father of two girls, ages 12 and 6, I look for opportunities to have them witness and experience what truly is meaningful. The richness in perspective and tradition that our older friends and family offer is priceless. There is such a deep well to draw from in the form of values and insight from those who have walked before - I hope my girls continue to "see" what is available from other's perspectives and experiences. Thanks so much for the thoughtful comments."

"For years I looked forward to every Sunday and my Grandmother sharing a story of yesteryear. She went to heaven in 1990 and was my last living grandparent. Thank you for reminding me there are wonderful people still here with us on earth with stories to tell. I'm ready to listen. You are the best!"

"It was always the lazy holiday. Although I remember a few that were a little rushed early in the day. We had to get everything packed into the car for a trip to the Connecticut shore in order to get that "good" spot on the beach. Not to mention a parking spot that didn't require us to carry things back and forth too far.
Games and food...and the predictable sunburn!"

"Thank you Andy for reminding us of how our childhood holidays were. I challenge each of your readers to make this holiday one of the "good old days" that their children and grandchildren talk of in the future."

"As usual, a great word. It makes me remember a time when my family spent the 4th in LaPorte Indiana, a great small town and probably now a bed-room community for Chicago. Morning began early with about two dozen men coming to my grandfather's barn as respectable business men and transforming themselves into crazy clowns for the big parade. It just got better for a little boy as the day progressed.

My fear is that we are losing what the day is all about and more importantly we are losing what our country is all about. It is really more important than a fun (family) day.

May I suggest, maybe selfishly for my grandchildren that we each inform ourselves about our history and foundation so we don't loose this great nation and principals for which it has stood.

For me I am again reading through the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America.

P.S. My wife and I are also fulfilling a dream and spending the 4th not at our home in Atlanta, but in Boston waving a flag on the Charles River."

"Thanks Mr. Andrews! I loooooved this. I am going to print THIS and frame it along side the original letter. I will put it beside the framed print of you and I at a conference where we met. Thank you for all that you do to plant words of Truth in our brains and to help restore values to a culture headed South. You always inspire us! Bless YOU."

"I read Mr. Bailey's "letter to the editor" and was not surprised. My father, who is still alive at 90 yrs. of age, was a career Navy man through two wars, from 1938 to 1958. While I don't know how he spoke during the war, or on a vessel with other sailors, I've NEVER, not once, heard him use such language. Perhaps Hollywood should expand their historical research to include social mores! Good for Mr. Bailey for reminding us that real history, is not the same as "reel" history."

"It's sad, though, that the letter that was published 18 days ago has zero comments on its original site. So many people have grown so accustomed to that kind of language that they probably find it quaint that someone objects to it."

"Thanks for the light you bring into my life and the inspiration you share with all of us during these difficult times. You are truly making the world a better place."

"Thanks for reminding us that history is not in a book it is in our lives, families, memories and actions that we do every day. We can either chose to remember and learn or forget and repeat. People forget that nothing in this life is free, someone or somebody had to pay a price for everything we have or hope to have. The price maybe as simple as time or a kind word, even the
ulitmate price but a price has to be paid.

Thank God that you have been given a great gift of telling not just a story but an astoundly wonderful way to share knowledge with others. Keep up the Great Work."

"Andy,
Thanks again for words of wisdom and reminding us what a great hertiage we have. "Freedom has a taste the Protected will never know""

"Andy you are the greatest. The world is not only forgetting what 4th of July is all about but Memorial day. thank God that we have people like you that are able to spread all the important things to this great nation that will come back one day. I belong to a book club and the Travelors Gift was suggested by me and read by all. I have now passed on all your books and your E Mail. Thank you for all your wonderful words"

"Andy, i've heard you speak on a couple of occasions and this little reminder of how things used to be makes me think you may have been a long lost brother of mine, almost like you've somehow climbed into my famlies own past. Oh, how refreshing it is to read these kind gentle and true words of our past., on those lazy summer days . It truly does make us all kindred spirits..WOW!"

"Andy, once again you speak from your heart and remind ours of the importance of remembering the past and its traditions; so much of which gets lost. As our children grow into upper elementary and middle school they are hearing things they should not have to listen to; we strive to remind them of what great individuals they are and that they are perceived by what they say and how they act. Thank you for another great story from our friend Andy.

Happy 4th of July AND thank you to our Troops for keeping us safe and for our opportunity to freely celebrate Independence Day year after year."

"Today, graciously you wrote a glimpse to times gone by, but more importantly what inspired your writings was a letter written by H. Paul Bailey, a WWII Veteran; my Dad. Ofcourse, I was in awe that Dad at the age of 88 years, wanted to write a "Letter to the Editor" re the language used in the HBO miniseries "The Pacific". He is a firm believer in "truth" and doing the right things, of which "The Pacific" portrayed, his Marine Corps, badly. I thank you for being inspired by my Dad's beliefs and framing his letter. Thanks a million from his family!!!"

"I try to spend time with my grandchildren telling stories of my past and stories of my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents etc. hoping enough will be told to their children that history will be rembered. How great our ancestors were and the price that was paid for us. I hope it will be remembered far into their llives."

"My father joined the Navy and served during WWII. To this day, I have never heard a foul word from his mouth. Hollywood has selective memory. They pride themselves in "extensive research", but can miss the most obvious things in front of them. Mr. Bailey probably speaks for many of his generation who would like for this generation to just tell the story -- not embelish it to suit their needs."

"I too enjoyed stories when I was young. I left home at a very young age to join the U.S. Merchant Marines in 1944. Been all over the world to many places I don't even remember the names. However even then when I came home, Forth of July was special. Sit and talk and scare my mother with fireworks. Now I am the old story teller in my family. A great feeling to say the least."

"Loved this. Kids are made to believe it's always been like it is now. My grandfather was born the year the Titanic sank and passed away a few years ago at age 93...and he talked often about former days. It hasn't "always" been like this. As a teacher I had my classes interview their oldest relative or an older person in their community with specific questions on how our society was in "their day" - from food to fashion to fun...to morals and church and government. They made presentations to the class, prepared old recipes, and brought in "souvenirs" from their journey back in time to how it was back then. I brought to class my grandpa - one of the ones who have kept us tied to something we're rapidly losing our grasp on as they pass away.... So I appreciate the urge to capture their wisdom, faith and the Truth. Andy has such a way of translating for the rest of us the legacies of great men and women whose names we brushed across in school. He makes them come alive, and makes you want to know them and how to get at their kind of greatness."

"Thanks for taking me back!"

"Thanks so much for your wonderful writing. You really have a way of making your words come over to me as a movie in my mind. What a gift!"

"Dear Mr. Andrews,
I just finished Heart Mender this morning.
What a wonderful story of true forgiveness.
I couldn't put it down. I was riveted to what would happen next and your style of writing.
I can't wait to read your next book.
Peggy Hoekenga, Will's Mom recommended you to me and I will not stop until l I read all your books. The most exciting part, I thought, was when Wan killed Schneider. I suspected a few things throughout, but that really was a surprise. I couldn't bare the thought of Helen and Josef not getting to be together.
You may be my new favorite author.
Thank you for good, clean, pointed and entertaining reading.
I can't wait to visit Gulf Shores and explore the area where Helen found Josef. What a heart warming story.
Sincerely,
Marcia Sago"

"The 4th is still my favorite holiday. It is the parade and fireworks and for my family every two years is a family reunion. We all gather in Kentucky, celebrating family with 50+ descendants from the 11 kids of two souls. We laugh and cry while remember those that are gone and enjoy the kids that are coming along at a rapid pace it seems like.

Yeah, I love the 4th and for all the right reasons"

"Thanks for sharing Andy. I have shared the letter w/ my Facebook friends..."

"Andy (Please pardon the familiarity if it offends you ),

My name is David Murphy.

When I graduated college I got a letter from the Sons of the American Revolution asking if I wanted to join.
When I checked it out my Great Grandfather was William F. Murphy had not only been in the American Revolution. They may have been snipers in the A French and Indian War. Using long rifles.

After the American Revolution they received a land grant in Kentucky next to George-Rogers Clark.

My mothers family fought with George Rogers-Clark on the Wester frontier in the American revolution to defeat the British at a fort in what is now Michigan. Interesting story because when the British Commander surrendered he was shocked at their low numbers of troops that had inflicted such a great number of casualty on his troops. They used a recent import from Germany that later became known as the Kentucky Long Rifle.

They were moved to the cumber lands in the province of Virginia that became known as Kentucky. Specifically near Corbin, Kentucky. The home of Kentucky Fried Chicken. My mother was born on a revolutionary war family land grant near Corbin. Her mother was a grand daughter of Nancy Moses. Joshua Moses, a Baptist Preacher was her father. He visited the Oklahoma Territory in 1851, where my great grandparents met. There was a Davis-Moses family reunion up until about 1980.

Henry Clay David was a missionary in the Bahamas, Androse Island, up to 1960. He traveled and preached as far south as Trinidad and Tobago and went into parts of Mexico. He later worked with the Navaho in Arizona. His wife Shirley Moses-Davenport often traveled with him. They also planted and built churches in Florida From Bradenton to Co Co, Florida. They had a son Norman Davis that was part of the pad crew on space flights from Mercury one to Space Shuttle 54. When the Shuttle Challenger blew up he took a long vacation, he had a dinner date with after the flight.

Henry Clay Davis' Daughter was my mother, Helen David. Great grand daughter of Joshua Moses from her mother side. Joshua Moses went in 1850. He may have left his son there.

And proud of his grand daughters husband who served in the Navy in WW1

All of whom would be proud of their family.

The Murphy's also have a plethora of active military and church workers, people trying to save lost and dying people and children slated for death.

God lives in and through families and always has.

David Murphy
murphy4514@tampabay.rr.com"

"Andy Andrews,

You never contacted me back. I see you posted my letter to you. Do you have any further information for me?

David"