To The Eagle:

This past Sunday I attended a memorial on Puget Island for Howard Brawn. While there I met many nice people in attendance.

This didn't come as a surprise to me as they were there to remember a truly nice man in his own right.

I have over time written many letters to the editor, usually in response to some letter submitted by a liberal opinionated writer.

I must admit that I have fallen into what has become the norm for many of us; that is disliking someone for their politics without even having met them.

While we went around sharing stories and memories of Howard, a man from a nearby group introduced himself to me as James Roberts. That name was familiar to me because I have responded to many of his letters.

Instantly I took a liking to James as we spoke to each other, this was a lesson for me that I already knew but had forgotten in the current climate of political division.

Thank you, Howard, your memorial brought people together and even taught this old dog a not so new trick; that is we can have disagreements without being disagreeable. It was nice to meet you, James, even if I don't often agree with you.

God Bless America.

Paul Schreiber

Cathlamet