Open Forum

Sept. 11, 2001, a day our nation will never forget. Sept. 12, 2001, a day my family will never forget. On that Wednesday, as we were all still in shock and anguish over the tragic events of 9/11, I came home from work, to find myself needing to call 911. Our house was burning down. Many of the events of that late afternoon and evening now are a blur to me, but what I do remember was the quickness, thoroughness and professional response I received after making that 911 call. Just as the nation commends our firefighters for the heroes that they were 9/11, I would also, even though a year later, like to thank and commend our own local heroes, the firefighters for Brainerd/Baxter who tried to save my home. It takes a special person to every day put their own lives in front of everything else to save what is someone else's. And I do remember thinking how brave these people were watching them enter my burning house, especially after watching the consequences of heroes just the day before. Kevin Mahle was on the scene for hours, well into the morning, and did a fantastic job following up for days after. Firefighters I didn't even know or remember from that day, have stopped me over the past year to ask how we were doing, and how everything turned out. That they were that day. So when we sometimes question why our taxes are going up, or why do we need to improve our professional emergency facilities or equipment, remember instead, they are there for us, and you may need them some day, like I did.

Our sincere appreciation and thanks to our local heroes.

Laura and Loren Beilke

Baxter

Support Justice Anderson

Supreme Court Justice Paul Anderson has made numerous visits to schools, colleges and service clubs throughout Minnesota in an effort to make the courts more understandable to citizens of all ages and backgrounds. He deserves our continued support.

John W. Person

Brainerd