Anger at business owners misplaced

I was shocked when I read about the anger and hateful words aimed towards my friends Kathie and Don Pedersen, who to save their business covered the mural on the side of their building in Silvana. (Saturday article, “Mural memorializing fallen soldier lost in effort to fix Silvana building.”

I have been friends with Don and Kathie for 27 years; they are one of the nicest couples you will ever meet. They would give the shirt of their backs to anyone and never would intentionally hurt a person. Those who say they are angry have no reason to be; hurt perhaps at the loss of the words written six years ago, but anger has no place.

Though I feel for all those who were deeply touched by the death of Justin Hebert, his memory lives on in your thoughts and your hearts. He can never be replaced. I respect and appreciate all military personnel, active or veterans, fallen or living. The mural can be replaced after the building is repaired. Silvana is fortuanate to have Don and Kathie as business owners in their town.

According to the article, the people who yelled the loudest did not take care of the mural, the bell or the tree all placed in memory of Justin. If it wasn’t worth taking care of over the years, why the outcry? The mural was going to eventually be destroyed by Mother Nature. If the community is as tight as stated by some in the article, come together, help fix the building, repaint the flag mural, shake hands, forgive. Kathie and Don — love you guys!

Karen Dickson
Stanwood