Editor,

I sit here in my nice, safe Whidbey Island home and try to synthesize the horrid events in my hometown of Marysville.

Over the past few years, I have digested the tragedies that periodically occurred in “other” hometowns and felt much compassion and sadness as the particulars of these events manifested themselves into our culture.

Now … this one is different.

The names that keep cropping up are as familiar to me as they were when I was growing up both in town and on the reservation. I played baseball and basketball with the Williams, Hatches, Sheldons and Moses. A couple of them were my closest friends. My sister also grew up on “the Rez” with Frybergs and Hatches and Jones.

My heart goes out to the families of both the survivors, victims and others immediately involved.

Being a former high school teacher, coach and administrator, these events are very real to me. I am proud of the athletic program at Oak Harbor High School for the reaching out as they did.

We will heal slowly and steadily — that is what we Americans are.

God love the Tommies. I will always be one.

Robert Moliter

Marysville High School, Class of 1951

Coupeville