Letters to the editor

Experiencing wall was humbling

Thank you Carson City and the veterans who helped to bring the Vietnam memorial wall to Carson City.

It was a very humbling experience. Remember, if you love your country and freedom thank a vet and thank every member of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard whose name is on that wall.

They were there for you, be there for them. Freedom is not free. Thank you to every soldier out there. I am proud of each and every one of you.

I love my freedom, so again I thank each and every one of you for being there to protect me.

Carla Martino

Dayton

Keep politics out of chili

It's unfortunate that Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki again decided to politicize on Oct. 27 a long-standing Nevada tradition of serving chili to Nevadans at the Carson Nugget after the Nevada Day Parade.

By turning what is supposed to be a bipartisan tradition into a Mitt Romney campaign event, Mr. Krolicki continues to demonstrate his predilection for using his office for political purposes. While this may not rise to the level of unethical behavior shown while as state treasurer using television commercials to raise his political profile at taxpayer's expense, it shows a craven demeanor that is fervently partisan.

When former U.S. Senator and Nevada Gov. Dick Bryan started the Nugget chili feed in 1983, it was intended to be a place where Nevadans of all political stripes would feel welcome. All of his successors followed in this nonpartisan tradition until Lt. Gov. Krolicki began coordinating and politicizing the event.

Nevadans yearn for their leaders to act more like statesmen. Their lieutenant governor will likely never reach that distinction due to being blinded by his own political ambition. Perhaps it's time for him to relinquish his role in the chili feed to another Nevada leader who will make all feel welcome.

William Puchert

Reno

Why there's a Nevada Day parade

During Saturday's festivities, I overheard someone asking why Nevada celebrates its birthday with a parade when no other state does.

Nevada is rich in history. From the smallest towns to the largest cities, each one has its own story and helped make this state what it is today.

For example, take Virginia City and the rich gold and silver ore deposits found there. Some historians claim that Virginia City made San Francisco because of those same precious metals, worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Also, the standard "honeycombing" as it is called, used in mining today, started in Virginia City over 100 years ago. And with a simple swing of a pick, the Comstock Lode was born.

Thus, for that era, some of the richest veins of ore ever found were found here in Nevada, turning ordinary men into multimillionaires, small towns into large cities and creating more jobs, bringing thousands of people to Nevada during the mid- to late-19th century, where they stayed and flourished.

Each time I venture through one of our many towns, I think about all the proud people, hard work and dedication that went into making that town.

In my opinion, the history of Nevada's Comstock Lode is one of the many fascinating, awe-inspiring tales ever told about the Old West.

So, to answer that person's question about Nevada's birthday parade: It's because we're a proud people, because we care about our past, what we do today and in our future.

Donald Paetz

Carson City

Please skip the politics, pass the chili

Over the past 30 years that I've lived here, the Nevada Day parade usually included some form of politics. However, I was in shock when I arrived at the Nugget Chili Feed to find a huge crowd of folks standing for a strictly "Romney Rally."

Whatever happened to the nonpartisan Nevada Day celebration?

Millie Rosenberg

Carson City