Supports decision

TO THE EDITOR: Recently, an article published on July 6, announced the closing of St. Mary’s Academy in Champlain.

As a former student of the Catholic institution, it was sad to read that such a good school would be forced to close.  Now that I am a bit older, I have come to appreciate the foundation that St. Mary’s provided me as a young boy.  And I am proud to say that foundation is still with me today as a young adult.

I write this letter today to offer my support for the decision made by Rev. Delbel and the school council.  A decision such as this one is never easy, and I assure you, it was not their first choice.  For years, the team worked tirelessly to ensure St. Mary’s would remain open for at least one more year. 

St. Mary’s is just one of many Catholic institutions around the country, whose dire financial situations became too much to handle.  Now is not a time to point our fingers. Rather, it is time to come together, be thankful for what we had, and continue to support and rebuild our parish and diocese.  If the good Lord left us with anything, it is hope.  To lose hope is to lose faith, and faith must never be lost. 

I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the staff, faculty, and especially Rev. Delbel and Sr. Cordata.  It is sad to see such a great institution go, but this community will forever be grateful for your time and dedication. 

OLIVER M. BARIE

Rouses Point

What’s to cover up?

TO THE EDITOR:  Lately it has been touted by self-claimed historians that Benedict Arnold escaped from the British fleet, who had him bottled up in Valcour Bay, by fleeing North and sailing south on the broad lake to the east of the island. One need just read the documents, diaries and journals of the participants who were there at the time of the battle and escape to find the truth of the matter.

Lt. James Hadden of his King George’s Royal Artillery and in charge of one of the British gunboats writes in his journal and account of that escape:  “The Enemy (American fleet) finding their force diminish’d and the rest so severely handled by little more than 1/8 the British Fleet determin’d to withdraw towards Crown Point, and passing thro. our Fleet about 10 o’clock at Night effected it undiscover’d; this, the former position of the Gun Boats wou’d have probably have  prevented”.

The British gunboats had been positioned on the left flank of the British fleet, which faced North. When they were moved closer to Garden (Gunboat Island to the south of Valcour), a channel of escape down the western shore was opened.

There is nothing needed to cover up. They escaped, but were pursued and eventually destroyed. It is a British victory. So what’s to cover up? Journals from both sides reveal it to be so and I find it amazing that anyone can believe that the British managed to get men from both sides to support a cover up. Preposterous!

This type of literary rubbish belongs in the National Enquirer.  Read the primary documents.

THOMAS PRAY

Peru