Letter to the editor: Honoring our park rangers

A park ranger is your friend. He is the embodiment of the law in the park. His presence keeps you safe. He enforces the rules and sees to it that others keep the rules, too. Our park is a better place because he is there.

A ranger treats everyone with integrity, helpfulness and compassion. He is a friend to all, but he is also an enforcer of the law. He is a comfort to the law-abiding visitor, and his services are necessary to control the one who breaks the law. He has the right to use force when appropriate, including protecting the lives of himself, others and animals in the park.

A ranger helps to search for missing visitors. He may have to help or carry a victim out of the wilderness.

A ranger is a friend who smiles for park visitors. He often comes to the rescue. He is there to be of service to the park visitors. He enforces the rules for the good of everyone in the park.

I honor those rangers who serve us well in our parks and risk their lives for my sake and for the sake of preserving our lands. Thank you for your faithful service.

Dan Manka

Fairmont, W.Va.