Editor’s note: Every day there are rays of light that shine into the lives of people through their neighbors, their co-workers, their families and even through complete strangers. This column is devoted to exposing these sunbeams to the light and offering readers an opportunity to share good news. We plan to occasionally offer up our own sunbeams, too.
A wish for long, happy lives

One of grieving parents’ fears is that people will forget their child, forget that she existed. The Mountain Valley High School Class of 2006 has shown us this is something we need not worry about.

The class honored Kali with a beautiful memorial in the yearbook: it chose Rachel (her sister) to be a class marshal, and included Kali in the slide show. When the underclassmen farewell was read by Alyssa at last assembly, she spoke so eloquently of Kali.

We were amazed by the pins classmates wore with her picture on graduation day. They have touched us with their kindness, compassion and loyalty.

Whether they knew it, they honored our whole family by including Kali in all aspects of graduation. It has made what we deemed an unbearable week into something so much more.

Class members can truly be proud of these young, mature adults.

We never expected all that they did, but we appreciated every bit of it.

We wish them all success, and all the goodness that life has to offer, but mostly we wish for long, happy lives.

May all dreams come true.

Colleen and Dennis Calden and family, Mexico
There are people who care

Recently, my wallet was lost. It was found by Justin Greenleaf of Sabattus. He turned it in to the police who located me and returned it with all the contents intact.

Thank you, Justin, for your honesty and kindness! And, thanks, also, to Sabattus police.

It warms my heart to know there are people who care.

Sandra M. Sanders, Augusta
A very special moment of joy

How does one possibly thank all those in the Leeds Church community, family, friends and hundreds who came to my benefit dinner in April?

How can one thank them for their tireless efforts in organizing such an event, which included a lovely musical program, and made the evening such a personal and incredible success?

Perhaps I can simply thank them all from the bottom of my heart for their unbelievable response.

The joyous spirit and gaiety of the evening still echoes and will remain a very special moment in my life.

Jerry Ellis, Livermore
Hope for the young generation

Don’t give up yet on the young generation. Our church recently hosted a concert featuring local teenage bands. Loud though they were, these kids were rather polite, and well-behaved as they supported their peers. They reveled in the conventions of a rock concert – complete with drum solos – just like we did at their age.

And so it goes.

At the end of the evening, they helped their friends pack up, collected returnable bottles for us and said “thank you.” Though the teen who organized the event, Tony St. Pierre, made back his rental cost, he decided to split it among the five acts on the bill.

We’re certainly glad we decided to give local teens a safe environment, a rarity in this area. Opportunities for positive activity are what they deserve.

Toby and Mike Giasson,

First Universalist Church of Auburn
Great man to have on the team

For the past six years, the American Cancer Society has been able to have an active Road to Recovery Program here in the North Oxford area. We are very fortunate to have five drivers who transport cancer patients to and from treatment at no cost to them or their families.

I wanted to take this opportunity to recognize Gary Coffin as a valuable asset to this program.

Mr. Coffin has been on board for nearly all the six years that I have been acting as the program coordinator. He has made himself available to the program and has often driven in stormy weather when other drivers chose not to, myself included.

This kind of dedication to a volunteer program is to be commended.

Mr. Coffin cares about his community and its people. He’s a great man to have on the team.

Diane Mitchell, Rumford
The Sun Journal encourages its readers to offer their own sunbeams in writing. Please limit letters to 200 words. Letters must be signed and must include the author’s full name, address and telephone number, for verification purposes only. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Letters may be edited.

Address letters to: Letters to the Editor, Sunbeams, Sun Journal, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Fax: 207-777-3436. E-mail: [email protected], and note that the letter is for Sunbeams. For more information, call Judy Meyer, managing editor/days, at 800-482-0759, ext. 2302.