How many readers know how important Mark Trail is, and has been, to several generations of outdoor enthusiasts? For example, there is a 14-mile section of the Appalachian Trail running through the 16,500-acre Mark Trail Wilderness in northern Georgia. And the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has used Mark Trail to teach children about the importance of conservation and protecting the environment.

In addition, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration began using Mark Trail as its mascot in 1997. He even became the spokesman for the National Weather Service’s emergency weather radio.

In the 1950s, my grandfather started reading the comic strip to me, carefully pointing to each word and making sure I understood what was happening. I have followed Mark, Andy, Cherry, Doc and Rusty through many harrowing experiences. I learned about the critters in the wild, the weather, our environment and about life.

Today, working with students in grades K-5, I see the need for the type of media that teaches our children good values, a love of animals, birds and our beautiful land, as well as ways to protect our wildlife habitats. I know the importance of conservation and how vital it is for us to understand nature’s ways.

While it would be farfetched to attribute my love and respect of nature to reading Mark Trail, that comic strip certainly has more educational value than most.

I am hopeful the Sun Journal will reconsider the decision to replace it.

Wendy Hutchins, Andover