In response to the letter from Gretchen Franke (Opinion Page, Feb. ) regarding thank you notes for gifts, I want to say it is unbelievable for young people not to respond.Where are their manners? Did their parents teach them to say, "Thank you"? Do they take everything for granted? Do they appreciate the concern, the care and effort someone put into such gifts? Not to mention the cost. Do they expect more?

My grandchildren never miss a written thank you to me and my husband, even though they have thanked us in person. They have done this since they were little and could write. Now they are off to college and we receive the most-lovely letters — thanks to our daughter who reminds them if needed to get that note in the mail.

AnnaMarie McLean Waupun Freedom thirsts for integrity, wisdom There are the whisperings of a new wind of spirit in the corridors and hallways of those leading our country we call The United States of America. This same spirit is arising among the poor, including the ghettos of this nation. It calls for the restoring of the integrity of those values endowed upon us by the framers of our Constitution and preserved with the great Civil War of brother against brother.

The person of Abraham Lincoln, whose roots of his character were of a humble beginning, endowed him with integrity and wisdom. The wisdom of integrity is living true unto truth.

President Lincoln sometimes stood resolute and alone. His leadership preserved this nation as one, rather than divided.

We have a thirst for God to bring forth, in His mercy, leaders similar to those cited above.

We have people oppressed by such things as greed, power and moral corruption. We can no longer tolerate the oppression from within. We need a moral revolution essential to freedom.

The lives of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice can no longer be ignored and the inspirations of their sacrifice are rising up to give the strength of character that we might achieve our God-given destiny that all the people of this earth might breathe the air that vitalizes life to meet the great challenges in the persons of all humanity from the earth.

This article is dedicated to the memory of those heroes who fell at my side in World War II when I served as Pfc Francis Flint, Combat Medic, 13th Armored Division under General George Patton.