TO: SERGEANT NATHAN THATCHER
Hello Sergeant Vicante.
Congratulations on your recent nomination for City Sheriff. It is an honorable position and I wish you the best in the upcoming election. But on a more somber note, I have just recently heard from one of your family friend's that you lost a close friend to an alcohol related accident. I am sorry to hear about your loss. It seems that you have turned this negative experience into one of positive outcomes with your involvement in AWKE. As a journalist who is committed to reporting the "stories untold" I was compelled by your experience and wanted to find out more in order to inform citizens of the hard work you are doing.
I'm sure that you've heard that the senate will soon be voting on whether to lower the drinking age to 18, keep it at 21, or possible even raise it to 25. I am curious how you, Sergeant of Police (possible the next Sheriff), feel about this possible change? Also, I was wondering how your organization AWKE would view this change? Would your organization support underage drinking permits for those serving in the military?
Any information you might provide will help me to keep our citizens informed about this very important issue.
Sincerely,
Olivia Borges-Nunez.
Journalist for the University of Minnesota Daily
Comments
Olivia,
It is great to see a person so deeply interested in my organization. It is true that I lost a close friend, and that now I have stopped many more of these terrible accidents. I would just like to get it out of the way and say that I am deeply opposed to lowering the drinking age to 18.
I don't know if you know this, but alcohol kills nearly 22,000 people a year! That is way to many to be dieing because of a little fun. I mean it is a substance and shouldn't be used irresponsibly.
AWKE is also opposed to the change, we would just see more of these accidents in the less responsible 18-21 year old bracket. It would be a tragedy for many of these young men and women to lose their life because of a drink or two.
The military is a hard place, but that is no excuse for them to be drinking underage. You are in the military you can man up and deal with the heaviness by yourself, you do not need a bottle to talk to!
Those are my current stands and will support them for the rest of my life, only wishing that no one will have to experience what I have went through.
Posted by: Sargeant Thatcher | November 14, 2006 10:54 AM
Dear Sgt. Thatcher,
Thank you for your prompt reply. Your words are thoughtful and I will include them in my story that I am soon to write.
Posted by: Olivia | November 14, 2006 01:40 PM