To the editor:

When we retired 20 years ago, due to the availability of a house that would just fit our needs, and children and grandchildren all living within 45 minutes, after looking in several communities fitting those criteria, we chose Fort Dodge. Our celebration of Thanksgiving in living in Fort Dodge was significant that year and it has expanded to include much, much more.

Over the years, we have found Fort Dodge people to be very considerate and accepting people. For example, when stopped and needing to enter a moving line of traffic rarely do you need to see more than two or three cars go by before someone stops to let you enter, and the vehicle seems always to have a Webster County license plate. And the helpfulness of the young woman, who, seeing this 80-year-old start to struggle to get down to reach an item way back on the bottom self, quickly dropped to her knees and gathered it for me. And the greetings and smiles from many people you meet as you move about in our community.

In knowing, and becoming known in the Fort Dodge community through various activities and services in which we have participated, and getting acquainted with neighbors and families, we have found ourselves accepted and appreciated.

It is very much part of our Thanksgiving celebration to include being thankful that we live in Fort Dodge.

Thanksgiving blessings to all.

L.J. and Leanne Hartley

Fort Dodge