Local man makes most of turkey flap

Tom died for a good cause.

While many have cried foul over the fowl slaughtered behind Gov. Sarah Palin during a pre-Thanksgiving turkey pardoning ceremony at Triple D Farm and Hatchery, there’s to be a tasty ending.

Anthony Schmidt, the farm’s owner, has placed the now infamous bird up for bid on the Internet auction house eBay. No, he’s not cashing in on a few minutes of fame. Schmidt recognized an opportunity and has pledged to donate half the proceeds from whatever the bird brings to the local Veterans Affairs Office.

It’s a noble gesture and in the finest spirit of the holiday season.

While some were quick to gobble up rhetoric over Palin’s backdrop while pardoning a turkey — an event that’s widely practiced by governors and even the president — we were chagrined with the pluck shown by many who used the innocuous event to continue pouring their spiteful political gravy on our governor.

The equation is simple and satisfying: Turkeys are killed, we eat them, we watch football. That we happened to see one particular turkey killed somehow offends the sensitivities of those of us who are the most easy to offend.

Thank you, Mr. Schmidt, for inviting Palin to pardon a turkey in the first place, then having the humor and good will to use resulting snafu to do more good for our local community. For those still obsessed with “Turkeygate,” visit eBay, search for “Palin Turkey” and place a bid.

Don’t forget those who serve

There may still be plenty of time for holiday shopping, but the window of opportunity for sending holiday gifts and goodies to those serving overseas is closing fast.

See page 2 of today’s Frontiersman for information about mailing holiday cards, gifts and other items to those on assignment in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Holiday Mail for Heroes, a partnership between the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes, is one of many outstanding efforts to make sure all those serving their country won’t be forgotten this season. But items for our serving heroes must be received by Dec. 10, so don’t dawdle.