A time to say thanks to our soldiers

As we head into the Thanksgiving week, it is worth taking note of the spirit of giving because without that, we would have much less to be thankful for.

Students at Marion School were among those participating recently in the "Adopt a Sock for a Soldier" drive, which sends Christmas stockings to members of the 639th Quartermaster Company, who are currently stationed in the Iraq war theater.

Volunteers with the Montana National Guard's Family Assistance Center coordinated the program, which will lift the spirits of those far from home during the holiday season.

Our soldiers are doing a difficult job in the service of their nation. We are glad they have not been forgotten. That kind of caring is what makes our community and our country special.

A similar indication of big-heartedness came in the wake of an Oct. 23 story that ran in the Inter Lake.

That story told about 9-year-old Trent Martinez of Kalispell, who is battling against a rare cancer of the sinus cavity, and how his friends were collecting pop-can tabs to help him.

Martinez undergoes treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and he and his family can stay at the Ronald McDonald House there during his long stays.

The Ronald McDonald House program recycles aluminum collected on behalf of patients and converts it to cash donations. Edgerton School students and others responded to the call in a big way, and came up with 260 pounds of tabs after the story appeared. More is on the way.

This is what friendship is all about.

Now let's talk about the Cats and the Griz.

The passion and frenzy that is mounting in Montana as the big football game approaches is what rivalry is all about.

We won't get in the middle of that, except to note that just because this year's game is not going to necessarily decide the Big Sky Conference championship, there is still plenty to cheer about.

Although Montana State apparently has no chance of making the playoffs, the University of Montana will clinch a piece of the championship with a win. And Bobcat fans can always hope to play the role of the spoiler.

So put on your school colors and tune in the game at noon Saturday. The 104th meeting between these two teams promises to be a doozy.