To the Editor:

When I was a boy there was a picture in our school classroom of a tree. It was The Tree of Liberty, our teacher said, and it was a symbol of our country, the United States.

The tree was tall and broad, its branches strong and filled with bright green leaves. For several centuries the tree has grown, so that its roots are vast. Throughout the years it has endured many storms, been struck by lightning and suffered deep scars to its bark. And still it stands. The tree belongs to us, our teacher told us; if we hope to keep it we must do everything we can to nurture and protect it.

Now, there are those who claim it as their own, who seek to tap into its core and poison its roots with empty promises and lies.

Together, with the truth, and with our voices and votes we will oppose them and preserve that tree - our Tree of Liberty.

Ray Sipherd

44 Echo Valley Road, Newtown         March 28, 2017