I guess I was at a different Lazy Daze event this year than the author of "Rainy Daze, bad art" [Your Letters, Sept. 2].

I brought my sister, a Holly Springs resident, for the first time. While we got wet in a brief rain shower, the weather was extremely comfortable for an August in North Carolina.

My sister, an artist herself, was extremely impressed with the variety of presentations and caliber of offerings, and found many treasures to take home.

The artists we talked with were friendly and expressed that they had been in multiple shows this summer that had rain issues, so this was nothing new to them. Had the event been postponed even a day, I imagine many of these artists would not have been able to participate, which would have detracted from the festival as a whole.

I think most Cary residents are made of tougher stuff than the author of that letter, and would hate to think that one writer would speak for the majority of our citizens. I was proud of the way the Lazy Daze staffers handled the event.

I think we owe a great deal of appreciation to this town for the quality of work and product they deliver on our behalf.

Lisa Shaeffer Cary

'Junky' home is hero's castle

That 'junky' house on High House Road in Cary ["Signs of the times," Your Letters, Sept. 9] belongs to retired Marine Col. Charles Dreher, a living war hero. Col. Dreher is a survivor of the desperate Battle of Chosin Reservoir of the Korean War, where United Nations troops, outnumbered by Chinese and North Korean forces, inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy despite exposure to bitter winter weather. About 4,400 of the 15,000 Marines who saw action there became battle casualties, and most suffered some form of frostbite.

Col. Dreher's home, built when High House was a quiet two-lane country road far outside the town's boundary, and the memorials in his yard are a shrine to our fallen soldiers and a reminder of the rugged individualism that has made our country great.

It also reminds us of a time in America when a man's home was his castle. Walk by Col. Dreher's house some time and read what his signs say. If you are fortunate enough to meet this quiet man, thank him for his service to our country.

Semper Fi, Colonel.

Kent Misegades Cary

Firefighter, flat-tire fighter

I was recently stranded when my car ran a flat tire on the side of the highway a few weeks ago.

I pulled over on the ramp to try to change my tire.

Being that I am African-American and older, I didn't think anyone would stop.

I am writing to thank Stephen Rodr of the town of Morrisville fire department for stopping to check on me and to assist me with my flat tire.

Mr. Rodr was on his was to a meeting, but chose to be a good Samaritan.

He was polite, called me "sir" and was diligent in trying to help me. He was dressed in his officer uniform and the temperature was above the 90s.

I am very grateful that he came to my rescue that day. Just goes to show the fire department morals of today to rescue and aid citizens haven't changed in my lifetime.

Jadarius Crutcher Durham