Editor, Gazette-Journal:

I am writing in response to the letters posted on June 23, "Mother pleads for help" and July 21, "Just one call would help."

I can identify with a mother whose son has made many mistakes. Our children make mistakes; as mothers, we may not always like and agree with what they do, but we still love them regardless.

Mrs. Conway’s son has been missing since Jan. 21, 2011 and she and her family have exhausted every avenue within their means to locate him. I cannot begin to imagine the emotional and physical stress they are going through.

I find it puzzling as to why our sheriff would not utilize the services of search, rescue and recovery organizations at the very beginning to search the area where her son was last seen. It is my understanding the search and rescue teams provide specially trained professional volunteers to find lost or missing people. The teams are associated with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, a...