Heritage Days reinforces our civic pride

It seems to be turning out to be a memorable Heritage Days, and for the right reasons.

The pride of McCook residents should be reinforced by Saturday's activities, and not just the Band Days and Heritage Days Parade. The leadership the community has contributed to our state and nation will be spotlighted throughout the day's activities.

U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson will be grand marshal of Saturday's parade, one of three former Nebraska governors who have called McCook home. Under his watch, Valmont and the Work Ethic Camp came to McCook, progress which will make itself felt for decades to come.

Now, Nelson is applying himself to the serious decisions at hand as our nation deals with the terrorist attacks and finds ways to prevent more of them in the future.

Nelson, who is remembered as kind and studious in his years at McCook High School, nevertheless has a taste for adventure, with a recent hunting trip to Africa and a skydive over Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

He will be be speaking at the unveiling of the bust in the likeness of fellow former governor, Frank Morrison, at 7 p.m. Saturday at the High Plains Museum.

Judging from Morrison's performance at Friday's prayer breakfast, however, Nelson has his work cut out for him. Nelson and anyone else active in politics today would do well to achieve and maintain the speaking skills Morrison has retained as he approaches the century mark.

Morrison and Nelson, as well as the late Gov. Ralph Brooks and Sen. George W. Norris are just a few of the people we should pause to honor as well "Celebrate! Your Heritage" this weekend's Heritage Days observance.