In answer to Mr. Gilmore’s letter, (“Suspicious actions at commissioners meeting,” May 19) I would like to begin with this: the First Amendment does not have an attendance policy. That notion is, at best, absurd.

Commissioners are elected, and thereafter paid, to do the will of the people. They are accountable to the people for their actions and conduct. It is my right, my obligation, to vocalize my opinion regarding those things, and I did just that.

The remarks delivered by Karen Moon, my sister, acknowledged that denial of the permit on the basis of suitability of the dwelling was certainly well within the right of the Board of Commissioners. The issue was not with the decision. The issue was with the inference by county officials that, by virtue of their service to country alone, veterans are not suitable neighbors here in Troup County.

The issue was also with how Tripp Foster engaged publicly with regards to this topic. I didn’t address Mr. Foster’s advocacy regarding trash pickup, because, quite frankly, I am not concerned with that issue. It is not an issue that I would devote a single moment of time to, but I applaud Mr. Gilmore’s passion on this matter.

It’s clear that in Troup County there is a serious lack of knowledge with regards to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Simply witnessing a traumatic event — or many — does not mean that the person will develop PTSD.

The DSM V lays out the clinical criteria for the diagnosis. I invite those with a sincere desire to understand this disorder to expend the time and research it.

With back-to-back deployments and years of continued combat, this issue is not going away. As a community, we need to be better educated and more compassionate with regards to veterans and their needs.

Angela Montondo

LaGrange

Editor’s note: Clarification added in parenthesis.