To the editor:

Decades ago, in a high school science class, a young man shared his dream, “I wish I could go to the moon.”

His instructor responded, “It can never be done.”

“Why?”

“There is no way to provide gasoline stations all the way to the moon.”

That made sense to me.

Not too many decades later, our family stood gazing at the moon on that gorgeous moonlit night trying to grasp the concept that Americans were actually on their way to the moon. Soon we were told of the successful landing on the moon. It was one step for mankind.

Last evening, a friend dropped by. She had a picture of our Earth taken by Voyager One from a distance of 6.4 billion kilometers from Earth. The picture was taken Feb. 1, 1990. A few days ago, the Discovery returned safely to Earth after having spent approximately two weeks in outer space.

Decades ago, our homeless citizens of Lawrence slept on 2-inch individual mats in a central room at the Salvation Army. There were two bathrooms. Our homeless citizens were allowed in, out of the weather, from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Fifty years ago the Topeka Rescue Mission was formed and it became among this nation’s more comprehensive programs, helping people with varying needs.

Meanwhile, now, decades later, here in Lawrence, our dozens of sober homeless citizens still sleep on 2-inch individual mats in a central room at the Salvation Army. They still share two bathrooms.

Mary Siegrist,

Lawrence