A cheer of gratitude goes out to Lynn Chapman of Conneaut, Ohio. Chapman made extraordinary efforts to reunite a former Butler man and military veteran with his lost Purple Heart.

Bill Hillard earned two Purple Hearts for heroic service during the Vietnam War. But the Butler native now living in Erie had received only one of them. The other medal had been missing for decades.

Chapman obtained the medal from his grandson, along with an album of photos of a soldier identified only as Bill. The items came from a garage sale, and Chapman’s grandson thought the rightful owner should have them. Chapman traced one of the photos to a Butler photo studio and contacted the American Legion Post 117 in Butler, But nobody there could identify the soldier.

Chapman refused go give up the search. He ran one of the photos from the album as an advertisement in the Butler Eagle, asking the public for help.

That ad paid off. Hillards’ second cousin, Amanda Garrison of Center Township, recognized Hillard and responded.

And Hillard now has his Purple Heart. He wants to pass it to his grandchild.

Now he can keep it in the family, along with a stirring story about the kind deed of an honorable man from Conneaut, Ohio.

Jeer For the sake of argument, let’s say marijuana and alcohol were equal under the law: licensed, regulated and taxed for the state’s benefit.Marijuana advocates say that’s how it should be. They claim cannabis is actually safer than alcohol — but let’s argue that another day.Now let’s add a second assumption, that parents are entitled — even obligated — to teach their children about the pleasures and dangers of such adult indulgences.Even if these assumptions were law, they wouldn’t absolve the actions of a Leetsdale couple late Saturday in Adams Township.Police said they pulled over a car driven by Allen M. Ordons, 55, on Route 228 after officers saw his car repeatedly cross the center line.Ordons’ wife, Janet J. Ordons, 54, and their 16-year-old son were passengers. All three admitted they had been smoking marijuana.Allen Ordons is charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance. Both he and his wife are charged with corruption of a minor, child endangerment and possession of a controlled substance — essentially the same charges the couple would have faced had police found open containers of beer or liquor in their vehicle.Whatever the mind-altering substance, driving under the influence is indefensible. Impaired driving with one’s child in the car is alarmingly irresponsible.Let’s not pretend that these aren’t serious offenses. There’s no argument to justify such misbehavior.

Cheer Cheers to Todd M. McCormick, Jeffrey A. Cunningham and James Meachan, the first graduating class of the Butler County Veterans Treatment Court. The three military veterans’ achievements were recognized Thursday before a courtroom packed with fellow veterans.McCormick, 28, of Mars who served in the Marine Corps from 2003 to 2009; Cunningham, 47, of Butler who served in the Navy from 1986 to 1990; and Meacham, 54, of Butler who served in the Navy from 1979 to 1980 each received a certificate and a commemorative coin. Each gave a testimonial about how they came to be in the program — and how it has changed their lives.A practical extension of the Soldier’s Creed “to never leave a fallen comrade,” the veterans treatment court plucks veterans out of the traditional criminal court system and gives them treatment and tools for rehabilitation and readjustment.Under the year-old program, a prosecutor, a public defender, court officials and representatives from VA Butler Healthcare pick veterans facing prosecution. The participant pleads guilty to the crimes, but instead of being sentenced to prison, he is prescribed a series of mandated programs or therapies at VA Butler Healthcare and a peer mentor who also is a veteran.Judge Timothy McCune supervises the program and a team of eight people who personalize the requirements for each participant.Veterans have earned the right for this special treatment. The military trains its personnel to kill people and break things — and consequently, war often breaks the combatants, making them prone to behavior that’s sometimes erratic, self-destructive or criminal.To dismiss veterns engaged in this struggle as common criminals is a cruel injustice. The Butler County Veterans Treatment Court attempts to remedy the injustice, and it succeeds. It merits the public’s continued support.