Dear Ms. Kennedy I just wanted to express my appreciation of your remarks during the Barbara Walter interview. I have had the thought, briefly, in the midst of my concern for than the hostages, that they aren't the first, or more than the fraction of patriots who have suffered or even did for our country. Many for family circle have a vacant chair due to our servicemen and I know too many diplomats have given they all in recent years now, I can say that, and know it for fact but that does not make it any easier accept the fact that my fellow Americans are unfairly held captive. No, I don't know any of them, yet I feel as though one of them could be my son, my nephew, my neighbor. They all never for from our thoughts and I know this is true for most Americans. We don't think of them as a group of strangers meaning little to us personally, but somehow every one of them is very dear to us. Still, I could not have offered to Barter the Shah for them - that would have been cowardly and invited complete loss of national honor and respect I pray that your husband and the other hostages will soon be home safely. If you have any way of assuring the other families of am concern for their ordeal, please do and thank you for your admirable statements and appearance on TV. written up the right margin Lucile Troth, Fort Benton, Montana Written down the left margin Wishing you and your family and the other families a trusting and fulfilling Christmas and a very very happy New Year.