Jack,

When I returned to my office today, I received your note congratulating Barbara and I on being grandparents. Thank you for your thoughts and the effort.

I would be remiss not to tell you how absolutely overwhelmed we have been through Nick's Iraq ordeal with your level of concern. Not only the phone calls to us and to Nick when he was in the hospital in Germany, but the general sense of 'extended family' that the Army Lacrosse program, through your leadership has demonstrated.

When we first signed up, which seems a long time ago, you were very proud of your Army Lax family. I did not quite understand then, but came to appreciate the fact that there is a feeling of camaraderie and esprit de corps that goes beyond the norm with Jack Emmer players and their families. Now I know that the extended family feeling goes beyond graduation. I will always be proud to have been a small part of Army Lacrosse.

Once again, your concerns about Nick have been most appreciated.

Best regards.

Joseph M. Bilotta