Thank you to our letter writers of 2015

Merge the 26-letter alphabet with attentive minds and thought-provoking and thoughtful opinions and new ideas emerge.

Here, in The Gazette's Insight section, we are grateful for the combination of those two things. Without it, our page would not exist. More importantly, letters from individuals who care about their place and their communities would not exist.

Those letters are an important piece of our editorial mission - to identify important public issues and decisions and to engage in civil discussion of viable options for their resolution.

This year, The Gazette published more than 1,000 letters to the editor. Those letters varied in length and covered a wide range of subjects.

We printed letters about politics, education, elections, public institutions, climate change, clean water, traffic cameras, pipelines, the military, gun violence and gun control. Many letters shared the same theme - they shared a problem or concern and ways to address and resolve the issue in a positive manner. We believe open and honest dialogue is imperative and leads to action to resolve the issues we are faced with daily.

We also were happy to receive many letters from writers who shared their thoughts of gratitude. We received letters from veterans who were grateful for the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C., and letters from readers grateful for anonymous acts of kindness, letters from stranded motorists grateful for assistance and letters from readers who are grateful to live in caring and giving communities.

Thank you, letter writers, for your thoughtful contributions. Thank you for taking the time to put your thoughts in writing and giving us an opportunity to share those thoughts with our readers. Thank you for contributing to our success and thank you for contributing to the success of your communities.

The Gazette is grateful that you read our pages, are aware of the conversations that swirl around us, and want to participate, engage and connect with your world. Keep those ideas and thoughts coming in 2016. Together, we can and will make a difference. Our individual voices can make a positive difference in this ever-evolving world.

We seek to engage, inform and connect. That is our goal. We do that with your contributions. We hope that you were able to do that, too, through our editorial page.

' Comments: Vicki Decker, Letters Editor, (319) 398-8472 or vicki.decker@thegazette.com