Gleeful shouts of glad tidings circled the globe last month. State Rep Barney Fisher might one day rise from the fiscal ashes into which it sank three years ago, to once again serve the needs of the community and the youth who enter the program at risk and emerge as dedicated, contributing members of society.

Late last week, I got a phone call from a young Marine so inspired by the news that the program could come back that he called this newspaper from half a world away, in Okinawa, Japan. You see, he was a member of the last class of the Show Me Challenge at Camp Clark.

"It saved my life, ma'am." he said; and he was calling to see if there were anything he could do to encourage officials to bring back the program. He'd be more than willing to come back to the area and work with the youth in the program, he said, giving back something of the motiviation and zest for life the program helped him to find within himself.

What could he do now? he asked.

Well, the resurrection of the program is still several months away, and is by no means a certainty. But Fisher said he has high hopes, and officials seem to be looking favorably at the idea.

So I told the Marine to get in touch with Rep. Fisher, and to e-mail us. We'll do a feature story about him, his successes and his desire to help resurrect the program when he returns to the United States this spring.

Fisher recommended not inundating the governor's nor adjutant general's office with requests, but instead will formulate a letter that many folks can sign in the future. Meanwhile, there IS something readers can do. Comment online to this blog, and from time to time we'll print the messages of support in the newspaper. This way, readers can share ideas and their messages to officials will have an open forum. We'll make sure officials are aware of the site and the messages on it.

Do it today. This program, and the communities and individuals served by it are well worth it.