The Pitchford family would like to offer our sincere appreciation to the entire Natchez community for all the support extended to the family following the passing of our much loved brother Jack.

Jack dearly loved Natchez and loved telling people he was from here. He said on more than one occasion that thoughts of God, his family and hometown were what helped him through his ordeal as a prisoner of war.

The outpouring of care and support shown by the people of Natchez meant and will continue to mean a great deal to all of us. Jack would have been touched and amazed.

The following is a quote by John Stuart Mill that he had printed on the back of his personal card and sums up his outlook on life:

“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse.

A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight; nothing which is more important than his own personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.”

The gestures of support and caring were truly appreciated and will be warmly remembered by our entire extended family. We all thank you.

Richard Pitchford

on behalf of the Pitchford family