The family of SSGT Joseph Goodrich has accepted the apology of Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll.

"We asked for an apology and that's what we got," said Rhonda Goodrich, Joseph Goodrich's sister-in-law, who has been speaking on behalf of the family. She said the apology was accepted, although the family had also wanted Knoll to apologize to the Marine Corps.

"Probably, in all honesty, she didn't even know she was acting inappropriately, she's so out there," said Goodrich, of Indiana. "The business card, I will always believe, was handed out as campaign fodder."

Knoll said in her letter that she arrived too late to offer her personal condolences. That rankled Rhonda Goodrich, who said she believed Knoll came to get publicity.

"She didn't have time to be with Amy or Joe's parents, but she made time for the TV cameras," she said. "That's where I'm still a little bitter."

Goodrich said Knoll remarked to Joseph Goodrich's aunt that "our government" was opposed to the war.

And just to back up Rhonda's comment about Knoll not having time for the family, but being quite available to the press on the day of the funeral, Annie O'Neill of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette provides us with the photographic evidence.

One development I've noted -- and which is also noted by the Post-Gazette -- is that Rhonda Goodrich has now come under attack by the Left. It seems that she was involved in a protest against a taxpayer-funded pre-election program featuring Michael Moore at the local university. That appraently makes her a "Right Wing activist" with an axe to grind whose complaints should be dismissed as "exploiting her brother-inlaw's death for political reasons." I guess that those making such statments believe that only Left Wing activists may avail themselves of the First Amendment right to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Such statements, I believe, tell us more about them and their moral depravity than it does about Rhonda.

(Hat Tip -- Michelle Malkin)

Previously:
End This Arrogant Pol's Career
Looks Like We've Made A Difference!
Knoll Responds