I have grown increasingly tired of the several people who have been reacting to Jack Thorpe's lawsuit by saying that Jim Thorpe is buried in "foreign soil."

Let's get real. Jim Thorpe's footprints are all over the state of Pennsylvania and were all over many of the players who put the pads on for the Penn Quakers. He also played against Lehigh and, come on, Carlisle is not that far away.

The family from his first marriage wants his body to remain in the soil that was sanctified by his youngest daughter, Grace. We believe that he is resting comfortably and should not have to suffer the indignity of being exhumed, especially within the purview of an ACT that had little to do with this kind of situation.

Jim Thorpe, PA has the right of ownership, a very integral aspect of the original Repatriation Act. I hope the town fathers and mothers are willing to put up a fight because they have some pretty staunch allies in my brother, my two deceased aunts, my mother, my cousins, and myself. Just let us know what we can do.

Mike Koehler, grandson

See: Mike Koeler's previous defense of this issue.