THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, March 26, 1996                TAG: 9603260010
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A12  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   30 lines

PARENTS AND LEGISLATORS

I do not know where Michael Ewing, identified in your paper as head of an organization called the Virginia Fatherhood Initiative (``Va. picks group to flood state with pro-fathering messages,'' MetroNews, March 18) came up with the strange notion that Virginia legislators think that ``fathers are superfluous figures.'' He is way off base with this legislator and father.

I do not know of anyone, including the nearly 125 or so fathers and mothers in the Virginia General Aseembly, who doesn't wish that all children could grow up with the love and support of both parents. But that isn't always the way the real world works, and I, for one, have nothing but respect for the fathers and mothers who, whatever their circumstances, are trying to do the hardest and most important job in the world by themselves.

JERRAULD C. JONES

Norfolk, March 21, 1996

Editor's note: Mr. Jones represents Virginia's 89th District in the General Assembly's House of Delegates. by CNB