There are not many things in life that stir such passion in me as horses do.

I jumped on board last August helping to form an organization that has the potential to do great things for the horse industry in particular and Lake County in general.

While I will not pretend to be the driving force behind everything that has been accomplished in these few short months, I will say that I have attended plenty of meetings and have spent literally hundreds of hours and hundreds of dollars campaigning for the Lake County Horse Council.

I was at the first informational meeting and went on to become a member of the ad hoc steering committee. I was elected to the office of vice president at the inaugural election of officers and board members.

I have some close friends who have paid their money to join the Lake County Horse Council just because I asked them to. I have called up many professional favors from the many businesses where I spend my money.

I have solicited ads, cover designs, printing discounts, free ink refills, secretarial skills and any other help that you could think of so that I can get published the quarterly news journal magazines with limited help from the board.

All that has ended Monday night.

At our regular monthly board meeting this evening, with seven of our board members present, the board of the Lake County Horse Council voted to NOT say the flag salute at our quarterly general membership meetings.

This is a decision, made by the Lake County Horse Council Board that I do not agree with. Whether you are for or against government, religion, wars, prayer, etc., I believe that EVERYONE has a right to salute our flag and pay tribute to those that have served our great country and defended this right!

Arguments were made that it's not a political organization. No, not always, but sometimes it is or will be.

The Lake County Horse Council is not a church either. But if you told me that I can't believe in God to be able to belong to the Lake County Horse Council, my answer would still be the same.

I am no longer going to invest my time, energy, knowledge or emotion into an organization that lacks the same CORE beliefs that I have.

My parents, grandparents and great-grandparents have taught me (amongst a plethora of other things) that I have been blessed to be born and live in this country and that I have the freedom to make choices. I also have the good sense that God gave me.

I resign, effective immediately, as vice president of the Lake County Horse Council.

Valarie Sullivan lives in Kelseyville, Calif.