I am writing this in regard to the letter to the editor, on Dec. 7, titled “Military service a choice.”
As the spouse of a U.S. Navy Reservist, I was bothered by the message it conveyed. My first reaction to the letter was to think “How lucky is she to have the freedom to express her opinion?” This happened because certain men and women made a “choice.” My husband, one of the men to make this “choice,” continues to serve his country with great pride.
He recently returned from an 11 month deployment to Kuwait. During that deployment, he missed his oldest daughter’s graduation from high school and acceptance into college. He also missed his middle daughter receiving her driver’s learning permit and his youngest daughter losing her first tooth as well as starting school. These milestones were only some of the things missed when you take holidays and birthdays into consideration.
With that being said, you’re darn right that he deserves some kind of “special treatment.” If we can thank the military personnel in such a small way such as to reduce shipping costs or to allow free shipping at this time of year, I ask, “why not?” What some don’t understand is just how much something from home helps lift the morale and spirits of all of our troops, as well as keep them safe.
Paying for postage is not “part of the difficulty” of having relatives (military personnel) serving, not choosing to live, overseas. The biggest “part of the difficulty” is the explaining to and comforting of your family in this tough time.
Constance Neales
Westbrook
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