I know that you don't know me, but I really wanted to send you a note at Christmas to let you and your comrades know that you are not forgotten here at home. We know how hard it is to be away from your homes and families at the holidays. We appreciate how hard it is too to be in an inhospitable climate in a country that is suspicious of your presence, carrying out a mission that isn't always clear. We are appalled that many of you are being sent on third and even fourth tours of duty, and that middle-aged single parents are being called up for service.
Know these things: that we appreciate your willingness to serve, that we aren't ignoring the challenges you face just because you're out of our line of vision, and that we will do everything in our power to make sure that our civilian and military leaders keep your interests at heart and do their best to bring you home safely and with a sense of having made a difference.
Meantime, I wish you some joy for the holidays, and pray for the safety of all of you on the ground.
(soon to be on its way to a coworker's niece...)
2 comments:
Thanks for sharing! This is so wonderful and brings tears to my eyes. We are sending cards to soldier's this year who are alone at the holidays. Thanks and God bless you.
Thanks for your comment. What makes *me* cry is thinking that there are still soldiers over there 7 years later; not so many in Iraq, I guess, but still in Afghanistan, in many ways even less hospitable. I hope that 7 years from now this is all a bad memory...
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