Yesterday I wrote a Letter to the Editor telling our past and present troops "thanks". And it touched a chord and some responded to it:

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(from a friend:)

Hi Karen,

I agree with you wholeheartedly. I am never for war but I will NEVER condemn the guys and gals who go put their lives on the line so I can walk about freely. I remember what the public was like after Vietnam. I feel now that we are in Iraq the least we can do for our service people is to back them 100%. Please thank your nephew for me also.

Thanks.

Marilyn Schutt

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(from an activatated National Guard reservist, working stateside:)

Hi Karen!

I just wanted to say thanks and I am glad to hear you are touching so many soldiers lives. Know your thanks means a lot. As a soldier, whether I agree or not, I have a duty to fullfill and I think a lot of civilians forget that. I think a lot of civilians think soldiers enjoy killing and fighting but the majority don't. We are here to protect our country and its freedoms and we are fighting now to give freedom to people who have been treated terribly for years. Sure we could turn our backs and ignore it, but would we want someone to do that to us if the tables were turned; and we were the ones who were living in fear every day. Scared our family members or ourselves my be executed for no reason.

I am glad there are people out there like you who understand.

Take care and God Bless

John F. Meyer

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There were other responses, too, "couldn't agree more!"; "yes"; "thanks", etc. Bob Bartholomaus with a son who is Major (I think) and serving in the Iraq/Kuwait area..said thanks for the note and forwarded yesterday's Karen's Korner to his son.

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Two short thoughts for today:

* "You can't get honey unless you take a chance on
getting stung." - Author unknown

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* "Instead of asking him to give
the things for which we pray,
All that we need to ask from God is this:
Show us the way." - James A. Bowman