Today is Wednesday, July 20th, 2005; Karen's Korner #593

This is a note that I emailed to our Marys and Martha (M & Ms for short) yesterday, but I think it deserves a bigger reading audience. It is a letter from 1st Lt. Brad Hanson. I don't know Brad; probably no one in our M & Ms group knows him either.
 
Before our June M & Ms meeting, we contacted people in our community asking, "Do you have a friend or relative who serves in our country's military? If you do, let us know his/her name and address." We wanted to thank people for doing what they do for us. And we signed and mailed cards to 14 service people.
 
Brad happens to be the grandson of Marilyn and Bob Marshall, who we do know, as they have lived in Clarion all their lives. But it is what Brad wrote that touches my heart and hopefully, it will touch yours.
 
All we did was 20 or so of us signed a card, said thanks, and passed along the same names and addresses for others to remember and to pray:
 
 
Written July 9, 2005:
 
Dear Ladies,
 
I just wanted to send a letter of thanks for your thoughs and prayers for myself and my fellow Marines out here in Iraq. This is my second time out here as I was here for five months in 2004.
 
I am a Communications Platoon Commander and have a platoon of 19 Marines. They are all a joy to be around and they keep my spirits high. I truly believe our presence here is important and a part of God's plan. First of all, on a personal level, my experiences here have led to a greater appreciation of all that I have been blessed with. I know we don't live in a perfect world, but it would be nice if everyone had the opportunity to enjoy the same freedoms we have as Americans.
 
Perhaps most importantly, it is important to prevent the types of attacks on our innocent citizens that we were a victim to four years ago.
 
For all of those reasons, it is important for us to be here. It helps when we receive notes of encouragement from our fellow Americans. Being separated from our families is the most challenging aspect, but we stick together and wait for our return to our families.
 
My wife, Raegan, is giving birth to our first child in late August. I am scheduled to return to California in late August, hopefully, just in time for the birth. As my grandmother, Marilyn, has probably told you, I have spent a great deal of time in Clarion. I worked four summers detasseling corn and spent a few years attending both Iowa State and UNI.
 
In closing, I would like to thank you one last time for your support. A small note of support means the world to us out here. God bless!
 
Sincerely,
 
1st Lt. Brad Hanson

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