From Jim: A lot of our brave soldiers will be home from the now ended formal war in Iraq. They will see their loved ones and, I hope, be greeted by a grateful nation. Because our modern military is "all volunteer" and most of us are completely insulated from the realities of armed conflict and the real sacrifices of war, it's easy to overlook the price our armed forces and their families have paid. It doesn't matter whether you agreed with the political decisions regarding this war, the individual soldier's service was honorable and noble. They have served our nation with the same selflessness and courage that they always have. Our wounded will bear the scars. The psychological impact of combat will linger. The time away from family is irreplaceable. So many of the troops have multiple deployments-this thing went on for 9 years. We're still in a war in Afghanistan. Some, if not most of our warriors will soon be sent for their rotations to that theater. But for now, many will be home for the holidays. I hope that theirs is the very best! I hope we will all have an opportunity to quietly thank an individual soldier for their service. I try to respect their privacy and space, but, when I see a member of our military, I, in a soft voice, thank them. I try to remind myself, daily, that our young men and women are in harm's way-daily. I'm deeply and truly happy that so many can be home this year, even for a little while. They are the best!
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