This holiday season is an opportunity for us to honor the service of our military personnel and the sacrifices they and their families make to protect our nation.
by Congressman Michael Turner
This holiday season is an opportunity for us to honor the service of our military personnel and the sacrifices they and their families make to protect our nation.
Recently, I visited Mrs. Sakelaris’ third grade class at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Kettering. I asked the students to create Thanksgiving holiday greeting cards that I would share with our men and women serving in the military.
The students at JFK designed more than 300 letters and cards with messages such as, “Thank you for protecting our freedom” and “Thanks for keeping our country safe.” Also, the students sent greetings to injured and wounded troops, wishing them a speedy recovery. This was a great opportunity for JFK students to thank our service members for their commitment to protecting our freedoms. The students also gained a better understanding of the sacrifices our men and women in uniform make every day.
A few days before Thanksgiving, I visited soldiers wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq who are recovering at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. During my visit, I presented cards and pictures from the JFK students to the soldiers.
I had the privilege of spending time with two Ohio natives injured in Afghanistan and now recovering at Bethesda Naval Medical Center. These brave service members remain committed to service and expressed a strong desire for our continued support for our military personnel.
As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, I’ve had the honor to visit our troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq five times. These heroic men and women are truly thankful for the messages and greetings American citizens send thanking them for their service. These messages help strengthen the morale of our soldiers who spend holidays away from friends and family.
I encourage you to join the JFK students in sending holiday greetings to our men and women in uniform. As Americans, it should be our pledge to honor the service and sacrifice of our soldiers every day. Honoring our nation’s military and their families for their sacrifices is a never ending debt all Americas owe to those who’ve given their lives or lost loved ones for our freedom.
America Supports You is a Department of Defense Community Relations program committed to communicating citizens’ support to our men and women in uniform and their families. This initiative provides citizens the opportunity to support the troops. During this holiday season and throughout the new year, I encourage you to visit the America Supports You website at www.ourmilitary.mil where you can send your own greeting to our men and women serving in the military and learn about the more than 350 non-profit groups that are devoted to helping our service men and women.