Feels secure because of veterans

Dear Editor:

I hope your Veterans Day was a pleasant one. I feel very secure, not by anything I did but what has been sacrificed by our veterans and those serving today. THANK YOU SO MUCH VETERANS!!

I am sending a "thought" written by Joshua Pete, a young Navajo student who was attending Northern Arizona University, and had served several tours in Afghanistan. Joshua attended a breakfast that we had set up to start our "Veterans Appreciation" program at NAU on October 24, 2009. It was a great program lasting the whole day and it was great to see our young "warrior" there.

A few weeks later on November 16, Joshua was biking from class to work and was hit by a vehicle and died. It has been a very hurtful experience for all of us connected to NAU. His words, that follow, really describe what Veterans Day reflects as the sacrifices our veterans have made for USA:

"On the far side of the world you'll find me living, hurting, sweating, bleeding, fighting, defending you, your family, and all I love, and that's when you remember the true cost of freedom." Spc. Joshua Pete.

Joshua's words were never spoken to me...you can believe I will never forget them and where they came from. Joshua certainly did his share but, sadly, will not be here to enjoy the fruits of his labor. We will!

I most sincerely thank Joshua and all veterans for what they did "On the far side of the world..." or wherever they served.

"Thank You Again" veterans from me and a grateful nation!! You have made". . . with liberty and justice for all" a reality.

Most sincerely,

Dick Nothstein

Palmerton