Thank those who served our country

Since our country will celebrate Memorial Day on May 25, I've been thinking of the service members I knew who died in Iraq.

I was in the navy for 21 years, and I was near Baghdad, in the Triangle of Death, in a marine infantry battalion, Sept. 2004-March 2005. While I was there, I rarely heard my co-workers (mostly marines and soldiers) complain about the American presence in Iraq. After I returned to the U.S., I've heard many people, who haven't served, in the military, complain about the war.

The service members know that we protect the Americans from terrorists, but too many Americans aren't grateful.

If you haven't already thanked a war veteran for protecting you, please do so.

Phil Collins

Northfield