"I Support the Troops, but I Don’t Support the War." I hear this statement often, it’s usually after I tell someone that I come from a military family and my husband is serving overseas.

I know there is a lot of emotion surrounding our presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, it has proven to divide us pretty harshly here in the US and abroad. I’m not asking that you reconsider your position on the war: for, against or neutral. What I am asking is that you support the troops, the very ones defending your right to an opinion.

They are enduring more hardships in one tour than many of us will ever experience in our lifetime. Their families sacrifice every birthday, holiday and celebration without them. The families do not sleep during an entire deployment and are on edge every time the phone rings or there is an unfamiliar car in their driveway. Please take this into consideration when you meet a military family or greet a military member.

If you would like to say "Thank You" to any of our local men and women, sign up to be a part of their welcome home. Shake their hand, give them a hug or just wave an American flag.

Pride is contagious; courage is, too.