To the editor:

As we celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah, we run through our busy days trying to remember everyone who needs a gift, card or something else that would brighten their day and show them how much we care about them.

However, there are thousands of Americans who are not able to be home for the parties and gift exchanges. Our nation’s military is deployed around the world and still sees combat action in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

While the list of sales for some new and popular things is the biggest story in many news articles, there is a longer list of those who wish they could be home or have their loved ones home from operations “over there.”

The Joe Bagley Post 2582 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars pauses during the holidays to thank those who are in service, to remember those who are deployed even now and to thank those families who support their loved ones in uniform.

Further, we think especially of those families here in Suffolk who will have one less person home because of the mission they support. Thank you to each of them for defending our freedom.

Kenneth Wiseman

Portsmouth