My granddaughter and her husband are proud members of the Maine National Guard. She volunteered to serve with a medical unit in Baghdad and expects to be deployed there in a few days. He has served in Iraq with Maine’s 133rd Engineer Battalion since March.

I would like to share some strong feelings he expressed before returning to Iraq after a two-week leave.

He described the constant danger, scorching heat and homesickness endured by his outfit as they build schools, athletic fields and other facilities for grateful Iraqis. And he talked of how dismayed he and fellow guardsmen feel when their accomplishments are ignored by hometown newspapers.

He said many troops are angered by the drumbeat of editorials, cartoons and letters opposing the war and trashing their commander in chief. And they feel that anti-war activists, politicians and journalists who claim to support our troops are really letting them down. Most soldiers believe in their mission and strongly support their president.

Our brave young men and women in the military face constant danger half a world away. They deserve our support. And, as we give it, let us pray for their safe return.

Keith Ruff, Winthrop

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