I read an article on Nov. 20 about Andrew Hutchins of New Portland who paid the ultimate price in Afghanistan, laying down his life for our country. So many people attended his funeral service. It was a wonderful tribute to a young man, a hero.

I also read about how some kids were charged with vandalizing gravestones and pulling out American flags from soldiers’ graves at Sawyer Cemetery on Veterans Day.

That is beyond understanding and I am angry; angry because I think about the sacrifice Hutchins and so many thousands of men and women have made so that we can be free.

I thought long and hard about what punishment anyone who dares to vandalize veterans’ graves should receive. I know it is not up to me to punish them; the courts decide their fate, but I do have a suggestion. I think any gravestone vandal should be made to stand for several hours, no matter what the weather, and face the monuments in Veterans Park in Lewiston, staring hard and long at the names, and repeating over and over again until their throats are hoarse, “Thank you for serving for me.”

Maybe then, vandals would realize what they did to dishonor and disrespect those who paid the ultimate price. And, maybe, they would realize that freedom is not free.

Jim Merrill, Auburn