LETTERS: To the family and friends of those who are deployed

Niagara Gazette

July 22, 2008 09:29 pm

— To the family and friends of those who are deployed
My name is Lt. Col. Tim “Elmer” Lunderman. I am currently the 138 Fighter Squadron Commander and the 174 Fighter Wing Deployed Commander of your spouse, family member and/or friend who is deployed to Iraq. I wanted to take the time to personally show our appreciation for the sacrifices made every day while we are deployed. We, as part of the leadership team, recognize it is sometimes extremely difficult to deal with military members deployed. Simply stated, “thank you!”
Why are we deployed? The 174 FW is here to support the 332 Air Expeditionary Wing — The Tuskegee Airman. Our mission is to stabilize the country of Iraq. As the Tuskegee Airmen, we fly every day to assist our fellow combatants on the ground. If our fellow combatants run into trouble, we are there. We have faced many challenges throughout this campaign, but the Iraqi government is starting to contribute significantly to the stabilization efforts.
Service members don’t ask for recognition. Their service to our country is their reward. Although there is no substitute for nights alone, missed birthdays and graduations, find solace in the fact that these sacrifices are contributing to the most significant action of this generation. You enable brave men and women to willingly volunteer to “take the war to the enemy” as opposed to fighting it on U.S. soil.
Thank you for your support and sacrifices. Your continued dedication, resilience and warrior spirit are recognized and admired by all of us deployed to Iraq. It is truly an honor to serve beside the men and women deployed with the 174 Fighter Wing.
Timothy “Elmer” Lunderman, Lt. Col., USAF
138 Fighter Squadron Commander
174 Fighter Wing Deployed Commander

Artpark was out of line
I had the joy of going to my son’s graduation at Artpark. The ceremony started at 7 p.m. It is first-come, first-serve for seating. No problem. We left the house at 5 p.m., figuring we would be there plenty early to get a good seat. To my amazement, we arrived on that 90-degree day, there was a line a mile long, a line of parents and grandparents also waiting for their seats. I couldn’t understand why the line wasn’t moving. It wasn’t moving because they didn’t open the doors until 6:30 p.m.. I couldn’t believe it! Everyone was complaining and said it is always that way for graduations.
I can’t believe that on a special occasion where you have mostly older people waiting in line, they would not open those doors. Luckily, I won’t have to do that again.
R.J. Lonneville
Sanborn