LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: A double thank you

I was pleasantly surprised Monday morning while driving in to work. As I turned right onto East Broadway in Moses Lake, I was greeted by an array of American flags. I thought perhaps it was just the ag businesses in that area, but our nation’s banner fluttered in the wind from the time I got off of SR 17 until I made it to the office.  

As a veteran, it made my heart happy to see the appreciation for my own and my fellow veterans’ service. It made me appreciate the fact that I live in a region that knows it’s a sacrifice to put on the uniform and a community that knows what brought about the quality of life it enjoys. Thank you to all of the folks who organized and set up the flags that made my morning special. 

It wasn’t just Moses Lake that showed its appreciation of veterans. Flags were up all over the Basin and there was even a Veterans Day parade in Ephrata, put on by the people I look up to as big brothers and sisters in service — the members of the American Legion Art Semro Post 28. That generation of veterans laid the groundwork for the organized, well-oiled military that I was lucky to be a part of.  

That is my second thank you. There are a lot of veterans who didn’t have it as good as I did. I supported operations in Bosnia during my time stationed in Germany, and the hours were long. I broke two fingers while working on a 5-ton truck and had a few other minor injuries that had nothing to do with combat — just the result of a challenging lifestyle and in at least one instance, my own lack of coordination.  

The vets that came before me, though. They faced so much more than that. World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Shield/Storm and others were more than I ever had to face while serving in relative peacetime.  

I served from 1996 to 2000. Since then, our nation was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001, and another generation has gone off to combat, facing the horrors of war in the Middle East and a variety of other operations areas around the globe in the War on Terror. Dear friends have been killed in action or lost their mental health battles afterward. That younger generation has taken on the weight of freedom and worked to preserve it for all of us.  

I’m not a combat veteran and I appreciate everything my fellow vets who have sacrificed to ensure we are all free and able to appreciate the benefits that our nation offers.  

Thank you, once again, to a community that appreciates those who served. A heartfelt thank you as well to all of the veterans out there who have sacrificed so much so that my military experience helped me grow as a person. A special thank you to all of the combat veterans out there. Your sacrifices are not forgotten nor are they unappreciated.  

With gratitude, 

R. Hans “Rob” Miller
Managing Editor 

Editor’s Note: For veterans facing mental health issues, please know that you’re not alone. Resources are available through the VA and the 9-8-8 mental health lifeline (option 1) is available. You may also text your concerns to 838255 if you prefer to get help via text.