Editor,

Armed Forces Day will be here May 16 and members of the U.S. military will be honored around the country. I also honor those that have served for their sacrifices.

There is another side to serving in the U.S. military. Yes, there are sacrifices. There are long periods away from home and family, relatively low pay, danger, and seeing friends die far too young. But there are positives as well

. It came to me of all places while in a Kwik Car waiting room while my radiator was being flushed. In the waiting room with me were three men, one about thirty and two in their twenties. I am 73.

I was wearing my U.S. Navy cap. Suddenly the thirty year old asked me what ships I had served on. I told him and he said that he was a former marine. He had served in Afghanistan and Iraq. We swapped stories about our service, where we had been, and funny things that had happened to us.

As I drove home, I realized that I belonged to a brotherhood that transcended time, age, and branch of service. My conversation with that young marine could just as easily have been with a World War II veteran and has. It is our common ground.

I have seen parts of the World, good and bad, that I probably would have never seen, but for the military. I have served with brave men and formed lifetime friendships that happened only because I was in the U.S. military. And we have received the appreciation of the American people although belatedly for Vietnam era vets.

The two young men in the waiting room did not join in the conversation. I guess they did not belong to the brotherhood. Sadly, during this during this time of a voluntary military, more and more of our young people do not know the honor of belonging.

This Armed Forces day, I want to say thank you for your appreciation of veterans. But also I thank you for the honor of allowing me to serve in your U.S. military. B. J. Langford U.S. Navy Retired