As a nation we send our gratitude to those members of the armed forces who served in Operation Desert Storm.

We thank the men and women who left their families and friends to carry out their mission in the Persian Gulf, and pray for the families who lost loved ones in this crisis.

I would like to take this opportunity to also thank those men and women who left behind loved ones, not to serve overseas, but to be sent hundreds of miles away from home, temporarily replacing those who were called to service closer to the front lines.

These people were not in the line of fire, yet they still fought many days and nights of depression due to their separation from their families, friends, schools, jobs—their normal ways of life. Their work provided the manpower needed to end the war.

We have welcomed home the soldiers who fought for freedom in the Persian Gulf with parades, parties and tears of joy across the United States.

Let us remember to show our appreciation to those who are serving in military bases throughout this country. They too should not be forgotten.

Patricia M. Stark

Senior

Art education