The Ann Arbor Chronicle » Jim Clarkson http://annarborchronicle.com it's like being there Wed, 26 Nov 2014 18:59:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.2 Column: Returning to Iraq on Veterans Day http://annarborchronicle.com/2009/11/10/column-returning-to-iraq-on-veterans-day/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=column-returning-to-iraq-on-veterans-day http://annarborchronicle.com/2009/11/10/column-returning-to-iraq-on-veterans-day/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:23:05 +0000 Jim Clarkson http://annarborchronicle.com/?p=31820 Editor’s note: Jim Clarkson is a member of the Michigan Army National Guard serving in Iraq. He’s on leave back home in Michigan right now, but heading back to Iraq on Nov. 11. He writes a blog called War Inside My Head, which describes some of his experiences there.

Dear Chronicle readers,

As I sit here and reflect on the irony of having to return to Iraq on this upcoming Veterans Day I find myself contemplating the true meaning of the day.

Many people view Veterans Day as just another day off work. With this upcoming Veterans Day I urge the citizens of Michigan to take a moment during their day off to remember the thousands of soldiers across the world who on any given day put their lives on the line for the freedoms of this country. I call on my fellow citizens to take action to help our troops and veterans during the upcoming holiday season.

Send a care package overseas. Write a letter of support to a lonely service member. Host a holiday celebration for military families. Remind young people what Veterans Day is all about. Donate to VFW programs that help our defenders, deployed and at home.

To put it in perspective, your worst day at work or at home is any given soldier’s best day, either in a war zone or serving their country elsewhere overseas.

Sincerely,

PFC. Clarkson
Michigan Army National Guard
COS Sykes, Iraq

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